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Delaware's African American History

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Wafa Hozien
Wafa Hozien

For any day of the year or for Black History Month these are notable African Americans from the state of Delaware.

1 of 24
Delaware’s Founding African American Dignitaries Wafa Hozien, Ph.D.
Reverend Absalom Jones (1746- 1818)
Reverend Absalom Jones • Born into slavery he managed to educate himself at night. • After being freed he became a lay preacher. • With Richard Allen, he established the Free African Society to aid in the emancipation of slaves. • In 1787 he founded the Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church (AME) after he was asked to move to the back of the church during prayers. • He became the first ordained black Episcopalian minister in America and later became a bishop. • Was also a civic leader in Delaware and did much for the black community.
Rev. Peter Spencer (1782-1843)
Rev. Peter Spencer • Born into slavery but was freed upon the death of his master. • Moved to Wilmington, Delaware. • In 1813 he founded the Union Church of Africans in Wilmington, Delaware • He is seen as the father of the Independent Black Church in America. • Built many churches and schools that helped in the development in the black community. • Established the tradition of the ‘August Quarterly’ a religious revival event that is the oldest folk festival in Delaware (1814).
Abraham D. Schadd (1801–1882)
Abraham D. Schadd • The son of a Hessian Soldier and a free black woman. • He ran a shoe shop in Wilmington Delaware. • Active in the Abolitionist Movement and sheltered fugitive slaves in his home. • Helped to found the American Anti-Slavery (1833). Schadd opposed schemes to return freed slaves to Africa. • A delegate at the 19th National Negro Convention, which sought justice for both enslaved and free blacks. • Moved to Canada after the passing of the Fugitive Act (1850) as he felt he was in danger. • Became of the first elected black official in Canada.
Samuel D. Burris (1813-1863)
Samuel D. Burris • A free black man from Kent County, Delaware. • He became a conductor on the ‘Underground Railway’. He helped fugitive slaves despite Delaware state law declaring it to be illegal. • Burris was imprisoned for his work. In prison he wrote letters and these were published in Abolitionist newspapers. • He was sold into servitude but was rescued by an abolitionist who posed as a plantation owner. • Burris escaped to San Francisco and was active in the local Black Church and raised funds for escaped slaves.
Edwina Kruse (1848-1930)
Edwina Kruse • Born in Puerto Rico to a German father and Cuban mother she immigrated to Delaware in 1852 • Taught in a number of schools in southern Delaware • Established the Howard High School in Wilmington. The only High School for Black students in Delaware. • Committed to teacher training and high academic standards • Howard High also became a public health dispensary for the black community • Many of the graduates of the High School became prominent leaders in the Black community.
William Julius "Judy" Johnson (1899 – 1989)
William Julius "Judy" Johnson • The son of a boxing coaching he was originally a boxer but switched to baseball • Played with the Madison Stars of Philadelphia, a semi-pro outfit as a teen and later joined the pro-team Hilldale. • Played in the Negro Baseball League • Played with Hilldale in the First Negro World Series and later won it with Hilldale • After retiring became a coach and scout • In 1954 became the first Black coach at a Major League Baseball team • Because of racism never played in the Major League but was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame (1975)
Alice Dunbar Nelson (1875- 1935)
