In 1986, the King County Council voted to designate the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. as the county’s namesake in honor of his advocacy for the fair and equal treatment of people of all races. As well, King County acknowledges that Black history is American history; that the long history of forced enslavement, and institutional and structural racism toward Blacks in the U.S. and its generational impacts, and has committed itself to make progress on Equity and Social Justice through racially just policies that combat anti-Black racism.

In light of these statements and others, Dow Constantine, King County Executive, proclaims February 2023 to be Black History Month in King County.

Read the full proclamation below.