Title
To Honor and Recognize the History of Bronzeville and the Anniversary of The First Mayor of Bronzeville, Rev. N.L. Scarborough (AMENDED BY RES. 0123X-2019; PASSED 4/8/2019)
Body
WHEREAS, The city of Bronzeville was chartered and officially established October 1936 as a non-profit organization intended to be a unifier and create civic solidarity among African Americans Bronzeville boundaries were identified as, to the south: E. Broad, to the east: Woodland Ave., to the west: Cleveland Ave., to the north: Pennsylvania RR track.; and
WHEREAS, Bronzeville elected its own mayor on March 3, 1937 out of at least 70 people who ran for the highly sought out position. The first mayor, Rev. N.L. Scarborough, Senior Pastor of Trinity Baptist Church, became so popular that the Columbus Dispatch released a story in the Sunday paper describing Bronzeville and how it operates for the civic good of the City of Columbus.; and
WHEREAS, Rev. Scarborough’s inauguration featured Columbus Mayor, Myron Gessaman, who gave the opening inaugural address. During the inauguration Mayor Scarborough named an all African American cabinet to address Bronzeville’s social, political and economic needs.; and
WHEREAS, Bronzeville was the center for the arts and music for African American artists in the 20th century and known as the “Harlem” of Columbus. Famous musicians such as Duke Ellington, Count Basie, Nancy Wilson, James Brown and hometown heroes, Rashann Roland Kirk and Harry “Sweets” Edison would perform in one of the many clubs around the area.; and
WHEREAS, Prior to the Lincoln Theatre, there was the Ogden Theatre, a staple of the arts in Bronzeville. The Ogden was black owned and built with the intention to fulfill a then pressing need in the African-American community for its own cultural entertainment.; Now therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS: That this Council does hereby Honor and Recognize the History of Bronzeville and the Anniversary of...
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