Late on the night of February 20th 1968, flames tore through the Central Area Motivation Program’s Central District headquarters. When fire officials responded to the scene, they quickly discovered the source of the blaze. The ground floor of the Black-led civil rights and anti-poverty organization had been doused in gasoline.
Though a striking act in itself, the arson of CAMP was just one in a string of fires set at cornerstones of Seattle’s Black community in early 1968. Mt. Zion Baptist Church and the Central Area Youth Association endured similar, and very likely related, acts of violence within days of each other.
At the time, media coverage shied away from discussing racial intent behind the fires. I believe it is time to rectify that.
As we approach the anniversary of the fire-bombing of CAMP, I propose a re-examination of the event with an eye towards telling the full story. This will provide readers with the opportunity to confront our city’s ongoing relationship with race and its role in our collective future.
To introduce myself, I worked full time at CAMP (now called Byrd Barr Place) until a couple of months ago and have maintained a relationship with organizational leadership. This connection will give me access to folks who can provide a nuanced picture of the 1968 fire. Along with interviews, I intend to use public records and archives to provide a detailed account of this critical moment in Seattle’s racial history.
Please let me know if (publication) is interested in this story.