African Americans were among the first settlers in Texas and have contributed to the history as well as the modern day identity of Brazos County. Though slavery ended over 100 years earlier and racial segregation was legally dismantled in the 1960's, it was not until 1971 that equal rights could take a firm hold in Brazos County.

Even today African Americans are working to overcome years of discrimination, and continue to face disadvantages in the job market.

After the Emancipation Proclamation in 18651, newly freed slaves began to make their mark as a free people. Though they did not enjoy equal benefits from the law or in society, Blacks bravely began working and making their living in the Brazos Valley. Between the 1880's and 1890's many Black citizens became tradesmen using the skills they had acquired during their lives in slavery. Many were blacksmiths, porters, and basket makers. A great majority turned to the land to support their new lives, and worked as farmers. At this time, twenty percent of black farmers were owners. Farmers that did not own their own land, were sharecroppers; meaning they worked on land that belonged to someone else, and paid the owner royalties.

Despite early discrimination, African Americans were quite successful in the law, and medical fields. John L. Johnson, the first black attorney in Bryan, was the republican district attorney nominee in 1888. Farmer, turned legislator, Elias Mays served Brazos County in the State House of Representatives twice and also organized the "Colored Farmers' Union" in 1907. In 1916, Dr. William A. Hammond Sr. opened a sixteen bed hospital that operated well into the 1950's. Dr. Hammond is also accredited for establishing a nursing school in Bryan.2

Other notable individuals took on jobs within the black community. As early as 1930, black men held prominent roles as educators and school administrators. Men like R.C. Neal, Oliver Sadberry, and W.A. Tarrow worked as both teachers and principals in the College Station and Bryan area schools and are remembered as outstanding educators. Some blacks played multiple roles and contributed to the community by starting local businesses. Daniel Jarvis, worked as a teacher, farmer, dairyman and a trapper, and is remembered for donating land to build the Christian Hill Missionary Baptist Church. In addition to being a farmer and a rancher, Sam Mosley operated a grocery store on 19th street in downtown Bryan that stayed open for nearly fifty years.2