This history of the black community of Indianapolis in the 20th century focuses on methods of political action—protracted negotiations, interracial coalitions, petition, and legal challenge—employed to secure their civil rights. These methods of “polite protest” set Indianapolis apart from many Northern cities. Richard B. Pierce looks at how the black community worked to alter the political and social culture of Indianapolis. As local leaders became concerned with the city’s image, black leaders found it possible to achieve gains by working with whites inside the existing power structure, while continuing to press for further reform and advancement. Pierce describes how Indianapolis differed from its Northern cousins such as Milwaukee, Chicago, and Detroit. Here, the city’s people, black and white, created their own patterns and platforms of racial relations in the public and cultural spheres.
This Black History Month, we honor Dr. James McCune Smith, a pioneering figure whose life and achievements have left an indelible mark on American history. As the first African American to earn a medical degree, Smith's journey from a New York City birth in 1813 to medical laurels in Glasgow, Scotland, embodies the relentless pursuit of excellence against all odds.
Discover the inspiring journey of Henry Boyd, an enslaved craftsman who rose to become a leading furniture entrepreneur in 19th-century Cincinnati.
In the United States, the month of February is known as Black History Month, an annual celebration of African American achievement and recognition of the group’s place in U.S. history.
