BLACKPAST.ORG HONORS FOUNDER DR. QUINTARD TAYLOR JR. WITH A CELEBRATION OF LIFE & A COMMEMORATION OF BLACK HISTORY

Seattle, WA – On February 7, BlackPast.org will honor the life and legacy of its founder, Dr. Quintard Taylor, Jr., with a community celebration featuring music, dance, and devotionals celebrating Black history, which he dedicated his life to preserving. This event is FREE to the public and will take place at New Beginnings Christian Fellowship. 

A renowned historian, educator, author and Fulbright Scholar, Dr. Taylor passed away in September 2025, leaving behind a legacy that transformed the informational landscape for  Black history worldwide. This celebration honors Dr. Taylor’s life, legacy, and the enduring impact of his work, while looking forward to the future of BlackPast.org as it approaches its 20th anniversary.

This community celebration begins at 3 p.m. with a live performance by Adefua Cultural Drumming and Dance. Guests can explore displays of Dr. Taylor’s publications and books, engage with interactive booths featuring Estelita’s Library, Unspoken Truths Traveling African American Museum, and the University of Washington. Guests will also be invited to sign the guest book, share favorite memories of Taylor or reflect on how he impacted their lives. 

The celebration includes additional performances by the New Beginnings Mass Choir, as well as messages from distinguished faith leaders, and testimonials from prominent community leaders, including The Honorable Denny Heck, Lieutenant Governor of Washington State. A full list of presenters and performers can be found HERE.

We wish to acknowledge that this event is made possible by a grant and support from Casey Family Programs and sponsorship from AARP Washington. 

EVENT INFORMATION:

A Celebration of Life & A Commemoration of Black History

Saturday, February 7, 2026 at 3 p.m.

New Beginnings Christian Fellowship

19300 108th Avenue Southeast

Kent, WA 98031

ABOUT BLACKPAST.ORG

BlackPast.org is dedicated to providing the inquisitive public with comprehensive, reliable, and accurate information concerning the history of African Americans in the United States and people of African ancestry in other regions of the world. It is the aim of the founders and sponsors to foster understanding through knowledge in order to generate constructive change in our society.

ABOUT DR. QUINTARD TAYLOR, JR.

Dr. Quintard Taylor was the quintessential scholar and a towering figure in the field of Black history. He was author of over half a dozen books, recipient of numerous awards, a Fulbright Scholar, and mentored a number of successful historians. He was also the grandson of the formerly enslaved and the son of sharecropping parents who cherished education. Dr. Taylor often said his own history was wrapped up in Black history. He would go on to found BlackPast.org, the world’s largest online encyclopedia on Black history. It started as a simple website where he and his students posted their Black history research. Eighteen years later, it has evolved into the preeminent online site for African American and global Black history. Through his relentless dedication to preserving and analyzing the past, Dr. Taylor’s work has become a cornerstone of Black historical scholarship.