The Unseen Battle: How Seattle's Facts Newspaper Became The 60-Year Voice Against Gentrification And Displacement
In a rapidly changing Seattle, Washington, where the city’s historic Central District is grappling with unprecedented gentrification, The Facts Newspaper stands as a crucial, enduring voice for the African-American community. As of late
Founded during the Civil Rights era, The Facts Newspaper is more than just a media outlet; it is a cultural cornerstone and a powerful symbol of Black resilience in the Pacific Northwest. Its pages reflect the ongoing struggle for equity, celebrating milestones while fiercely challenging systemic issues that threaten the community's roots, from predatory homebuying legislation to the fight for community preservation.
The Enduring Legacy of Fitzgerald Redd Beaver and the Beaver Family
The history of The Facts Newspaper is inextricably linked to the vision of its founder, Fitzgerald Redd Beaver. Born in 1922, Beaver was a pioneer African-American publisher in Washington State, establishing The Facts on September 7, 1961.
Beaver's goal was to create a publication that authentically represented the interests, achievements, and concerns of Seattle's Black community, which felt largely ignored or misrepresented by the mainstream press.
The newspaper quickly became one of the two major Black newspapers in Seattle, building on a long tradition of the Black press in the region, which dates back to the *Seattle Standard* in 1890.
A Family's Commitment: The Current Leadership
Following Fitzgerald Beaver’s death on New Year’s Day in 1992 at the age of 69, the paper's legacy was passed down to his family.
Today, The Facts Newspaper remains a proudly Black family-owned media enterprise, one of the largest in Washington State.
The current leadership is anchored by Mrs. Elizabeth Beaver, who serves as the current leader, alongside her children, Marla Beaver and LaVonne Beaver, who function as the current publishers and editors.
This generational commitment has allowed the paper to maintain its original mission while navigating the profound changes in the media landscape and the local community over the past six decades.
The Facts Newspaper in the Modern Era: Advocacy and Current Focus
Headquartered at 1112 34th Ave in the heart of the Central District (CD), The Facts Newspaper maintains a physical and journalistic presence in the neighborhood it was founded to serve.
Its editorial focus is a critical blend of local politics, community news, and cultural reporting, ensuring that the Black community’s perspective is central to the city’s discourse.
- Major Policy Wins: The paper has actively covered and advocated for significant legislative action, such as the passage of Predatory Homebuying Legislation in Seattle, a critical measure aimed at protecting vulnerable homeowners in rapidly gentrifying areas.
- Youth Initiatives: The Facts frequently highlights programs designed to support the next generation. A key example is its coverage of Mayor Bruce Harrell’s *Swim Seattle* initiative, a youth aquatics program announced in April 2024.
- Community Accolades: The publication proudly reports on Seattle's achievements, including the city being named a winner of the *2025 All-America City Award*, showcasing its commitment to civic pride and progress.
- Cultural Reporting: The paper regularly features stories that honor the Black experience, such as the remembrance of Fitzgerald Beaver through community mural art by Desmond Hansen and celebrating the 50th anniversary of institutions like the Douglass-Truth Library.
The Facts serves as a vital historical record, with its archives providing an invaluable look at the evolution of Seattle's Central Area from the 1960s onward, chronicling everything from civil rights protests to local business development.
The Front Line in the Fight Against Central District Gentrification
Perhaps the most salient and urgent topic consistently covered by The Facts Newspaper is the dramatic transformation of the Central District—the historic heart of Black life in Seattle—due to gentrification.
The paper’s consistent coverage frames the issue not merely as urban renewal, but as *displacement* and a threat to the community's cultural integrity.
The Central District was once home to over 70 percent of Seattle's Black population, but decades of economic and housing shifts have drastically reduced that number, a narrative The Facts has tracked with unflinching detail.
Preserving Cultural Identity and Community Ownership
The Facts acts as a rallying point for organizations dedicated to community preservation and development, such as the Central District Community Preservation and Development Authority (CDCPDA).
The paper’s editorial stance is clear: maintaining Black ownership, both of homes and businesses, is crucial for the survival of the community's identity. It provides a platform for community leaders, activists, and residents to voice their concerns about rising property taxes, lack of affordable housing, and the influx of Amazon-driven wealth that has reshaped the city.
By focusing on King County initiatives and local government actions, The Facts ensures that its readers are equipped with the knowledge to fight for their place in the city. Its role is to keep the conversation centered on the human cost of development, ensuring that the term "gentrification" is understood in the context of cultural erosion and family displacement.
More Than News: A Black-Owned Media Institution
In an era of declining local journalism and increasing media consolidation, The Facts Newspaper’s continued existence as an independent, Black-owned weekly publication is a feat of endurance and community support.
It is a testament to the power of the Black press, which has historically filled the void left by mainstream media’s failure to cover Black communities with depth and respect.
For over 60 years, The Facts has provided a space for obituaries, community announcements, local sports, and political commentary that resonates directly with its readership. It fosters a sense of collective identity and belonging that is especially critical as the physical boundaries of the Central District’s Black community shrink.
The paper’s commitment to its founder's vision—to deliver the unvarnished truth to the community—ensures that the stories, struggles, and triumphs of Seattle's African-American residents will continue to be published every week, regardless of how much the skyline or the neighborhood demographics change.
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