Kent church to host Quintard Taylor Jr. celebration of life

Published 4:20 pm Wednesday, January 14, 2026

Seattle-based BlackPast.org will honor the life and legacy of its founder, Quintard Taylor Jr., with a community celebration Saturday, Feb. 7 at New Beginnings Christian Fellowship church in Kent.

The free public event will feature music, dance and devotionals celebrating Black history, which Taylor dedicated his life to preserving, according to a Jan. 13 press release from BlackPast.org. The celebration begins at 3 p.m. at the church, 19300 108th Ave. SE.

A renowned historian, educator, author and Fulbright Scholar, Taylor died in September 2025, leaving behind a legacy that transformed the informational landscape for Black history worldwide, according to the press release. This celebration honors Taylor’s life, legacy, and the enduring impact of his work, while looking forward to the future of BlackPast.org as it approaches its 20th anniversary.

The event will include a live performance by Adefua Cultural Drumming and Dance, of Seattle. Guests can explore displays of Taylor’s publications and books, engage with interactive booths featuring Estelita’s Library, Unspoken Truths Traveling African American Museum and the University of Washington. Guests will also be invited to sign the guest book, share favorite memories of Taylor or reflect on how he impacted their lives.

The celebration includes additional performances by the New Beginnings Mass Choir, as well as messages from distinguished faith leaders, and testimonials from prominent community leaders, including Washington State Lt. Gov. Denny Heck.

Taylor was a University of Washington professor and historian who founded BlackPast.org, an online encyclopedia of African American history, according to historylink.org. Born in Tennessee to a family of sharecroppers, Taylor attended St. Augustine’s College in North Carolina, and received his master’s degree and his doctor of philosophy degree from the University of Minnesota. He taught at Washington State University, California Polytechnic State University and University of Oregon before moving to Seattle.

Taylor’s books include “In Search of the Racial Frontier: African American West, 1528-1990” and “The Forging of a Black Community: A History of Seattle’s Central District, 1870 through the Civil Rights Era.”