Substantial black population increase had
several effects
 mounting racial problems- growth of black consciousness and black culture
- increased advancement despite oppression
Racial barriers:
- blacks weren’t served in fine restaurants
- requested to sit in balconies in theatres
- could not swim at local pools
- refused lodging in city’s hotels
- not seen in managerial and administrative positions
Black entertainment
- Rollin and his brother Clyde Smith - musicians
- William Fowler – musician
Civic Involvement:
- George W. Thompson appointed deputy probation officer of Summit Co. juvenile court
- Dr. Charles R. Lewis, James Miller and Leon Gordy sought public offices
- Norman Kerr became clerk to County Surveyor
- Marvin Kendrick became Akron’s first black patrolman
- John Suddieth became Akron’s second black patrolman
Prominent Black businessmen:
- T.M. Fletcher – undertaker
- Henry Killings – produce merchant
- Frank E. Petite – sheet metal
- L.H. Foreman – restaurant
- A. Lavaine Bolar – printing
- Charles R. Lewis – physician
Prominent Businesswomen
- G. W. Turner – beauty culturist
- M.C. Bolar – beautician and dressmaker
- Mrs. Wimbish, C.l. Runa, Mrs. William Archer – grocery store managers
- Mary Upperman – grocery store, drug store, employment bureau, operated hand
laundry, rooming house
- Mae Pettigrew – beauty culturing – patronage was entirely white
 Black Athletes
- William Suddeth - athlete
- William "Big" Bell – football
- Earl "sheik" Delaney - football
- Gorilla
Jones – prizefighter
Black Churches
- Bethel Temple Apostolic – 1920s
- First Apostolic Faith Church – 1922
- Providence Baptist Church – 1923
- St. John CME – 1924
Black Organizations
- United Negro Improvement Association (UNIA) was founded in Akron
- Alpha Tau Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity was organized
Black Printed Media
- The Akron Informer
- The Black and White Chronicle
- The Negro Yearbook
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