The Unique Black History of Asheville

By Henry Robinson

Carter G. Woodson believed that people without knowledge of the past, would have difficulties charting their future; and in 1926, he did something about it!

Woodson, a brilliant scholar and also known as the father of Black History, clearly understood at the time that African-Americans could not develop a collective sense of pride and self-worth, unless they had accurate and reliable knowledge of their history. So, he and a small band of scholars organized Negro History Week. The observance was later known as Black History Month.

Meanwhile, Asheville welcomed its own version of Carter G. Woodson when local historian Johnny Baxter returned to Asheville in the 1940’s, after years of residing in New York.

Baxter could recite times, dates, and locations of events that occurred shortly after the end of slavery in Asheville. He was a (noted) key figure in the Lucy S. Herring “Black Highlanders” collection, archived at the University of North Carolina – Asheville. He also led an effort to have the YMI (Cultural Center) building placed on the Registrar of Historic Places.

The staff of the Urban News decided to test the knowledge of its readers with the following quiz on Black History events of the Asheville area. The answers are also provided in this edition. However, before you cheat… see how many questions you can answer with your knowledge of our great town!

Asheville – Black History Quiz

(1)    Give the name of the first prominent African-American building contractor in Asheville who constructed numerous buildings in downtown Asheville including the Asheville Municipal Building housing the Asheville Police Department and Asheville Fire Department. He also supervised the construction of Mount Zion Missionary Baptist Church, Eagle Street and St. Matthias Episcopal Church on Dundee Street.
(2)    Where was Asheville’s first African-American hospital located, and the name of its’ founding physician?
(3)    Who was the first African-American licensed mortician in Asheville?
(4)    Who established the first Buncombe County “Colored” Fair for black people?
(5)    Who was the first African-American physician in Asheville?
(6)    Name the first two African-American men with businesses on East Pack Square.
(7)    Give the name of the black man who cast the deciding vote to bring the public school system to Asheville.
(8)    Where was the first school for black students located?
(9)    Who was the first African-American to serve on the Asheville Board of Aldermen?
(10)    What year was the first African-American owned newspaper organized?
(11)    Give the name of the African-American school that burned, killing seven children.
(12)    Where was the Asheville Colored Hospital located?
(13)    Who organized the Asheville Branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP)?
(14)    What year did the city school system begin construction on Catholic Hill School?
(15)    Give the date that African-American students and faculty were allowed to enter the newly built Stephens-Lee High School.