February is a month to celebrate, learn and recognize African Americans and Black history. In honor of Black History Month, we’re taking a look back at the history of Black Americans in Minnesota.
Since the 1800s, African Americans have been a part of Minnesota. With slavery illegal in Minnesota from its founding, it was one of the states African Americans came to in search of a better life. One of the first known African Americans to be born in Minnesota was George Bonga, a fur trader and translator speaking fluent English, French and Ojibwe.
During the Civil War, more African Americans arrived in Minnesota as the state suffered through a labor shortage.