Mardi Gras parade float, Seattle, circa 1955

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Image of Mardi Gras parade float, Seattle, circa 1955 — a2014.49.29.01.13

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For over 70 years, Seattle’s Black community has a held a summer festival that was part of Seattle's International Festival, now Seafair. The first, in 1952, was called the East Madison/East Union Mardi Gras. Mardi Gras later transformed into the Pacific Northwest Black Community Festival, and in 1997 it became the Umoja Fest African Heritage Festival.

Here, a group of women dressed as cowgirls ride atop a car in the Mardi Gras parade. A sash over the car door identifies them as "Squirettes."

Caption information source: “Umoja Fest2021 Brings the Community Together,”South Seattle Emerald, August 11, 2021. Retrieved at
https://southseattleemerald.com/2021/08/11/photo-essay-umoja-fest-2021-brings-the-community-together/
Caption information source: "East Madison/East Union Mardi Gras Festival debuts in Seattle on August 4, 1952" by Peter Blecha, HistoryLink.org Essay 20908

ID Number: 2014.49.29.01.13

Date: Circa 1955

Creator(s): Smith, Albert J., Sr., Photographer

Physical Description: 1 photographic print : b&w ; 8 x 10 in.

Credit: MOHAI, Al Smith Collection, 2014.49.29.01.13

Subjects: Black/African American, Seafair