African Americans have made the Fargo-Moorhead area their home ever since the towns were founded 150 years ago. Each of us has our own story and reasons for living where we do, but most often, we fit patterns made by big historical trends. The largest communities of African Americans are in southern states whose economies were once based on slavery or in cities that offered good-paying manufacturing jobs during the Great Migration in the 20th century. Neither of these trends describes Fargo-Moorhead, so our African-American community was numerically small during the 1800s and 1900s.
Each individual who made this their home was an exception to the rules, living lives contrary to the big patterns of history. This exhibit is about some of those exceptional people.
In the last 25 years, our community has become a magnet for immigrants from Africa and countries of the African Diaspora. Education and economic opportunities have enticed thousands of African Americans from around the country to make their home here just in the last two decades.
Each individual who made this their home was an exception to the rules, living lives contrary to the big patterns of history. This exhibit is about some of those exceptional people.
In the last 25 years, our community has become a magnet for immigrants from Africa and countries of the African Diaspora. Education and economic opportunities have enticed thousands of African Americans from around the country to make their home here just in the last two decades.
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The Historical and Cultural Society of Clay County would like to thank everyone who helped us with this exhibit. Here are a few by name.
Exhibit Advisors
Yvonne Condell, Kayla Jones, Richard Worea, Gracia Sanchez-Dekarske, Gabby Clavo
Additional thank to the following for their knowledge and assistance
Rick Henderson, Darci Ashe, Jered Pigeon, Emily Reynolds Historic Costume Collection NDSU, Missy Hermes and the Otter Tail County Historical Society, University of Missouri Kansas City, NDSU Archives, MSUM Archives, Davin Wait, Kim Baird and the Quilters Guild of North Dakota, Kenneth and Sharon Holley, Mara Morken, Rachel Stone, Johnathan Judd and Tammi Fortney, Wil Dort and Skill Cutz, Delson Saintel and Dakota Barber Academy, Carl Griffin, Bill Law, Davis Scott, Siri Fiebiger, John Rowell, Marv Degerness, Ineke Justitz, and the members of the Historical and Cultural Society of Clay County.
Exhibit Advisors
Yvonne Condell, Kayla Jones, Richard Worea, Gracia Sanchez-Dekarske, Gabby Clavo
Additional thank to the following for their knowledge and assistance
Rick Henderson, Darci Ashe, Jered Pigeon, Emily Reynolds Historic Costume Collection NDSU, Missy Hermes and the Otter Tail County Historical Society, University of Missouri Kansas City, NDSU Archives, MSUM Archives, Davin Wait, Kim Baird and the Quilters Guild of North Dakota, Kenneth and Sharon Holley, Mara Morken, Rachel Stone, Johnathan Judd and Tammi Fortney, Wil Dort and Skill Cutz, Delson Saintel and Dakota Barber Academy, Carl Griffin, Bill Law, Davis Scott, Siri Fiebiger, John Rowell, Marv Degerness, Ineke Justitz, and the members of the Historical and Cultural Society of Clay County.