Angela T. Rye delivers keynote as civic leaders and community members gather to honor Black History ervice, and leadership.

More than 200 community members gathered Saturday at Holgate Street Church of Christ for the Martin Luther King Jr. Commemoration Committee’s (MLKCC) 2026 Black History Month Awards Celebration, an evening honoring leadership, service, and a century of Black history. The program, themed “A Century of Black History Commemorations,”

recognized individuals and organizations whose work reflects the enduring legacy of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in education, labor, public service, and historical preservation.

The evening was highlighted by a compelling keynote address from Angela T. Rye, attorney and nationally recognized political commentator, who delivered a

powerful call to civic engagement, truth, and justice. The celebration also drew strong civic presence, including Seattle Deputy Mayor Brian Surratt and Seattle City Council President Joy Hollingsworth, reinforcing the event’s importance to the broader Seattle community and affirming MLKCC’s continued role as a leading voice in Black history

and community empowerment.