CITY OF SEATTLE
RESOLUTION __________________
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A RESOLUTION providing an honorary designation of E Union Street between 34th Avenue and 35th Avenue as “Douglas Q. Barnett Street.”
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WHEREAS, as the founding director of the nationally acclaimed theatre Black Arts/West in 1969, Douglas Quinton Barnett produced over 40 productions during his lifetime and acted in over 30 productions with five different companies, including Black Arts/West, ACT Theatre, Washington Ensemble Theatre, and Seattle Repertory Theatre. The legacy of his work is evidenced by aspiring talent who became professional actors and have performed on Broadway, in regional theatres, on television, and in professional dance companies; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Barnett was instrumental in the development of theater in Seattle’s African American community during the 1960s, with the Black Arts/West theater group first performing at Central Area Douglass-Truth Library and then securing performance space at the historic Central Area Motivation Program (now Byrd Barr Place), before eventually establishing a home for Black Arts/West at 3406 E Union Street; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Barnett was a co-author of The Historical Dictionary of African American Theater (2008) and was a contributing historian at the Black Heritage Society of Washington State, Inc.; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Barnett lived a full, rich life as a father, and was a member of an early Seattle pioneering family that was instrumental in lifting the vitality of the Black community; and
WHEREAS, the Historic Central Area Arts and Cultural District (HCAACD) has nominated Mr. Douglas Q. Barnett for a designated honorary street name; and
WHEREAS, Kibibi Monié, Executive Director of Nu Black Arts West Theatre and committee member at HCAACD, said of Mr. Barnett, “In honor of a great man, Mr. Douglas Q. Barnett, Nu Black Arts West Theatre salutes his professional accomplishments, and attests to his love and pride for the Black community who with deep gratitude values all he gave. It is with great pride that Nu Black Arts West Theatre was given the privilege to continue his legacy”; NOW, THEREFORE,
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SEATTLE THAT:
Section 1. E Union Street between 34th Avenue and 35th Avenue shall have an honorary designation as “Douglas Q. Barnett Street.”
Section 2. The Council requests that the Seattle Department of Transportation manufacture, install, and maintain honorary signs at prominent and appropriate locations, which shall reflect the “Douglas Q. Barnett Street” honorary designation.
Adopted by the City Council the ________ day of _________________________, 2020, and signed by me in open session in authentication of its adoption this ________ day of _________________________, 2020.
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President ____________ of the City Council
Filed by me this ________ day of _________________________, 2020.
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Monica Martinez Simmons, City Clerk
(Seal)