African American Guide to Dallas

Arch and Charlotte Miller, ancestors of Dallas resident Donald Payton, came to Dallas in 1847 as slaves and moved into a log house on the Millermore Plantation. The log house remained a place for slaves until the Emancipation Proclamation. Today, both the Miller Log House and Millermore Plantation, both located inside Old City Park, formerly known as Dallas Heritage Village, have been restored, and visitors can see where Payton's family lived and worked.

At the entrance to the Freedman's Cemetery, visitors are greeted by magnificent sculptures by artist David Newton that guard the remains of over 7,000 African Americans, some dating back to the Civil War. For decades, the cemetery suffered from neglect and was further disturbed when first the railroad and then an expressway were built through the grounds. Today, the memorial is a thoughtful and fitting tribute to all who are resting there.

This 1,300 sq. foot, single-story house was the home of Juanita J. Craft, one of Dallas´ most significant civil rights figures. Her legacy spans decades and includes being the first Black woman to vote in Dallas County and her election to the Dallas City Council at age 73. Craft's home, which is one of only three house museums that honor major female figures of the civil rights movement, is currently under renovation. 

This historic district consists of over 100 houses on two streets built primarily by the city's Jewish community. During the 1950s, this neighborhood became the home of many prominent Black leaders, and today it symbolizes the growth, prosperity and vitality of Dallas. The structures feature popular architectural influences including Midwestern prairie, Mission Revival, Classical Revival and Georgian styles. 

The All-Black Lives Matters crosswalk at Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. and Malcolm X Blvd. is one of six intersections that represent the lives that have been lost because someone did not think their lives mattered. Abounding Prosperity, an organization whose purpose is to respond to disparities among Black Americans, gay, bisexual men, cisgender women and transgender women and their families, will sponsor and maintain the landmarks.