Colonel Allensworth's Dream of a Black Utopia

My father’s parents settled in Allensworth, California as near as I can confirm around the 1940s. Granny Annie as we called her had a little white house with an outhouse in the back. The summer of 1960 we began our Tradition of visiting her every other Sunday. I dreaded these visits, because Granny did not have a TV, and there was nothing to do out there except count the tumbleweeds. I resigned myself to this Journey as long as we got home in time to see The Wonderful World of Disney, which came on TV at 7 PM.

Traveling South on Central Valley Highway I remember, as we drew close to the Allensworth Exit and crossed the railroad tracks into the neighborhood, a strange feeling of melancholy always came over me, and it didn’t lift until we were on our way home with Allensworth in the rear view mirror.

Growing up I knew very little about California’s First All Black Town, as my parents never really talked about it; I suppose they were more concerned with putting food on the table for three kids. At that time, employment for African-Americans was limited to field work for those living in the San Joaquin Valley known for its Agriculture.

I learned about Allensworth History while taking a Black History course at Fresno State, and was amazed to learn of this amazing Black Man who founded a Black Town in early California. All those childhood memories came rushing back like a Sepia-Colored movie in my brain.

I saw and heard the whistle of the train dropping off and picking up Black Folks and Others after they grabbed something to eat at the Bakery near the Train Depot. A community bustling with activity of a Barber Shop, Drug Store, Machine Shop, Livery Stable, and The Allensworth Hotel. The total opposite of Granny Annie’s Allensworth this was a Prosperous Town—a fact of which did not go unnoticed by certain local Political Factions.

In my mind’s Eye I saw all the streets named after notable African-Americans or White Abolitionists; Sojourner Truth, Fredrick Douglas, Paul Lawrence Dunbar, and Harriet Beecher Stowe. During my childhood visits this was never known or talked about.

The more I researched Colonel Allensworth and his Accomplishments, the more my Admiration grew, but I found it was tinged with sadness for this Brave Black Man; a Black Man who was born into Slavery in Louisville, Kentucky, but fought his way out to make a better life for himself and His People.

In his young life, he was trained as an exercise boy and Jockey, he was so adept at it he rode his Master’s horses in Races. This was not enough to sustain his Hungry Soul, and a chance meeting with Union Soldiers allowed his escape by joining up with the Union 44th Illinois Volunteer Infantry Regiment during The American Civil War.

In 1886 at the age of 44 he was appointed one of the few African-American Chaplains for the US Army assigned to the 24th Infantry Regiment known as The Buffalo Soldiers of which he completed many successful assignments all over the US with his family attending. He retired a Lieutenant Colonel on April 7, 1906; he was the First African-American to achieve the Rank. This was unheard of for a Black Man during those times.

After his retirement, he made the decision to journey West to fulfill his Dream of a self-sufficient all Black town. He organized the trip with his family and a group of Buffalo Soldiers to escort them safely to California. Imagine what a sight they must have appeared Proud, Black, and Free.

In 1904 they arrived in Los Angeles where the Colonel began his plan along with other Black Professionals he met; Professor William Payne, Dr William H. Peck a Minister, J.W. Palmer a Nevada Miner, and Henry Mitchell a Los Angeles Realtor. A Fine and Progressive group to organize an All Black Town.

In 1908 Allensworth was founded the First All Black Town in California and for a time it thrived and flourished as such. Unfortunately a series of events were set in motion that would lead to the Demise of the Colonel’s Dream. In retrospect I believe this was the feeling of Melancholy I always felt as a child crossing the railroad tracks into Allensworth.

In 1914 the Santa Fe Rail Stop was moved to Alpaugh seven miles away, a malicious political strategy due to the Success of the Black Town. Alpaugh had nothing better to offer other an overt Red-Necky Mind Set. Clearly this was meant to bring down Colonel Allensworth’s Black Utopia. It didn’t stop there.

In September of the same year, Colonel Allensworth was in Monrovia, California on business when he stepped down from a streetcar and was run over and Killed by a motor cyclist. Witnesses stated the cyclist circled and ran over him a second time… not a Coincidence is my thought. The Colonel was 72 years old, and as Healthy as a Horse.

Allensworth continued under the leadership of Oscar Overr the Justice of the Peace and Professor William A. Payne the School Principal. The Prosperity peaked in 1925 but by the 30s the population was dwindling.

The deficient water supply was a problem for the farming and for the animals and to add injury to insult in 1966 the State of California found Arsenic in the drinking water. It was rumored that jealous White farmers poisoned the only well, affecting not only the residents, but also the crops and animals. That was the Death Knell for Allensworth. Residents began moving away around thirty families remained… Allensworth resembled a Ghost Town.

History proves that Successful African-American Ventures are subject to Racism in this Country; Black Wall Street in Tulsa, Oklahoma is a perfect example. But Allensworth would Rise Again y’all!

During the Turbulent but Progressive Sixties when Black Became Beautiful many young Black Americans learned of Colonel Allensworth and his Progressive Dream albeit Deferred at the time. Black Motor Cycle Clubs from both Southern and Northern California began having meet ups in Allensworth and by word of mouth Folks learned of this Forgotten Historic Gem in the middle of the San Joaquin Valley.

During the Mid Seventies the Black Motor Cycle Clubs had Great times and Fellowship at Allensworth until the authorities started hassling them… gradually the meet ups fell off due to that reason. It was a Shame, because it was a perfect meet up point halfway between Oakland and Los Angeles.

In 1968, Ed Pope, a former resident was working as a Draftsman/Planner for the California Department Of Parks and Recreation, and wrote a Proposal to restore Allensworth Settlement as a Historical Site. In 1972 it was added to The National Registry of Historic Places. In 1974 Governor Reagan authorized the Restoration.

My Uncle Ford Chaney was one of the First Park Rangers who helped reestablish Allensworth along with many Celebrities such as actor Greg Morris. Today Colonel Allensworth State Historic Park has one of the largest Juneteenth Celebrations in the Nation. Charter and School Buses come from all over… Colonel Allensworth would be Proud.

Colonel Allen Allensworth was not only an Extraordinary Human Being, but also a Hero… I Believe he gave his Life for a Dream he Believed in… Allensworth a Self-Sufficient Progressive Black Town. I’m so happy that children are now learning about him and the town he Loved and Lived in.