Ohio inventions and firsts · Achievement · 1908
Cleveland Association of Colored Men
Garrett Morgan was among the officers of the Cleveland Association of Colored Men, organized in June 1908 by Black business and professional men to improve economic and social conditions.
At a glance
- Year
- 1908
- Company
- Cleveland Association of Colored Men
- Place
- Cleveland, Cuyahoga County ZIP 44114 · Cleveland · Cuyahoga County
The story
In June 1908 Black business and professional men in Cleveland organized the Cleveland Association of Colored Men. It grew out of the Cleveland Board of Trade, founded in 1905, which was an affiliate of Booker T. Washington's National Negro Business League.
Thomas W. Fleming was president and Jacob Reed vice-president. Garrett Morgan, an inventor and businessman, was among the officers, along with Robert Cheeks, John Redd, Dr. E. A. Dale and Alexander Martin Sr.
The association held weekly public meetings on issues facing Black Clevelanders, along with lectures, social events and charity projects, and it looked into discriminatory practices. It held annual Emancipation Celebration picnics at Luna Park with nationally known speakers such as Judge Robert Terrell. Its approach stressed self-reliance, in the belief that showing upward mobility would eventually win acceptance.
Morgan was also involved with the Cleveland Call newspaper, which gave the city's Black community a voice in print.
Timeline
- 1877-03-04: Garrett Morgan is born. (Paris, Kentucky) source
- 1905: The Cleveland Board of Trade, forerunner of the association, is founded. (Cleveland, OH) source
- 1908-06: Black business and professional men organize the Cleveland Association of Colored Men; Morgan is among its officers. (Cleveland, OH) source
- 1963-07-27: Morgan dies in Cleveland. (Cleveland, OH) source
What it changed
- Weekly public meetings gave Black Clevelanders a forum to discuss local issues.
- Annual Emancipation Celebration picnics at Luna Park drew nationally known speakers.
Why it matters
Self-help and civic organizing by Black Clevelanders.
Further reading
Sources
Confidence. Medium: the main facts were confirmed, but some details (often an address or ZIP code) were not.