Waterbury's
Black American and (Black) African American
​History, Ethnicity, Culture, Resources,
​Faith, Opportunities, Leadership, Contributions, and Influence

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Disclosure

This page endeavors to appropriately reflect the history, resources, opportunities, and influence of our Black population, including Black Americans in general and (Black) African Americans specifically.  While WaterburyLife.com acknowledges and respects various ethnicities and cultures within these populations, all are included in this page.  This decision is based on both the similarities and differences within such ethnicities and cultures, and the complexities and practicalities involved in publication.

The term "people of color" is not considered, since all people have color - whether white, pink, tan, brown, black, green, red, yellow, or otherwise, and none are translucent, transparent, nor invisible.  The so-called brown, yellow, red, and white races are included in the available pages herein identified largely by geographical heritage.  Pink and tan is not specifically identified, and green is ignored entirely.
​"Not all black people are African American"
CBS News 

"Which is the correct terminology: Black, African American or People of Color?"
UAH - ODEI

50 African Americans from Waterbury Cemented in History

Their oral histories are captured on video and become part of the documentary Common Threads - The Power of the African American Experience in Waterbury.

The famed local Mattatuck Museum has preserved the footage, and has created its own play to memorialize the experience in their Reflections: Front Porch Stories.  

African American history project - The Civil Rights History Project: Survey of Collections and Repositories
(The American Folklife Center, Library of Congress) (loc.gov)

40 Under 40, Class of '22
​Gets Local

Waterbury-born Shelby C. Davis gets top honor by Connecticut Magazine.
WCSU Alumnus and Waterbury Native Named to 40 Under 40 List | Naugatuck, CT Patch

Waterbury's Black Americans
​and (Black) African-American Politics, 
Socially Speaking

​Waterbury Black Democratic Club
Public group · 172 members · 2 posts a month · 4 members said they went to Post University

2022
​Black Women United Honors Six

At their 2022 event on May 7th, the Black Women United will honor six Waterbury Women, to include:​
  • Marguerite Heyward-Bowen
  • Deneen Fryer
  • Charmaine Wright
  • Angela Holmes
  • Barbara Ligon
  • Athena Wagner

The group, Black Women United Waterbury, was founded by Waterbury resident and founder of the Arlington Neighborhood Association (ANA) and community advocate Arlanda Brantley.

More on that story here.
(rep-am) [subscription required]

Race Relations

Race Relations Week occurred in Waterbury from 1922 until at least 1936. 

A partial list of the organizations which participated in such Race Relation Weeks include: 2nd Congregational Church, Pearl Street Neighborhood, 1st Baptist Church, South Federated Church, West Side Hill Methodist Church, Saint John's Episcopal Church, Young People's Society, Women's Missionary Society, Grace Baptist Church, and others

Church and Young Men's Christian Association (YMCA) clubs and committees included: Sunday Noon Club, Young People's Chorus, Central Y Advisor's Club, Beta Hi Y Club, Falcons Club, Centrals Club, Psi Phi Theta Club, Kenosha Club, Orions Club, Alpha Hi-Y Club, Paramounts Club, Angus Hi-Y Club, Cedars Club, Young People's Society, Women's Missionary Society, Women's Study Club, Inter-Racial Committee, Committee on Housing and Delinquency, and the Employment Committee.

Waterbury's
Black American and (Black) African-American
​News

Afro-Caribbean Art Exhibit @ the Bronson
WTNH; Article and Video; 20220925

Note:
This article has a Hispanic Heritage backdrop and mentions Waterbury's Hispanic population.  However, none of the art is of Hispanic heritage.  The article suggests that Hispanics should view the Afro-Caribbean art and then read a Hispanic heritage book. 

The Caribbean cultures include Cuban, Jamaican, Haitian, Dominican Republican, Puerto Rican, Virgin Islanders, Caribs, Taino, Kalinago, and others; however, none of the population was of Spanish descent when the art and other Afro-Caribbean cultural influences developed. 

Further, the vast majority of Jamaicans are of Sub-Saharan (African) heritage.  Hence the name Afro-Caribbean, not Hispanic. 

