Black History in Colorado

In honor of Black History Month, it’s important to recognize the significant contributions of Black individuals and organizations in Colorado who have championed housing equity, youth development, healthcare access, and more to create a more inclusive space for all:

• The Colorado Black Youth Alliance, formed in 2018, has registered thousands of new young voters and advocated for legislation affecting young people. Teen members of the Mayor’s Youth Commission have been instrumental in developing programs addressing mental health resources for minority youth.
• The Allegro Music Club, founded in the 1940s, was a youth music organization that provided opportunities for young Black musicians in Denver when they were excluded from many mainstream venues and programs.
• Cleo Parker Robinson founded the renowned dance theater housed in the historic 100-year-old Shorter Community AME Church building in Denver. The organization serves as a cultural hub, offering programs that engage youth and adults in the arts, promoting mental health, wellness, and cultural education.
• Omar Blair became the first Black president of the Denver School Board in 1973, championing educational equality and integration.
• Rachel Noel’s landmark resolution in 1968 led to the desegregation of Denver Public Schools, making Denver one of the first major cities outside the South to address school segregation.
• Clara Brown, known as the “Angel of the Rockies,” was a former enslaved woman who became a community leader and philanthropist in Colorado. She assisted formerly enslaved individuals in settling during Colorado’s Gold Rush, and her efforts in supporting housing and basic needs were pivotal during the state’s early development.
• Dr. Justina Ford was Colorado’s first African American female physician. Despite facing racial and gender barriers, she provided medical care to diverse communities in Denver, often serving patients who were denied care elsewhere, leaving a lasting impact on the state’s medical community.
• Mildred Nilon became the University of Colorado Boulder’s first African American librarian in 1962. Beyond her role at the university, she and her husband, Charles Nilon, actively worked to end housing segregation in Boulder. Their efforts paved the way for other African American families to purchase homes without discrimination, promoting equitable housing opportunities.
• Wellington Webb served as Denver’s first Black mayor (1991-2003), overseeing major developments including DIA and the revitalization of Lower Downtown.
• The Five Points Jazz Festival now includes a Youth Stage featuring young Black musicians celebrating the neighborhood’s rich jazz heritage, connecting youth to Colorado’s Black cultural history.