Culture in Tucson, Arizona - Part Three

November 7, 1:09 PMKansas City Cultural Travel ExaminerLysa Allman-Baldwin

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Savory, homemade soul food specialities are the draw at Mr. K.s

Although there really are no “black neighborhoods” as it were, Tucson possesses a long, rich history of African Americans that contributed to the heritage, not only of the city but also to that of the Southwest U.S.

Some of the earliest African Americans to settle here were homesteaders, soldiers, cowboys, educators and others who worked tirelessly to bring an end to prejudice and discrimination, along the way establishing their own communities chocked full of businesses, places of worship and more.

In fact, their contributions and influences have been well researched and documented by a number of entities and organizations in recent years, including the Arizona Historical Society, African-American Historical and Genealogical Society - Tucson Chapter and the University of Arizona, among others.

What we do know, is that those early settlers and others within the last 30 or so years were--and still are--pioneers in their own right; folks like Frank Reed, a sergeant with the Buffalo Soldiers; dentist and first lieutenant in the U.S. Army Dental Corps. Dr. Floyd Thompson; beauty shop owner Blanche Johnson; and Roy Comeaux, a pilot, just to name a few. Some folks are still living, while many of the descendants of others have remained in the area.

As in many other parts of the country back in the day, segregation was commonplace in Tucson. Yet that cultural environment only forced, and supported in its own way, the establishment of several Black neighborhoods such as those along Meyer Street, South Park Avenue and in an area once referred to as “A” Mountain.

The Paul Lawrence Dunbar School was one entity resulting from segregation, where many black children received their early education, the segregationist barrier (from grade school to the university level) later broken down due in part to the efforts of the NAACP in Tucson.

Romell Cooks grew up in Tucson, beginning in the early 1950’s. She said her upbringing was a warm and wonderful experience, and not something which made people focus on being Black.

“I think that it was always the way it is when an ethnic group is small in number,” she recalled. “Growing up in Tucson was just great growing up. I went to Miles Elementary, Mansfield Junior High and Tucson High School, a high school with a 100-year history. My high school graduating class had 38 African American students out of a class of 324. The folks that were discriminated against were the Native Americans.”

“Black Tucson” Today

A great place to garner some understanding of Tucson’s black history is to visit Mr. K’s Barbeque and Afro-American Heritage Museum.

Situated on South Park Avenue, Mr. K’s—the building constructed in 1964--was once a grocery store, and one of the many, primarily African American owned businesses dotted along this Tucson street in the 1960’s. Today it is a popular barbecue joint and historical entity drawing a culturally diverse clientele of folks from all over the metropolitan area.

Mr. K is Charles Kendrick, an “unintentional historian” in his own right, who has amassed an incredible collection of memorabilia over the years—photos, Buffalo Soldier artifacts, old-time general mercantile and pharmacy items and more--today educating visitors about Black life in Tucson back in the day.

Oddly enough, the real draw here is the restaurant featuring savory, homemade soul food specialties that have made Mr. K’s one of the most popular barbecue joints in the area. Well worth it—for the food and the history—Mr. K’s is a must.

Other black owned restaurants, retail stores, businesses and the like are dotted all around Tucson. For quick references, try the Tucson Black Pages or SABINE (the Southern Arizona Black Information, News, and Events). A few spots include Rod’s KC Barbecue, Art’s BBQ Restaurant and Vel’s Catering, Twelve Tribes Reggae Shop, Dee's Boutique, Trailstones Heritage Adventure and the African Art Village (held in February as part of the annual Tucson Gem Show).