Downtown Seattle in King County, Washington — The American West (Northwest)
Vision
Photographed By Duane and Tracy Marsteller, August 29, 2021
1. Vision Marker
"In very early days, when I first was traveling around the country, around the state, I was first accepted for what I was — a black man. When I came to the International District, I was accepted as a human being. There was no race. There was no 'You don't belong.'" Clark RobinettThe element Fire represents the South, symbolizing creativity and passion, both essential for personal and community voices. Our community continues to thrive as we take in past events and envision what can happen tomorrow.
These hotels were once home to thousands of Filipino migrant laborers. These men — the manongs — are now gone, but the legacy of their struggle for equal rights endures. During the 1970s, young Chinese, Japanese and Filipino activists led a fight to reclaim the area. They successfully lobbied for low-income housing, street improvements and public parks. They set up bilingual programs and helped restore historic buildings. This multi-ethnic vision continues to inspire neighborhood improvement efforts.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Asian Americans • Civil Rights • Industry & Commerce. A significant historical year for this entry is 1970.
Location. 47° 35.885′ N, 122° 19.497′ W. Marker is in Seattle, Washington
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Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Chinese American Soldiers Memorial (within shouting distance of this marker); Seattle Chinatown Gate (about 600 feet away, measured in a direct line); Union Station (approx. 0.2 miles away); King Street Station (approx. ¼ mile away); Great Northern Tunnel (approx. ¼ mile away); The White Chapel District (approx. 0.3 miles away); The Goldsmith Building (approx. 0.3 miles away); Lou Graham’s Sporting House (approx. 0.3 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Seattle.
More about this marker. It is affixed to the Eastern Hotel, built ca. 1910 by the Wa Chong Company, a retail and import business and labor contractor.
Also see . . . A Brief History of the Eastern Hotel. Historical sketch by Andy Mizuki for the Carlos Bulosan Centennial. Bulosan was a Filipino activist and union organizer who wrote extensively of the struggles, discrimination and brutality he personally experienced and witnessed against fellow immigrants. (Submitted on September 11, 2021, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.)
Photographed By Duane and Tracy Marsteller, August 29, 2021
2. Vision Marker
Credits. This page was last revised on February 7, 2023. It was originally submitted on September 11, 2021, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. This page has been viewed 109 times since then and 19 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on September 11, 2021, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.
