Black History Month is a time to honor the achievements, resilience, and contributions of Black Americans, past and present. It exists to ensure important stories are seen, heard, and valued, and it encourages reflection on how history continues to shape our communities today.
While the month highlights national history, it’s also about recognizing impact at the local level. Black leaders, creators, and entrepreneurs play an important role in shaping Spokane’s culture and future. Taking time to learn these stories helps strengthen understanding, connection, and community pride.
Leadership: Mayor Chase & Council President Wilkerson
Spokane’s history includes groundbreaking leadership, including Mayor James E. Chase, the first and only Black mayor of Spokane. Elected in 1981, Mayor Chase was a champion for civil rights, youth, and civic engagement. Before becoming mayor, he served as president of Spokane’s NAACP for nearly two decades and was the city’s first Black city council member. As mayor, he instituted Spokane’s “1 % for Art” program, which helped bring more public art into city spaces, and his legacy lives on through the Chase Youth Commission, Chase Middle School, and the Chase Art Gallery at City Hall—institutions that continue to support young people, the arts, and community building in Spokane.
Current Council President Betsy Wilkerson was elected the first Black woman to the office in 2024, marking another historic milestone in Spokane’s leadership. A longtime small business owner and community servant, she has focused her tenure on strengthening public safety, supporting local businesses, addressing homelessness and housing challenges, and creating opportunities for emerging leaders.
Leadership like this helps open doors, inspire future generations, and ensure that more voices are reflected in the decisions that shape our city.
A Downtown Staple: Chicken-n-Mo
One of downtown Spokane’s most beloved businesses is Chicken-N-Mo, the oldest Black-owned restaurant in downtown Spokane. Founded by Bob Hemphill on July 1, 1992, Bob was inspired to start the iconic downtown restaurant after recognizing a need for authentic Southern-style cuisine in Spokane and wanting to bring a taste of his Texas roots to the Lilac City.
For decades, Chicken-n-Mo has been more than a place to eat, it’s been a gathering space rooted in culture, comfort, and community. Known for its signature fried chicken, catfish, barbecue ribs, and classic soul food sides, the restaurant has built a loyal following across generations.
Through changing times in downtown Spokane, Chicken-n-Mo has remained a steady presence, serving not just food, but history, heritage, and heart in every meal.
Art, Visibility, and Reflection: The Black Lives Matter Mural
The Black Lives Matter mural in downtown Spokane stands as a powerful symbol of visibility, reflection, and community voice. It serves as both a reminder of ongoing struggles for equity and a celebration of Black lives and resilience.
Painted in 2020 in the wake of George Floyd’s murder and the nationwide calls for racial justice, this powerful mural stands as a visual commitment to Spokane’s ongoing work to uplift marginalized voices. Designed as a collaborative piece, it features the work of 16 local Black, Indigenous, and other artists of color, each contributing a panel that reflects personal experience, cultural pride, resilience, and hope.
Some panels pay tribute to Black lives lost to violence, acting as both memorials and calls to action. Others highlight heritage and identity through bold, vibrant imagery, featuring raised fists, ancestral figures, traditional patterns, and messages of unity and resilience. Together, the mural weaves a collective narrative of grief, resistance, healing, and the enduring strength of community.
This Black History Month, take time to stop by, experience the mural in person, and reflect on its meaning and the conversations it continues to inspire. (244 W. Main Ave.)