As part of our “Stories in Place” series, the Seattle Department of Neighborhoods collaborated with community member Tracey Thompson to celebrate a group of women known as the High Point Mommas. Tracey, whose mother was part of the Mommas, grew up in High Point in the 1960s and 1970s. She wanted to honor these women for their work in advocating for their community and their children and recognize the role they played in the civil rights history of Seattle. For Women’s History Month, we worked with Tracey to host a celebration for the Mommas and an opportunity for the Old High Point community to come together to honor this group of women, reminisce about their experience growing up in the neighborhood, and hear many untold stories of Seattle’s history that underscore the importance of community and what can be achieved when we come together to battle injustice.   

“Nobody had to go through life’s crisis by themselves because if you reached out, someone was always there to hold and encourage you.”

The History of Old High Point 

With sweeping views of downtown Seattle and Elliot Bay, the High Point neighborhood of West Seattle is quite literally the highest point in the city. The original housing development in High Point was built in 1942 to house government workers during WWII. When the war ended, Seattle Housing Authority converted the development into roughly 1,300 units of affordable housing. The 1950s were a time of significant population growth in the Pacific Northwest. The second wave of The Great Migration brought an increase to Seattle’s Black population as people sought new employment opportunities. While the majority of Black migrants settled in the Central District and southeast Seattle, many also moved into the High Point housing development, one of the few neighborhoods that was not off limits to people of color due to redlining and restrictive covenants. 

Formation of the High Point Mommas 

As new residents settled in High Point, a sense of community was quickly established. At the center of this community was a group of dynamic women known as the High Point Mommas. The woman developed a comradery and supported each other and other neighborhood families with job opportunities, childcare, and eventually, activism. At a time when Seattle was fraught with racial tension, the Mommas banded together to overcome racism, sexism, and classism to fight for their community and for fair treatment and opportunities for their children.  

“The High Point Mothers were a force to be reckoned with,” said Momma, Corrinne Montgomery. “We were involved in politics. We petitioned the City because our kids needed a safe placed to play indoors. Not only did we get a community center, but also during the summer months they installed an outdoor swimming pool with a lifeguard.”

A primary focus of the High Point Mommas was empowering their children and creating a more just and equitable future for them. They befriended local minister and civil rights activist Paul Pruitt and together they brought their voices to the City to fight police brutality in their neighborhood, to keep the local elementary school open, and advocate for the development of a community center and recreation programs in High Point. The Mommas also made it a point to bring the neighborhood children to see influential Black speakers, like Angela Davis, when they visited Seattle.  

“We all raised our children together. In High Point, we always had an open- door policy, you could stop by folks’ house anytime,” Montgomery remembers. “I was a working mother, but I always knew that if my kids needed something I could call Lydia, Marian, or Ms. White.“

In the early 1970s, the Mommas connected with the local Black Panthers party. The group held meetings at the High Point Community Center and the Mommas petitioned the City to provide space for the Black Panthers to serve a free breakfast for the community every Sunday.  

“High Point Housing projects was a life jacket because I was drowning real fast. I met many wonderful and strong women who have remained life-long friends; some closer to me than my own family,” said Pearl Thomas, a High Point Momma 

Looking Forward 

As we celebrate and honor the High Point Mommas, we are reminded of the power of a strong local community. At a time when people often feel divided and isolated, we hope learning about times when community came together to lift each other up and advocate for their needs can serve as an inspiration to meet your neighbors, lead with empathy, and lend a helping hand to those in need.  

Stay tuned for more stories about the High Point Mommas and check out other published entries from our “Stories in Place” series.  

Is there a local place you would like to see highlighted in this series? Let us know! Reach out at DON_Communications@seattle.gov with the subject Stories in Place.