The Black Maroons of Florida (1693-1850)

The Black Maroons of Florida, also known as Black Seminoles, Seminole Maroons, and Seminole Freedmen, were a community derived from Runaway slaves who integrated into American Indian culture. They were mostly Gullah fugitives who escaped from the rice plantations in South Carolina and Georgia who … Read MoreThe Black Maroons of Florida (1693-1850)

Hispanics Replace African Americans as the Largest Group of Color in the U.S. (2003)

On July 1, 2003, the U.S. Census reported for the first time that Hispanics outnumbered African Americans to become the largest group of color in the United States. This population shift, while not unexpected, occurred more quickly than demographers had anticipated. As late as 1980, … Read MoreHispanics Replace African Americans as the Largest Group of Color in the U.S. (2003)

Rhode Island Constitution of 1842

After American independence most states wrote constitutions that mirrored the national constitution with minor differences. The state of Rhode Island was an exception.  It retained the Royal Charter of 1663 granted by the British crown. Under that charter only adult male citizens who owned at … Read MoreRhode Island Constitution of 1842

A Brief History of African American Suburbanization

Although Black Americans have lived on the outskirts of major American cities since colonial times, Black suburbanization, that is the significant presence of African Americans in suburban communities, is a post-1960 phenomenon. The modern American suburb is a 20th century development as homebuilders, responding to … Read MoreA Brief History of African American Suburbanization

Black Cowboys in the 19th Century West (1850-1900)

The earliest evidence of African Americans as cattle herders (cowboys) in North America can be traced back to colonial South Carolina, where stock grazers from what is now Senegal in West Africa were specifically brought to that colony because of their unique skills. They were … Read MoreBlack Cowboys in the 19th Century West (1850-1900)

African Americans on Western Cattle Drives (1867-1885)

Post-Civil War cattle drives from Texas north to railroad depots in Missouri, Kansas, and Colorado were a necessary part of the American economy in the late 19th century. The nation’s growing demand for beef, coupled with the concentration of beef cattle in Texas, led that … Read MoreAfrican Americans on Western Cattle Drives (1867-1885)

Black Women and the Wyoming Women’s Suffrage Act (1869- )

Fifty years before the 19th Amendment was passed, Wyoming legislators enacted the Wyoming Women’s Suffrage Act in 1869. The bill granted women in the Wyoming Territory the right to vote, free from restrictions such as property ownership, monetary requirements, or marital status requirements. This meant … Read MoreBlack Women and the Wyoming Women’s Suffrage Act (1869- )