Help US Black Heritage create/honor more African-American notables

Question

I'm creating this post as a both a call to action and a reference for others who create profiles for new notables. The US Black Heritage Project is playing "catch up" at WikiTree. What does that mean? We are hoping to create profiles for as many Black/African-American notables as we possibly can. We're behind, meaning many of our notables are not yet represented here. 

We use a slightly different standard in the USBH for what constitutes a notable. Not all of our notables will have WikiPedia pages because they're under represented there too. So for our definition, if they should have a WikiPedia page, they're notable. If they're notable on a more local level, that's okay too.

A question came up on a g2g post of why we're grouping Black American notables separately rather than just calling them American notables and here is my answer to that:

We have talked about this very thing in the project to great lengths. We are straddling a line between honoring them for doing great things as an African-American (against all odds) and not separating them out by "color." For now, we are deciding as a project to go ahead and group them as African-American notables because we want to honor and highlight these Americans in a big way and recognize what they had to overcome to achieve what they did.

Eventually, this need may change as our country changes. Our project is very aware of this issue and will be flexible and continue to be sensitive to the needs of the African-American community both in the country and at WikiTree.

Would you like to help us catch up? 

If you know of Black American notables who have profiles, but haven't been brought to our attention (not co-managed by the project or another project), please post here on an answer with their Wiki-IDs. If you know of a notable and they don't have a profile, please create one. Even if it's only a basic one. Please post the Wiki-ID here and we will ask to co-manage that profile with you so we can honor and highlight the person. 

Where can you find notables? Our Topical Teams page has lists of notables--many of them with profiles not yet created. Or you can just google your favorite group you like to work with (such as basketball players or actors).  Right now we're focusing only on non-living notables.

Do you want someone in the project to create a profile for a notable you have in mind? You can post that here too.

Thanks for helping us grow our Tree and represent a part of our population deserving of honor.

Comments

I will let you know the next time I come across a dozen or so folk who could do with profiles.  (I junked the list I used to have, because I simply could not create profiles for them.)

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Thanks, Melanie!

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How about Kim Hamilton?  Third wife of Werner Klemperer (whose profile could do with some TLC).  I looked, but did not find a profile for her.

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https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_Bibb

https://docsouth.unc.edu/neh/bibb/bibb.html

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I had a spare hour or two so I threw together a fairly minimal (by my standards :) ) profile for Kim Hamilton and improved Werner Klemperer. Klemperer was such a big part of my childhood and early adulthood (I still shake my fist and say "Ho-o-gan!" when someone frustrates me) that I wanted to source his profile a little bit and then things got outta control.

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Thank you for doing that.  I'd have loved to try Werner, but felt it a tad beyond my abilities regards American profiles -- plus I'm still working on the Kenny family (Australia).  

(I still shake my fist and say "Ho-o-gan!" when someone frustrates me)

I have - more than once - used "I know nothing . . . NOTHing . . ." and my kids always found it hilarious.  (A year or so ago I rewatched the entire series on youtube.  No idea if that's still possible, given how much gets taken down.)

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Thank you, Lola. I got Henry Bibb created.

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Ty, he is one of my ancestors, I just haven't made it that far.

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Lola, when you get to where your tree meets up with Henry Bibb, let me know and I'll get you added to his profile if you want.

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Ty, still have a bit to go...I just didn't want him left out.

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I want to nominate the mother and siblings of Fritz Pollard (the gridiron guy) -- because they are ALL worthy of note.  (Don't yet know anything about his father, but this is for Fritz's older brother Luther :

Luther, the second born of John and Amanda, was an all-star athlete. In high school he played on the football team and was one of the best pitchers on the baseball team. Luther tried to become a professional baseball player in the major leagues, but was not signed. At that time, no African Americans were allowed on any professional major league baseball team. When he failed to convince the scouts that he was actually a Native American, his baseball dreams were over. This was another racial incident that blacks of this time had to face. Despite the disappointment, Luther still played on an organized Rogers Park team.

Professionally, Luther became a life and accident insurance agent then worked as a manager of an advertising department. These careers did not completely satisfy him, and so in the spirit of his entrepreneur parents, he launched a lucrative moving picture production company called Ebony Film Corporation. According to stock certificates, his company was worth about $500,000 which translates to about $25 million today.

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Another brother, John Hughes "Hughes", was an :

an outstanding football player, but decided a career as a musician better suited him. This flamboyant gentleman joined the highly popular Chicago jazz group called the Melody Four as a drummer. He performed all over Europe and Australia with the group. Then Hugh joined the French army during WWI. Unfortunately, he died of complications due to a mustard gas attack. 