Alice Dunbar Nelson • Born into a Creole family in New Orleans. • Became a poet and writer and also a pioneering African-American female journalist • Married the famous poet Paul Laurence Dunbar but the marriage ended because of his violence. • Her stories and poems made her famous and she was also an educator at Howard High School • Urged black women to support the war effort during WWI as a way to end racial violence and segregation. • Through her journalism she promoted socially progressive causes. • Was active in the NACCP and the passage of anti-lynching laws in the 1920s. • She also bravely spoke out against racism and miscarriages of justice.
Jane Evelyn Watson Mitchell (1921 -2004)
Jane Evelyn Watson Mitchell • Born in Pennsylvania but grew up in Wilmington, Delaware • Graduated as a nurse but was refused employment in Delaware because of her race. • She was the first black nurse to work in a hospital in Delaware. • Worked at the Delaware Psychiatric Hospital and became its director. • Worked with her husband Littleton P. Mitchel (a former Tuskegee Airman) in the civil rights movement and was leader of the NAACP in Delaware. • The Jane and Littleton Mitchell Center for African American Heritage was established to honor her and her husbands work.
Louise L. Redding (1911-1988)
Louise L. Redding • Born in Virginia and moved to Delaware as a child. • After great hardship received a degree from Brown University (1923). • Taught at Moorhouse College and obtained a law degree from Harvard University. • Become first black member of the Delaware Bar. • Wins a case that obliges the University of Delaware to admit black students. • Part of legal team in the case of Brown v. Board of Education before U.S. Supreme Court. This abolished racial segregation in American schools. • Became a public defender in Delaware (1965). • Known as ‘Mr Civil Rights’ in Delaware.
Herman Holloway, Sr. (1922-1994)
Herman Holloway, Sr. • In his youth he was a boxer, police officer, and bar worker • Went into politics to help the poor and the black community. Remembered as an astute politician • Was first elected to the Delaware House of Representatives (1954) • Often worked with the Democrats but was an independent voice especially on issues such as social justice and race • Promoted an ‘open housing bill’ that did much to end racial discrimination in housing • Played a pivotal role in passing socially progressive and civil rights legislation in Delaware
Bryan Stevenson: Milton, DE Cape Henlopen HS Graduate November 14, 1959
Bryan Stevenson: American Lawyer • He is an American lawyer, social justice activist, founder/executive director of the Equal Justice Initiative, and a law professor at New York University. • Based in Montgomery, Alabama, Stevenson has challenged bias against the poor and minorities in the criminal justice system, especially children. • He has saved dozens of prisoners from the death penalty, advocated for the poor, and developed community-based reform litigation aimed at improving the administration of criminal justice. • He argues that the history of slavery and lynching's has influenced the subsequent high rate of death sentences in the South, where it has been disproportionately applied to minorities. • He was depicted in the movie Just Mercy which is based on his memoir Just Mercy: A Story of Justice and Redemption. • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dXNKdSt4JFU&ab_channel=NBCNews
References • Holmes Carol (2020, 11 February). Commentary: Delaware has its own black history figures. Delaware State news. • Marks, Carole (ed.) (2000). A History of African Americans of Delaware and Maryland's Eastern Shore. The Christian Council of Delaware and Maryland’s. The Christian Council of Delaware and Maryland’s Eastern Shore and the University of Delaware Black American Studies Department

