The Black Arts Movement in Cleveland

Established in 1915 by Russell and Rowena Jelliffe, the Neighborhood Association Settlement House began to focus on the arts and culture by the mid 1920s, and blossomed as an Arts center by the 1930s.  Prior to the 1920s, Cleveland’s African American theater production was minimal to say the least.  Miscellaneous groups did exist, but were mostly relegated to church halls and the local Y.M.C.A.  The Cleveland Association of Colored Men, the Council of Women, and various social/church groups sponsored productions, but failed to adequately produce a sufficient theater organization.  Furthermore, it was not until 1935 that the Phillis Wheatley Association sponsored any dramatic activity.[1]  The Settlement House did have a small group of performers known as the Dumas Players, and it was not until Charles Gilpin came to perform in 1922 that they had any solid direction.

[1] Reuben Silver, “A History of the Karamu Theater of Karamu House, 1915-1960,” (PhD diss., Ohio State University, 1961), 104.