Source is a page called The Forgotten Pollards (found while working on Fritz's family for the upcoming EPOW).

edited to add WT link to Fritz 

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It seems to me that, even though he doesn't have a Wikipedia page, Cicely Tyson's cousin Edwin Schubert "Schubie" Swanston should be considered notable.  He was "a pianist, composer, arranger, organist and vocal coach, who was taught to play piano by his father, a piano tuner. At the tender age of eight, he gave his first solo performance." 

In 1949 he helped set up Vamp Studio (a voice studio), whose clients included Eartha Kitt and Shirley Jones.

 

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Here is a new one I just created.  Thinking he may be connected to my family, but still unable to verify.

Los Angeles art curator, Cecil Fergerson
https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Fergerson-73

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Thanks, Randall. I sent you a request on the profile. I love his title of "Living Cultural Treasure"

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Done!  I thought it was pretty cool, too.  The project will want to check out the 16+ hour Oral History Interview he gave in 1990.  Lots of great stuff in there.

Answer 1

Hi, Emma! While not focusing on a notable (or set of notables), I might start a mini-project for myself: blacks and mulattoes (the census term) that show up in the rare 1890 census for a part of River Bend Township in Gaston County. Any direction I might need? Stickers or such to emphasize these profiles?

Comments

An 1890 census! As rare as the unicorn!

Hi Pip. this is also an awesome project. I've been doing this for a town based on an 1880 census. I'm literally adding the entire Black population for that year. You can add the African-American sticker {{African-American Sticker}} so we can keep track of the profiles if you want to orphan them. You can also use a location category for that town so they'll all be grouped together. When I do this, I try to do a little genealogy on each family group to see if I can find the maiden name of the mother.

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Excellent! Thanks. After the 1890, I’m going to back up to the 1880 and see what I can find, then forward to the 1900.

There is a category for a River Bend, North Carolina, but I’m not sure it’s the township in Gaston County. I’ll have to look. If it is, I’ll include all those profiles into it.

Appreciate all the help, Emma!

Answer 2

I just created a profile for bass player James Jamerson.  I considered creating his profile earlier this year but found his background difficult to research and passed at the time.  Any assistance from the US Black Heritage project on his profile and his family connections would be much appreciated.

Comments

Awesome, thanks Greg. I'll bring him to the project's attention beginning of next week after the holidays.

Answer 3

https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Ellis-12368

Comments

https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Taylor-69324

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It doesn't look like george Floyd (d May 2020) has a profile yet.

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https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Garner-4472

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No wikitree profile yet? 

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ethel_Ayler

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Doesn't appear to have a profile yet: Alfred Thomas Farrar, Tuskegee airman  

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/nbcblk/ex-tuskegee-airman-alfred-thomas-farrar-dies-age-99-n1251918

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https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Boseman-9

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Here's a list of black women who played important roles in science. A few are still living:

https://www.biography.com/news/katherine-johnson-black-female-science-technology-engineering-mathematics

I'll stop now. Merry Christmas and thanks for doing this important work. 

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1976 Olympic gold medalist Arnie Robinson. I don't see a wiki profile 

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arnie_Robinson

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Another gold medalist. Rafer Johnson. Has a wikitree profile:

https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Johnson-100989

Also Helped subdue the assassin of Robert f Kennedy. 

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Feel free to keep adding to the list Jillaine, someone from the project will work their way through the list. I've been adding profiles all week as fast I can :-) Thanks!

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Noting here I've either created, added to the project, or requested to add to the project all the above mentioned profiles.

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You rock, Emma!

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https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Floyd-4388

Answer 4

https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Armstrong-5227

Louis Armstrong - famous trumpet player and probably one of the best who ever played.

Meadowlark Lemon - has a Wikipedia page, but I can't find a profile on WikiTree.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meadowlark_Lemon

However, his teammate, Curly Neal, does have a WikiTree profile:

https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Neal-5949

Comments

Gilbert Patterson - Pentecostal leader and minister. No WikiTree profile.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gilbert_E._Patterson?ref=wiki_100933

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I was surprised to find that the wife of pastor Tony Evans, Lois Irene (Cannings) Evans apparently does not qualify for a Wikipedia page (or at least doesn't have one currently) when she was a ministry partner with her husband, sang and recorded at least one album (likely more), wrote many articles and several books, was a valued guest speaker at numerous conventions and seminars, had a degree of her own and preached as well... regardless, I thin there's a strong case for her inclusion.

https://faithfullymagazine.com/lois-evans-obituary/

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Ida (Bell) Robinson - Pentecostal leader and minister - born 1891 so it's certain that she broke several barriers in standing up for her position in the church. No WikiTree profile.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ida_B._Robinson?ref=wiki_100933

