BNW

A blog dedicated to the culture and history of Black People within the Pacifc Northwest. Black North West (BNW) was created by and managed by Davis Bashungwa

[frogwhomp]

This is an independent study project dedicated to recording and gathering information about how Black (Historically African Descended) people express their identity, ethnicities and cultures. The PNW was one of the most exclusionary territories in the United States. Back when Oregon, Washington, Idaho and parts of Montana and Wyoming.

Despite this, Black people still persisted in these areas through it all. This form is open to anyone who identifies as Black and was either partially or wholly raised withing the PNW.

I want to find ways to band together, uncover Black history within the PNW as well as record evolving Black histories being created right now. This research will be used as a part of an ongoing art project called Black North West (BNW) in which I create several different objects, one of which is an cultural flag, that aim to create visibility for Black histories and lives within the Pacific Northwest.

You can find the link to this survey under the cut!

Survey here

[blacknorthwest]

hi! i think this blog is a very cool idea, and i'm excited to see what comes of it! if you haven't heard of it, i wanted to recommend the project Black Arts PDX by Dr. Kiara Hill - the Portland Art Museum exhibition on it is over now, but the video can still be found on her website. it's Portland-specific, but centers on the Black visual arts community in the Albina neighborhood. Dr. Hill's art in general all centers on Black community and identity, but that's her main project (that i know of) that's also specific to the PNW. anywho, just seemed like a project you'd be interested in, and probably other folks following the blog too!

I have heard of Dr.Hill's Project!! I actually got to speak to her while I was doing work with the Black Gallery in Portland! Thank you for reminding me of it!

Her project is here: https://www.kiarahill.com/projects

[blacknorthwest]

I just opened the form for Black Northwest's first Publication! If you are a Black artist residing in the PNW check it out and submit something :D

You can submit here

Also check out the new website: blacknorthwest.carrd.co it's still to be updated but check out whats there :D

[blacknorthwest]

Flag ideas for BNW. These are mostly made to be apart of this specific project but I still wanted to gather peoples opinions on which looks the best! Heres some context for the deisign:

The colors/Symbols - Black, Green, and Blue. Black represents Blackness (of course) the green and blue represents the PNW's landscape; water, trees, grasses and rain. the symbol on it is Aya - a west african Adrinka symbol representing a fern. Aya represents endurance, independence, defiance, hardiness, perseverance, and resourcefulness. Aya is from the Akan language and literally means fern. When I was going through what possible symbols/symbolism could be used Aya stuck out to me immediately for its symbol of resilience as well as the depiction of a fern which are abundant and very important to PNW ecosystems!

The patterns are inspired by African fabric designs, something to set the flag apart from other generic ones, something that could change depending on who was using it as well!

If you have any comments or suggestions let me know!

And if you are a Black person in the PNW please fill out my Black Culture Project form!

Which Flag do you like better! (BLACK PEOPLE ONLY PLEASE)

1 (three stripe)

2 (two color with symbol)

3 (patterned triangle)

4 (un-patterned triangle)

Voting ended onApr 2