People of African descent first came to Martha’s Vineyard in the 1600s, when West African slaves worked on the farms of early settlers. After slavery was abolished, the island became a popular destination for freed blacks, who came to work in the fishing industries, in turn attracting black residents from the Massachusetts mainland, who came and started businesses to serve the Vineyard’s growing population.
As Oak Bluffs transformed from a white religious destination to a secular vacation destination, it became known as the only Vineyard town that really welcomed black tourists. Other towns on the island did not even allow black people to stay in inns and hotels until the 1960s. In search of an accessible vacation spot, well to do African Americans from New York and Boston came to Oak Bluffs, and by the 1930s, local black landowners were transforming the town into the country’s best-known—and most exclusive—African American leisure spots. (Source: http://www.pbs.org/independentlens/placeofourown/place.html)
Today, Oak Bluffs operates the largest marina on Martha's Vineyard, which not only has the most ships, but is situated in the midst of the historic gingerbread campgrounds, and offers easy access to the rest of the Island. "OB", as it is affectionately referred to, also is home to several beautiful public beaches, a teaming shore of wildlife, fish and shellfish, fabulous public parks, a golf course and even a microbrewery. Members of the Williams College Black community have been getting together with their families in OB for over 30 years and the college is proud of this connection with a locale that is such a key aspect of the Black history in the north east.
Visit http://www.oakbluffsma.gov/ to read more about Oak Bluffs and the island of Martha's Vineyard - our home for the weekend.