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Benjamin Arnett, born 1838 - educator, minister, and member of the Ohio House of Representatives. Born a free black man in Pennsylvania. I couldn't find a WikiTree profile for him.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benjamin_W._Arnett?ref=wiki_100933

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Miles Davis, famous jazz musician and trumpeter.

https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Davis-7197

Sarah Vaughan, famous jazz singer and Grammy award winner.

https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Vaughan-1588

Charlie Mingus, Jr - famous jazz bassist and Grammy award winner. I couldn't find a WikiTree profile.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Mingus

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Thanks for the list, Scott. We have our work cut out for us!

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Noting I completed through Hairston-151 on this list so I don't lose my place.

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I went ahead and started on Meadowlark Lemon. I have his first draft of a biography done and am starting on his family. I have a number of names to add to his tree, so we'll see if we can't get his ancestry looking a bit better. I'm not a speedy profile creator, so it might take some work to get there.

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Awesome, thanks Scott. I've made it through your whole list and have either created a profile, added to the project, or sent a trusted list request for all of them.

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I've got about 65 profiles connected to Meadowlark's tree, but sadly no connection yet. Taking a break to do a bit of other family members, but I'll get back to him eventually. Last worked on the Harshaw line connected to his.

Answer 5

Not managed by the USBH project:

• Ron McNair
• Michael Philip Anderson
• Robert Henry Lawrence Jr.

It would be great to have at least one of the them connected by the scheduled Astronauts feature in January.

Comments

I've got them on the list. I hope I can get some time this weekend to try and connect at least one of them.

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https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Lowery-2911

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And Willa Beatrice Brown: https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Brown-111952

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Isabelle, I just got Michael Phillip Anderson connected. That was not easy!

I'll add your other two suggestions to our list. Thanks!

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Yay! Congratulations! Having tried to add a bit of family to Michael Philip Anderson I know it was definitely not easy!

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https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Carthan-1 and her poor son

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Etta James - singer...

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I found her profile, Isabelle. I'll add her to the list. Thanks!

https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Hawkins-12407

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Etta James...At Last....one of the best songs ever.

Answer 6

Interessed in participating nog only us American notables buy alsof other black notables.

Comments

I replied to your private message Jan. Thanks! Emma

Answer 7

Norris Wright Cuney  https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Cuney-5

Maud Cuney-Hare  https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Cuney-12

William Waring Cuney  https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Cuney-8

Comments

These are fabulous Bob. Thank you for bringing them to our attention. I sent you trusted list requests for all three and added the Notables Sticker.

Answer 8

Not positive whether he qualifies as a notable, but I have created profiles for Bishop L. Scott Allen and his wife. I have information on their parents, but have not created those profiles yet. He was the last person to be elected Bishop of the Central Jurisdiction before the racially separated entity was eliminated when the Methodist Church and the Evangelical United Brethren combined to form the United Methodist Church. 

He was the first African-American assigned as Bishop to a conference within the Southeast Jurisdiction of the United Methodist Church when he was assigned to the Holston Conference. He and his wife moved to Knoxville close to the church where my Dad was minister and in the same neighborhood as our parsonage. 

Comments

So sorry, I never did comment on your post that I have this profile in my list. When I get to it, I'll send you a message. I have a very long list of profiles to get through. yay!

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Sounds Good! I'll be attempting to research them both and trying to connect them.

Answer 9

Lucky Millinder 

Founding Father of R&B. New York and Chicago Bandleader of the 1930s-40s-50s. Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame Recipient.

https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Millinder-9

Comments

Hi Roger, I sent you a private message about your dad. Thanks!

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Thanks, Emma. I replied, as you know, and am proceeding as you suggested. I sent you another PM as well.

Answer 10

I don't have enough spare time right now to commit to this, but it sounds like a very worthy project. Perhaps these people already have profiles, but in case not, wikipedia has a long list of composers of African descent--most are African-American.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_composers_of_African_descent

Comments

Awesome list, thanks Alison. I'll add this to the project's proposed profile list.

Answer 11

What a great project!  I don't see a profile for Edward Dudley "Brown Dick" Brown.  I became aware of him only because his enslaver was the same man who brought my Scottish ancestors over.  I will get a simple one started but hope someone can put it in the tags and possibly fill it out more.

Comments

Brown-118184

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Thank, J.A. I sent you a message about his profile. Can you also add a link to his enslaver if the profile exists? Thanks! Emma

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I will try to create a profile for his enslaver as well as for another man enslaved with him who was also involved in horse racing.