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Delaware's African American History

  • 1. Delaware’s Founding African American Dignitaries Wafa Hozien, Ph.D.
  • 3. Reverend Absalom Jones • Born into slavery he managed to educate himself at night. • After being freed he became a lay preacher. • With Richard Allen, he established the Free African Society to aid in the emancipation of slaves. • In 1787 he founded the Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church (AME) after he was asked to move to the back of the church during prayers. • He became the first ordained black Episcopalian minister in America and later became a bishop. • Was also a civic leader in Delaware and did much for the black community.
  • 5. Rev. Peter Spencer • Born into slavery but was freed upon the death of his master. • Moved to Wilmington, Delaware. • In 1813 he founded the Union Church of Africans in Wilmington, Delaware • He is seen as the father of the Independent Black Church in America. • Built many churches and schools that helped in the development in the black community. • Established the tradition of the ‘August Quarterly’ a religious revival event that is the oldest folk festival in Delaware (1814).
  • 7. Abraham D. Schadd • The son of a Hessian Soldier and a free black woman. • He ran a shoe shop in Wilmington Delaware. • Active in the Abolitionist Movement and sheltered fugitive slaves in his home. • Helped to found the American Anti-Slavery (1833). Schadd opposed schemes to return freed slaves to Africa. • A delegate at the 19th National Negro Convention, which sought justice for both enslaved and free blacks. • Moved to Canada after the passing of the Fugitive Act (1850) as he felt he was in danger. • Became of the first elected black official in Canada.
  • 9. Samuel D. Burris • A free black man from Kent County, Delaware. • He became a conductor on the ‘Underground Railway’. He helped fugitive slaves despite Delaware state law declaring it to be illegal. • Burris was imprisoned for his work. In prison he wrote letters and these were published in Abolitionist newspapers. • He was sold into servitude but was rescued by an abolitionist who posed as a plantation owner. • Burris escaped to San Francisco and was active in the local Black Church and raised funds for escaped slaves.
  • 11. Edwina Kruse • Born in Puerto Rico to a German father and Cuban mother she immigrated to Delaware in 1852 • Taught in a number of schools in southern Delaware • Established the Howard High School in Wilmington. The only High School for Black students in Delaware. • Committed to teacher training and high academic standards • Howard High also became a public health dispensary for the black community • Many of the graduates of the High School became prominent leaders in the Black community.
  • 13. William Julius "Judy" Johnson • The son of a boxing coaching he was originally a boxer but switched to baseball • Played with the Madison Stars of Philadelphia, a semi-pro outfit as a teen and later joined the pro-team Hilldale. • Played in the Negro Baseball League • Played with Hilldale in the First Negro World Series and later won it with Hilldale • After retiring became a coach and scout • In 1954 became the first Black coach at a Major League Baseball team • Because of racism never played in the Major League but was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame (1975)
  • 15. Alice Dunbar Nelson • Born into a Creole family in New Orleans. • Became a poet and writer and also a pioneering African-American female journalist • Married the famous poet Paul Laurence Dunbar but the marriage ended because of his violence. • Her stories and poems made her famous and she was also an educator at Howard High School • Urged black women to support the war effort during WWI as a way to end racial violence and segregation. • Through her journalism she promoted socially progressive causes. • Was active in the NACCP and the passage of anti-lynching laws in the 1920s. • She also bravely spoke out against racism and miscarriages of justice.
  • 17. Jane Evelyn Watson Mitchell • Born in Pennsylvania but grew up in Wilmington, Delaware • Graduated as a nurse but was refused employment in Delaware because of her race. • She was the first black nurse to work in a hospital in Delaware. • Worked at the Delaware Psychiatric Hospital and became its director. • Worked with her husband Littleton P. Mitchel (a former Tuskegee Airman) in the civil rights movement and was leader of the NAACP in Delaware. • The Jane and Littleton Mitchell Center for African American Heritage was established to honor her and her husbands work.
  • 19. Louise L. Redding • Born in Virginia and moved to Delaware as a child. • After great hardship received a degree from Brown University (1923). • Taught at Moorhouse College and obtained a law degree from Harvard University. • Become first black member of the Delaware Bar. • Wins a case that obliges the University of Delaware to admit black students. • Part of legal team in the case of Brown v. Board of Education before U.S. Supreme Court. This abolished racial segregation in American schools. • Became a public defender in Delaware (1965). • Known as ‘Mr Civil Rights’ in Delaware.
  • 21. Herman Holloway, Sr. • In his youth he was a boxer, police officer, and bar worker • Went into politics to help the poor and the black community. Remembered as an astute politician • Was first elected to the Delaware House of Representatives (1954) • Often worked with the Democrats but was an independent voice especially on issues such as social justice and race • Promoted an ‘open housing bill’ that did much to end racial discrimination in housing • Played a pivotal role in passing socially progressive and civil rights legislation in Delaware
  • 22. Bryan Stevenson: Milton, DE Cape Henlopen HS Graduate November 14, 1959
  • 23. Bryan Stevenson: American Lawyer • He is an American lawyer, social justice activist, founder/executive director of the Equal Justice Initiative, and a law professor at New York University. • Based in Montgomery, Alabama, Stevenson has challenged bias against the poor and minorities in the criminal justice system, especially children. • He has saved dozens of prisoners from the death penalty, advocated for the poor, and developed community-based reform litigation aimed at improving the administration of criminal justice. • He argues that the history of slavery and lynching's has influenced the subsequent high rate of death sentences in the South, where it has been disproportionately applied to minorities. • He was depicted in the movie Just Mercy which is based on his memoir Just Mercy: A Story of Justice and Redemption. • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dXNKdSt4JFU&ab_channel=NBCNews
  • 24. References • Holmes Carol (2020, 11 February). Commentary: Delaware has its own black history figures. Delaware State news. • Marks, Carole (ed.) (2000). A History of African Americans of Delaware and Maryland's Eastern Shore. The Christian Council of Delaware and Maryland’s. The Christian Council of Delaware and Maryland’s Eastern Shore and the University of Delaware Black American Studies Department