Pioneers and Milestones

Atlantic City’s Black history is a testament to resilience, innovation, and cultural impact, shaped by trailblazers who broke barriers and inspired generations. Icons like Sara Spencer Washington, founder of the Apex News and Hair Company, revolutionized the beauty industry and became one of the nation’s first Black female millionaires, providing jobs and hope for countless African Americans. John Henry “Pop” Lloyd, a Baseball Hall of Famer and Negro League legend, left an enduring legacy celebrated at Pop Lloyd Stadium. Ralph Hunter Sr., founder of the African American Heritage Museum of Southern New Jersey, has been instrumental in preserving the stories and artifacts of Black life in the region, ensuring that the contributions of Atlantic City’s African American community are celebrated and remembered. Jazz legend Dizzy Gillespie brought the vibrant sounds of bebop to Kentucky Avenue, while civil rights icon Fannie Lou Hamer delivered her historic challenge to racial injustice during the 1964 Democratic National Convention in Atlantic City. Pioneers like Henrietta Shelton, founder of the Chicken Bone Beach Historical Foundation, preserve this rich heritage through cultural programs and community events. Figures such as Art Dorrington, the first Black hockey player to sign an NHL contract, and journalist Claude J. Lewis, co-founder of the National Association of Black Journalists, have further contributed to Atlantic City’s profound legacy of breaking barriers. These milestones and individuals embody the strength, creativity, and progress that define Atlantic City’s Black history and its ongoing story today.