It occurs to me, at the end of black history month that the first black President’s frequent visits overshadow the many firsts accomplished by a relatively disproportionate number of black people over the years. The Oak Bluffs exhibit at the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture celebrates our small town as a Place of Pride. Frequently sold out since its opening last fall — and already nicknamed the ‘Blacksonian’ — several of our notables are acknowledged, certainly Dorothy West and Adam Clayton Powell Jr. among them. Posterity will look to the rest of us to remember other people who have added to our rich heritage.

One was John Saunders, a former slave who was the first to bring Methodism here in 1787. Bishop Alvin A. Childs founded the Faith Temple Church of God in Harlem where he was elected unofficial mayor in 1964. Bishop Childs died here August 11, 1973. Another was the Rt. Rev. John Melville Burgess, the first African-American to preside as bishop over an Episcopal diocese in the country. Bishop Burgess lived in Vineyard Haven, his life was celebrated at a service here in 2012 at Trinity Church in the Camp Ground. Reverend Joseph H. Evans became the first African American President of the United Church of Christ in 1976. Today the United Church has a Scholarship in his name for African-American seminary students.

The Highlands Clarence Leroy Holte was one of if not the first black executives in the advertising industry and was inducted into the American Advertising Federation Hall of Fame. Oak Bluffs’ Phillip L. Clay authored one of the first studies documenting urban gentrification and served on the national commission that recommended the policy become part of the Housing Act of 1990. He was also the first black person to be appointed chancellor of MIT.

C.B. Powell of Tuckernuck avenue was the first African American X-ray specialist and owned New York’s Amsterdam News. Sylvia Rhone of East Chop became the first black person to head a major record company as CEO of the Elektra Entertainment Group in 1994 — and is still the only African American woman to do so. Dr. Adelaide M. Cromwell was the first to recognize Oak Bluffs as a popular resort for blacks in the Dukes County Intelligencer in 1984. Born in Washington, DC, she attended school with America’s first elected black Senator, Edward W. Brooke who paved the way for Senator Barack Obama — who became our first black President. That’s only a few of many Oak Bluffs’ firsts.

Wednesday, the Oak Bluffs Town Hall Building Committee invites everyone for an open house and tour of the new Fire/EMS building from noon to 7 p.m. The event is for the committee to share the concepts for a new building to replace our dilapidated town hall that is bereft of handicap access to mention one of its shortcomings. Parking is available on Fire House Lane and the gathering starts in the first floor conference room. Committee members have planning documents, sketches and photos available for review, and of course will be interested in your thoughts. Light refreshments will be available. For more information, visit oakbluffsma.gov.

Big news at The Ritz; Ben Deforest has become managing partner and co-owner with Larkin and Jackie Stallings as renovations begin for a grand opening this season of the Ritz’ Soul Food Kitchen & Barbeque. Congratulations. In other gustatory news, there are plans for frozen yogurt next door to the Game Room, pizza at The Loft.

Freedom from slavery came to Massachusetts in 1783 and a host of Oak Bluffs’ abolitionists: Jeremiah Pease, Hebron Vincent, Robert Morris Copeland, Ebenezer Lamson and Ichabod Norton Luce were among those who helped make the promise a reality in setting the stage for Oak Bluffs to become a Place of Pride – a place where folks who were firsts in America can come and be like everyone else.

Keep your foot on a rock.

Send Oak Bluffs news to sfinley@mvgazette.com.