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that would be great, thanks!

Answer 12

https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Turrentine-380

https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Hubbard-5145

https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Dodds-992

https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Scott-27095

https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Bocage-11

https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Calloway-658

Comments

Hi Mark, I'll reach out to you about the others, but the two from South Africa would fall under the S. Africa project. Any other Africa notables would fall under the Africa project for now. Thanks!

Answer 13

I came across a Black American notable while filling in some gaps in my own family tree.  Gwendolyn Bennetta Bennett [Bennett-29637].(the link won't copy).  She was a writer and educator.  She was hounded by the FBI for years for suspicion of Communist activity.  Her parents are also very interesting. They were educators who early in their careers taught at a Native American reservation and later moved to Washington, D.C. and taught at Howard.  Gwendolyn's life was fraught with discord first with her parents and then her first husband and the FBI.  I hope that the 40 years she spent married to my relative and running an antiques shop in Kutztown, PA was relaxed and loving, but you never know!  There is lots of information available about her early career and life.  The FBI file is also available.  It contains her marriage date so I did attach a link to her profile.  I hope that someone will be interested in expanding her profile and bringing to light another Black American family of note.

Comments

https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Bennett-29637

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I got it added to our list and sent you a message. Thanks, Leah!

Answer 14

I hope it was correct to enter my two suggestions separately.  I came across a Black New England family while researching my own family line.  While this family, may have been ordinary, they certainly need to be represented so I am hoping that someone will want to do some research into previously enslaved people of Andover, MA.

The person connected to my family is Zadoch Lew Freeman [Freeman-16141].  He was the son of  parents (Cato Freeman and and Lydia Bristow)  who were previously enslaved by the Phillips family of Andover, MA. He was one of 11 children and the family appears to have been a strong presence in early 19th Century Andover.  Their presence after 1830, however, begins to dwindle and easily (online) accessible resources have revealed little. I believe that Zadoch married a white woman (see 1830 census, 1 black male, 1 white female, 1 black female child) named Judith A. Page (no good sources found) and that they had a child, Lydia A. Freeman [Freeman-15876].  Lydia married George Washington Rextrow [Rextrow-5] and they had 2 surviving (5 total) children.

Thank you for organizing this project.  I hope that someone with some good experience researching enslaved people of New England will pick up this profile and bring this family to light.

Comments

Thanks, Leah. I sent you a message about this profile.

Answer 15

All I spoke with Emma and the Black Heritage group and I will be heading up this project...     If you have genealogy skills and willing to  work on new profile creation please reach out to me and we'll go from there! 

Answer 16

[[Hemings-8]] and her brother, who became Thomas Jefferson's chef [[Hemmings-105]]

Comments

Also their sister, Mary Hemings Bell (Hemmings-101), and their mother.

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Yeah, this whole family came on my radar during Dr. Gates' week because he's related to them through marriage.  I'm adding a whole list of them right now and we've got Sally added too. Thanks!

Answer 17

I stumbled across the Pine Street Colored Cemetery in Gallipolis, Gallia County, Ohio, so I have been going through setting up profiles for those interred there, researching them and linking them with family.  I came across one that is a notable but not on our notables list : Marian (Alexander) Spencer:

 https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Alexander-18547

I have a basic bio started,  would welcome anyone who wants to spruce it up.

I am feverishly adding African-American profiles for the February challenge, so I'll pass on this  one for now.

Comments

Awesome, Carolyn. Is there a category for the cemetery?

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Yes  there is already a  category for the cemetery .  I have been adding it to the profiles.

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Awesome!

Answer 18

I made a profile for Clarence Van Allen, a hero of World War I. (Being inspired to do so while working on the profile of a man who served in the same unit, but sadly died of the "grippe" while in France).

Answer 19

Florence Mills (the jazz singer, https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Winfrey-449) has a constellation of other notable people reaching out from her, whose profiles could use some work too:

Her husband, Ulysses S Thompson who was a singer, comedian, and dancer https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Thompson-64768

His second wife, Gertrude Curtis, the first licensed Black woman dentist in New York: https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Curtis-15136

Her first husband, Cecil Mack, a composer who wrote The Charleston: https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/McPherson-5523

Comments

Awesome, thanks Erin! I've picked these up for the project.

Answer 20

I've marked Dr. David Ivison Hoage as notable. (https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Hoage-25)

His profile could use a good writer. I'm sourcing away and I'll create a profile for his father Lafayette Hoage, who sounds amazing.

https://www.thisisrutherford.com/post/black-history-in-rutherford-and-neighboring-towns

Comments

Thanks, Kate! I just sent you a request on this profile.