For generations, Black Americans have valued the arts. However, their participation in theater was often limited by segregation and discrimination. Black artists and audiences were excluded from white-owned venues or given inferior seating. In response, they established their own theaters. These venues supported creativity and community engagement. Today, several of these historic theaters are being preserved with help from organizations such as the African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund at the National Trust for Historic Preservation.
One example is the Jewel Theater in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Built in 1931 by Hathyel L. James and Percy H. James, it was named after their daughter, Jewel. The theater served Black audiences during segregation and allowed them to sit anywhere in the venue. The Jewel closed in the 1960s but remains the only surviving Black-founded and owned theater in Oklahoma City. In 2025, the Action Fund awarded a grant to help restore its exterior.
In Harlem, New York, the Apollo Theater is a well-known institution. Designed by George Keister and opened in 1914, it began focusing on Black performers and audiences in 1934. The Apollo has hosted artists such as Duke Ellington, Aretha Franklin, and Prince. The theater is currently undergoing a $64.5 million restoration. Funding from the Action Fund in 2025 will support work on the marquee, lobby, and technical systems…