Summary:
A public celebration will be held this Saturday to honor the life and legacy of Dr. Quintard Taylor Jr., founder of BlackPast.org, the largest online encyclopedia on African American and global Black history. The event will feature musical performances, tributes from faith leaders and community members, and interactive booths from local organizations. Dr. Taylor, a historian, educator, author, and Fulbright Scholar, dedicated his life to preserving and sharing Black history. He believed in the power of historical knowledge to create change.
A public celebration honoring the life and legacy of Dr. Quintard Taylor Jr., founder of BlackPast.org, will take place this Saturday, February 7, at 3 p.m. at New Beginnings Christian Fellowship, located at 19300 108th Avenue Southeast in Kent, Washington. The event, titled A Celebration of Life & A Commemoration of Black History, is free and open to the public.
Dr. Taylor, who passed away in September 2025, was a historian, educator, author, and Fulbright Scholar who dedicated his life to preserving and sharing Black history. He founded BlackPast.org in 2004 as an extension of his university classroom. What began as a simple research-sharing project between professor and students grew into the largest online encyclopedia on African American and global Black history. The platform is now used by millions of people around the world.
The event will begin with a live performance by Adefua Cultural Drumming and Dance. Musical performances by the New Beginnings Mass Choir will also be featured. Faith leaders and community members will offer tributes, including remarks from The Honorable Denny Heck, Lieutenant Governor of Washington State.
Guests will be invited to view displays of Dr. Taylor’s books and publications. Interactive booths will be presented by Estelita’s Library, Unspoken Truths Traveling African American Museum, and the University of Washington. Attendees will also be encouraged to sign a guest book and share personal memories or reflections on how Dr. Taylor influenced their lives.
Dr. Taylor often said that his own history was wrapped up in Black history. The grandson of formerly enslaved people and the son of sharecroppers, he believed in the power of historical knowledge to create change. Over his career, he authored more than half a dozen books and mentored a generation of historians.
This Saturday’s celebration will recognize not only his contributions but also the ongoing mission of BlackPast.org as it approaches its 20th anniversary.