African American History

September 2, 1927

Interesting Vineyarders: Rev. Oscar E. Denniston

Vineyard Gazette
The student of Vineyard history, at least such history as has been published, will recognize the fact that it was largely through the clergy that things were accomplished during the first hundred
African American History
Oscar E Denniston
Bradley Memorial Church
Denniston House
Profiles

1992

September 4, 1992

Gordon Parks: Artist Talks of His Life And Works

Mark Alan Lovewell
African American History
Gordon Parks
Photography
Artists
Life Magazine photographer Gordon Parks gave a talk at the Union Chapel in Oak Bluffs on Wednesday night. For the Vineyard it was  a first. The 79-year-old black artist not only in photography but in the fields of prose, poetry, movies and music stood before an audience of 150 people and said that he is creatively stronger than ever.
 
At every opportunity, the audience applauded. Included in a program of slides were not only photographs that are known around the world but images from his latest efforts, which will be published soon in a book.
 
February 21, 1992

Island Life and Early History of the NAACP: Two Women Share Threads of Reminiscence

W. C. Platt
African American History
Martha's Vineyard NAACP
Civil rights
Race and social justice
In the 1920s and ’30s, black families could not buy property in Edgartown. And although Oak Bluffs was a gathering place for black professionals back to the 19th century, their children, home from college, were seldom able to work as clerks in local shops.
 
When the civil rights movement spread across America in the 1960s, the Vineyard was separate in many ways. The black community here was prosperous and thriving, the regional high school was integrated and race relations were cordial.
 

1981

July 7, 1981

Judge Tucker Brings New Dignity To Sessions of Island Court

Joseph B. White
African American History
Edgartown courthouse
Edgartown district court
A man and woman charged recently with sleeping in Ocean Park, a violation of Oak Bluffs law, came before the Dukes county district court judge Herbert E. Tucker, Jr. and were ordered to pay a $25 fine. They told Judge Tucker they needed until 1 p.m. that afternoon to pay.
 
At 1 p.m., the couple did not appear. They had gone home to Fairhaven.
 

1978

August 29, 1978

Lois Mailou Jones: a Career with No End of Creativity

Susan Mutch
African American History
Artists
Lois Mailou Jones
There is no end to Lois Mailou Jones’ creative resources.
 
The name itself is poetry. A youthful, energetic 72, Lois Jones is the veteran of a long and fruitful career in the arts. Being black and a woman, her accomplishment is especially significant.
 
As early as age 14, composer Harry T. Burleigh had advised Lois that if she wished to establish a serious career, she would have to go abroad in order to get full exposer and avoid the disadvantage of being black in the United States.
 

1976

May 14, 1976

The School Superintendent: Man of Questions and Humor

Richard Reston
African American History
Education
Superintendent of schools
His education began in the anthracite regions of Pennsylvania, in small towns like Shepton and Port Carbon.
 
He had come to the smoky mining areas of the state as a young lad from Front Royal, Va., his birthplace, a small resort community nestled in the Blue Ridge mountains. His father was a successful auto mechanic after long military service in the army.
 

1972

October 20, 1972

Open Door Club Now A Memory: Mrs. Edna Smith, Founder Sells Her Home

Vineyard Gazette
African American History
Open Door Club

The little white house behind shrubs at the corner of Cooke street and Tilton Way that, for more than three decades, has been a home away from home for household help in Edgartown, no longer will be welcoming the lonely next summer.

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