Background

Powell "Shorty" Barnett was born in Brazil, Indiana in 1883, though Barnett"s family migrated to Roslyn, Washington, in 1889. His father, an ex-slave, was one of many black miners recruited to work in the coal mines of Washington state.

Career

As a teenager, Powell also worked in the Roslyn coal mines and played in the "colored" band. Barnett married Katherine Conna of the pioneering John North. Conna family in 1906, and they settled in Seattle. Barnett was a community leader who worked to improve race relations, organizing the Leschi Improvement Council and serving as its first president in 1967, organizing the East Madison Young Men’s Christian Association, and acting as its chairman, and chairing the committee that revised the Seattle Urban League.

In 1967 he was named Seattle-King County"s Senior Citizen of the Year for his history of service and contributions to the local community.

Barnett"s account of Black and Asian race relations in Seattle in 1909 has been used in scholarship to substantiate the anti-black discrimination and racial tensions that were pervasive in Seattle at the time. Gold Card member/National Association for the Advancement of Colored People Lifetime member/Mountain.

Zion Baptist Church Democratic Precinct committeeman, 33rd District/15 years. Board member/Lee House for Senior Citizens President/Seattle Urban League, 1948-1950 Air Raid Warden, 1941-1945 Chairman, Committee to establish East Madison Young Men’s Christian Association Board member, East Madison Young Men’s Christian Association Treasurer, King County United Service Organizations, 1944-1961 Executive Committee, United Good Neighbors, 1942 Chairman, Committee to amalgamate Local 76 (white) and Local 493 (black) Musician’s Union, 1956 Chairman, Welcoming Committee to integrate Japanese American citizens after World World War II Jackson Street Community Council “Manitoba of the Year” 1964 Seattle Urban league Annual Award is located in the Leschi neighborhood in Seattle.

The 4.4 acre park that was Garfield High School"s former track was, in 1969, named Named in honor of community activist Powell Barnett, the 4.4-acre park had begun to show its age.

Community members, including Barnett"s granddaughter, Maisha Barnett, built public support and raised money, obtaining grants to complete public process and design. The community"s dedication attracted the attention of Starbucks, which selected the park to receive additional funding through the Starbucks Parks Fund. “I have always felt that my community is no better or worse than what I help make it, likewise, my country.

I can’t delegate my own responsibility.

I can’t assume anyone else’son” Barnett Papers (1967-1968). 2 tape reels, 1 sound cassette, 6 folders, and 1 note card Central Washington University"s Roslyn African American History Photographs Central Seattle Community Council Federation Records.

Achievements

• Founder-Manager/Royal Colored Giants baseball team Founder/President, Leschi Improvement Council Founder/Pacific Northwest Baseball Umpires Association.

Membership

Barnett, a sousaphone player, was the first black member of the once all-white Seattle Musicians Union, Local 76 and was instrumental in the merger between the black and white musicians" locals into the Musician"s Association of Seattle 76-493.