DeCharlene Williams, Chamber of Commerce President. Boutique Owner & Writer

DeCharlene Williams has long tended the Central Area Chamber of Commerce
kept track of local history and published her own books on the neighborhood. 

Ms. De Charlene Williams. Photo: Madeline Crowley 

My name is De Charlene Williams, I’m located at 2108 E. Madison and have been here since April 1968 when they were killing Martin Luther King. I’m still standing because the Lord Jesus Christ is my Savior. He has guided me and put me on this path, protected me, wanted me to stay right here and be a voice for this community.

I want people to know that we had organized crime here in this area through crooked policemen, crooked mayors and crooked city councils. The only person who tried to help us was a man called Sam Smith, a Councilman, now deceased. I want you to know what happened to the black businesses, the ones that wanted to do right were forced to do wrong or were pushed out of existence.

Our community was redlined (real estate covenants) preventing sales to people of color). Black people were pushed out of existence, hardworking black people were killed for their property. This has been going on ever since 1968 when I moved onto this corner of Madison Street. I have been here a long time; I built this community. I’ve been on this corner for 45 years so I have been here for the good, the bad, and the ugly.

This interview is now available in the book, We Lived Here, published by Chin Music Press: https://chinmusicpress.bigcartel.com/product/we-lived-here-stories-from-seattle-s-central-area

 Mr. Grose 

Mayor Braman was a crook and a gangster. Mayor Braman there was organized crime in the police. 
 Central District Chamber of Commerce 
the first Black Chief of the Fire Department, Claude Harris. 

http://home.jps.net/~tayles/Public_Safety/deano_new.jpg

Miss Helen soul food kitchen.

http://millerparkseattle.blogspot.com/2007_02_01_archive.html

 Seattle Post-Intelligencer 

Seattle Times, May 14 1976. Page C7
 (History on the land taken for the interstate)

 Burke-Gilman trail. 
 Suzie Burke, 

 They draw the future. It’s already thought out and planned. It’s already on the maps. But they lose sight of the history and what’s actually lived here.

This interview was conducted over a number of visits for follow up questions.  De Charlene Williams granted my request to participate in this project and has been very kind in sharing her time and her views. 

 ©  Madeline Crowley People of the Central Area 2015   All material is covered by copyright. Express written permission must be given for any copyrighted material on this page. Email to request permission to copy or paste materials. 

This project was supported in part by 
4Culture's Heritage Projects program