Dallas' roots are deeply intertwined with African American history and culture as one of the largest Black settlements in the country, beginning in the antebellum period through the end of the Civil War. African American impact across Dallas society is as diverse as the citizens and rich economy that supports a Black population of 1.2 million+ residents.
In the Big D, you can feel the entrepreneurial spirit through the Dallas Black Chamber of Commerce, the first Black organization of its kind in the nation. You can visit historic neighborhoods like Hamilton Park, the South Boulevard/ Park Row Historic District, and the Historic Tenth Street District and feel a deep sense of connection to the history and community.
Enjoy an original show from local and national writers, actors and artists at Bishop Arts Theater Center or dance the night away with local, national, and international recording artists at the Riverfront Jazz Festival at the Black Academy of Arts & Letters. Stop by the African American Museum or the South Dallas Cultural Center and learn about the communities that set the framework for all the new development across the city. Explore the Dallas Arts District and experience a world-class concert from the world-renowned Dallas Black Dance Theater. Stop by Paul Quinn College, Dallas’s only HBCU, and channel that “we over me” spirit.
Whether it’s giving Deep Ellum its drawn-out name and rhythm and blues culture, lining the streets of South Dallas on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard for one of the largest MLK parades in the nation, or having some of the best eats in the rolling hills of Oak Cliff, you can feel the heritage and bold expression of Dallas’s Black communities and their impact influencing not only the City of Dallas, but making a tremendous impact on the rest of the country and around the world. Come experience a unique place where business, arts, and culture meet community!
Words by Harrison L. Blair, President & CEO, Dallas Black Chamber of Commerce
