Rev.Samuel McKinney

Mt. Zion Baptist;
Central Area Civil Rights Committee

Samuel McKinney grew up in Cleveland, OH in the 1920s and 1930s as the son of a prominent and politically engaged black minister.  He attended Morehouse college and was a classmate of Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr.  After serving as a minister in Providence, RI in the mid 1950s, McKinney moved to Seattle in 1958 to lead one of Seattle’s oldest and most prominent black churches, Mt. Zion Baptist Church.  McKinney quickly became a leader in what he terms the “movement for human rights,” which included playing a major role in the Central Area Civil Rights Committee (CACRC).  McKinney retired from Mt. Zion in 1998, after serving its congregation for 40 years. For more information,  see the following historylink.org articles: Rev. Samuel B. McKinney and Mt. Zion Baptist Church and Martin Luther King Jr.’s visit to Seattle

Reverend McKinney agreed to share  memories of his service to Seattle in a videotaped interview conducted by Trevor Griffey and Brooke Clark on March 16, 2005. Below are streaming-video excerpts of the interview, each about a minute in length, in windows media format. A high speed connection is recommended for viewing them.  

Rev. McKinney uses bullhorn to address crowd during 1963 Anti-Segregation protest at Seattle Municipal building. Mayor Gordon Clinton, Rev. Mance Jackson, and unidentified boy listen. 

Rev. McKinney probably 1958. Both photos courtesy Museum of History and Industry.

• “I knew that there were some struggles here that we were going to have to face up to”: McKinney describes discrimination he experienced upon arriving in Seattle in 1958

• In 1961, Rev. McKinney arranged a Seattle visit for his friend Martin Luther King Jr. Seeking a venue larger than Mt. Zion Baptist, he negotiated to have Dr. King speak at First Presbyterian Church. Just weeks before the date, First Presbyterian cancelled the arrangement. Here Rev. McKinney talks about Dr. King's one and only visit to Seattle.