The Taino people primarily populated the north eastern parts of South America, southern Florida, and the most of the islands of the Caribbean long prior to any Spanish influence. 

This exhibit attests to the Afro and Carib (Caribbean) heritage and culture prior to Christoforo Columbo's discovery of the Americas as new worlds. 

Any suggestion that the art is primarily rooted in Spanish culture rather than in the Idigenous Americans of, primarily, Florida, Carib, and Afro cultures, is misleading and irresponsible. 

Waterbury boasts a 28% Hispanic population (second only to the Italians who still amass a 53% plurality), while, for instance, Jamaicans represent about 3.3% of our population greatness. 

All of our Waterbury cultures are of greatness; this exhibit primarily represents Caribs, Afros, and secondarily south eastern indigenous peoples of the (now) United States, and other north eastern South American peoples. 

Perhaps, and only tertiarily, a much later Spanish (more accurately Christian) influence touched the culture as related to this Afro-Caribbean art and culture. 

Since most of the Waterbury Hispanic population is also Carib, Afro, or both, then viewing the Afro-Caribbean exhibit and then reading a book about Caribbean history and culture may add further value to their understanding of the exhibit and of their cultural ancestry. 

This exhibit is less of a Hispanic history month event than of a Black history month event.

More information on the Taino people.
​

1907 Diamond Game:
​"One of the Best Ever"

Champs Seek Repeat at Reidville
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July 27th, 2017
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Related News Archive

Juneteenth Festival @ Hamilton Park
(rep-am.com) 20220610 [subscription required]
Black Women United Waterbury honors six
Read more here.  20220505
Martin Luther King Jr. Day Unity Breakfast
Bing video 2020-01-23
Four Longtime Waterbury Friends Promote Their Special Bourbon
Connecticut’s only African American brand of wheat bourbon
(rep-am.com) 20220523 [subscription required]
A circle of hope: Black Giving Circle forms in Waterbury
(rep-am.com)  [subscription may be required] 20220215

Mayors for the Day

Hayes named African American Mayor for the Day

Population and Demography


​The Black American and (Black) African American population represents 20.2% of Waterbury's demographic makeup, resulting in an estimated 21,850 people of primarily Black and/or (Black) African-heritage.

These numbers do not consider multiracial factors.  For clarity, this means that some of those who indicate that they are Black Americans or (Black) African Americans may be of mixed race, and that some people who do not indicate being Black American nor (Black) African American may actually be partly Black or (Black) African American.

For full disclosure, these numbers reflect descendants of all African nations and tribes, as there has never been any legitimate attempt at any distinction.

Blacks and (Black) African Americans follow only the Italians and the Puerto Ricans in highest populous in Waterbury.

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Waterbury, CT Demographic Data
Homefacts

Other Topics

1973 New York Times:
​Aldermanic Battle
Brings Racial Politics to Waterbury
The New York Times
Black, African American,
​or People of Color? 
​UAH.EDU
Awardee for NAACP 100 Most Influential Blacks in Connecticut
The WorkPlace
Waterbury National Night Out summer program
wtnh.com

Calendars​ and Events

No calendars on this topic are currently available to WaterburyLife.com
​

Neighborhoods

The Black population is included in nearly all of Waterbury's neighborhoods, although several neighborhoods have a distinctly higher Black population than the overall city.  Perhaps most notable are
  • Walnut-Orange-Walsh (WOW)
  • Long Hill
    • ​since the 1950s
  • North Square
    • ​since the 1900s
  • ​North End of Waterbury Neighborhood Revitalization Zone
    • ​since the 1930s

Clubs, Associations, and Other Organizations

  • National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP)
  • Black Women United Waterbury
    • founded by Arlanda Brantley
​

Famous Black Americans and (Black) African Americans
​Who Were
Born in Waterbury

  • Africa
  • Michael Kimbel
  • Andre Deyo
  • ​Ryan Gomes
​

Partners and Supporters

Resources


​Visit the NAACP page on WaterburyLife.com right here!
​
  • National Association for the Advancement of Colored People​  (NAACP) [website]

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