Category: African American History

The HARRIET TUBMAN MUSEUM AND CULTURAL ASSN., an African-American history center, traces its origins back to the 1960s, when Hanif Wahab began collecting African-American artifacts and documents. These items were stored in his home until 1987, when some were displayed on the second floor of the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. branch of the CLEVELAND PUBLIC LIBRARY.

HAWKINS, JALACY "SCREAMIN JAY" (18 July1929 - 12 February 2000), was born  in Cleveland Ohio. Being one of eight children, Hawkins was orphaned as an infant. He was adopted at 18 months old by a Blackfoot Indian couple who raised him. He learned how to play the piano as well as to read and write music by the time he turned four years old.

HILL, DAVID (1928/9? - 2001) was a Black nationalist, religious leader, civil rights advocate, self-avowed rabbi of the HOUSE OF ISRAEL organization/sect, and eccentric.

HOLY TRINITY PARISH was established by Bishop RICHARD GILMOUR on May 27, 1880 to serve the growing community of GERMAN CATHOLICS residing east of what is now East 55th Street along Woodland Avenue.

The HOUGH AREA DEVELOPMENT CORP. (HADC), a locally based organization formed in the spring of 1967 to direct neighborhood redevelopment after the HOUGH RIOTS, undertook several ambitious programs before becoming inactive in 1984.

THE I PROMISE SCHOOL (IPS) is a public school in Akron Ohio, dedicated to serving the needs of underprivileged children in grades 1 through 8. It is operated by the Akron public school district and is supported by funds from the Lebron James Family Foundation.

JACKSON JR, BENJAMIN CLARENCE BULL MOOSE (22 April 1919 - 31 July 1989), was a prominent African-American blues singer and saxophone player whose musical career boomed in the 1940’s. 

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JASPER,  AUSTIN LEONARD "JACK" (15 March 1906 – 6 July 1996) was a schoolteacher and one of the first African American volunteers for the Boy Scouts of America (BSA) in Anniston, Alabama, and later a BSA professional serving Black scouts in Cleveland, Ohio. Born in Woodlawn, Virginia, to Daniel W. and Martha E. (Thomas) Jasper, Jasper had eight siblings and attended high school in Washington, DC.

The JAZZ TEMPLE was an influential establishment in the Cleveland JAZZ scene. Founded in 1962 by Winston Willis, the Jazz Temple’s existence was cut short due to several threats and acts of violence in 1965.

Jones, George Gibson (a. 1871-27 October 1949), businessman, artist, and inventor was a long-time resident of the GLENVILLE Neighborhood in Cleveland and best known for being the country's only African-American owner of a brass foundry.

LAMBRIGHT, MIDDLETON H. JR. (7 Nov.

LEE-HARVARD is a Cleveland neighborhood and Statistical Planning Area (SPA) on the city’s southeast side. It is roughly bounded by Miles Ave. on the south, Scottsdale Blvd. on the north, E. 154th St. on the west, and E. 190th St. and Shadywood and Larkspur Lns. on the east.

LEE-SEVILLE is a Cleveland neighborhood and Statistical Planning Area (SPA) on the city’s southeast side. It is bounded roughly by Miles Ave.

LEVERT, GERALD (13 July 1966 – 10 November 2006), was a significant African-American vocalist, songwriter and producer. 

LEVERT, SEAN (28 September 1968 – 30 March  2008), was a famous African-American singer. 

LEWIS, FANNIE (6 June 1926 - 11 August 2008) was the Ward 7 representative for the CLEVELAND CITY COUNCIL, an area that included the city's Hough neighborhood, for almost thirty years.

LOCKWOOD JR, ROBERT (27 March 1915 – 2 November 2006), was a prolific AFRICAN-AMERICAN blues musician who was taught guitar by Robert Johnson, one of the most influential figures in blues history. Lockwood would build on his