A Brief History
Esteban, A 16th Century Explorer
Probably the first person of African heritage who came to this area was
a member of a Spanish expedition. [Smith, 10-12] Esteban was originally from Morocco, and was a slave to a Spaniard. He first arrived in the New World in
1528 with a group sent to Florida to capture Hernan Cortes. Illness and hostile Indian tribes forced the group to
leave Florida and flee into the Gulf of Mexico. They were eventually captured by
other Indians. Esteban was one of a group who escaped from their captors. Then he joined a group led by a priest, Fray Marcos
de Niza, who were searching for the legendary Seven Cities of Cibola.
The group traveled through Guadalajara, Compostela,
Culiacan, Topia, Petatlan, Vacapa, and Corazones into what is Arizona today.
They followed the San Pedro River Valley north until finally reaching the Zuni city Cibola. Esteban reached the
city before the rest of the group, and accounts of his fate vary. Some believe he died there. Other reports say that the Zuni
rescued him from slavery by reporting that he had died. They then allowed Esteban to live among them and raise a family.
Two of the first recorded African American settlers in Tucson,
Mr. and Mrs. Wiley Box, came to this area between 1850 and 1855. They journeyed here from New Orleans and Oklahoma respectively. Wiley Box found work doing manual labor, stage coach driving, and
prospecting. Other early settlers included Joe Mitchell, who was a barber and chicken rancher, Harvey Merchant, who was a
cook and a cowboy, and Charley "Banjo Dick" Williams. [Henry, p.90] Edmond Robinson arrived in Tucson
in the 1890's. By 1905 he and his wife were running a two-story rooming house in Tucson whose tenants
included "a German baker, Irish carpenter and Orientals." [Sanchez] By 1900, records show that 86 persons lived in Tucson
who identified themselves as of African descent.
Many of the African Americans coming to this region were leaving the southern
states looking for new opportunities to establish roots, raise families, and escape racial persecution. Others came to the
area as soldiers stationed at Ft. Apache or Ft. Huachuca.
The type of employment found by these early pioneers varied. Some started
homesteads or ranches. In the late 1800's and early 1900's, almost all barbers in the area were Black. Some individuals, such
as Arthur Lewis, Frank Denkins, and George Braggs, owned their own shops and were able to offer jobs to others. Shoe shine
parlors and restaurants were among the businesses that African Americans opened. Others found work as cooks in local hotels.
There were African American families who built homesteads and maintained farms. In the early 1900's the Preston Family owned
160 acres near what is now the Palo Verde Overpass. Joe Montcrief and Mary Felix also owned ranches in that area. [Yancey]
Significant numbers of African Americans worked for the Southern Pacific
Railroad. Some performed manual labor by repairing the tracks. Others worked as machinists in the railroad shops, or as baggage
handlers and porters. Mining and prospecting brought others to Arizona including Charley Embers who
arrived here in 1861.
African Americans could only buy or rent homes and businesses in certain
areas of town. Both legal restrictions and the actions of Anglo settlers enforced this discriminatory policy. Many African
Americans chose the A Mountain area to build homes.
These African American settlers had come to Arizona
Territory searching for freedom and opportunity. Rising above the hardships and racial discrimination
they experienced, African Americans helped build the city we know today. They contributed to the vitality of the early Tucson
community, as family members, businessmen, and citizens.
The African American community also worked to end racial hatred and discrimination
through organized activities and education. In 1884, they formed the "Wide-Awake Colored Club," a political organization that
worked to keep its members informed about the political issues facing the community and supported various political candidates.
By 1918, the Tucson chapter of the NAACP was formed. Tucson's African
American community can be proud of the role they have taken challenging discrimination.
Taken from "In the Steps of Esteban" for more click
on link below.
