Sit-ins, soldiers, a lost district: Des Moines' remarkable Black history
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Local actress and educator Sharon Kay Brown reenacted Edna Griffin's 1940s protest of Katz Drug Store at Des Moines' Garton Elementary in 2014. Photo: Courtesy of Des Moines Public Schools
Edna Griffin led one of the nation's first successful civil rights cases in 1948, challenging segregation at Katz Drug Store in Des Moines — seven years before Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat on a Montgomery bus.
Why it matters: While Griffin's fight didn't make national headlines, it forced change in Iowa and helped lay the groundwork for future movements.
The big picture: Black History Month is a chance to recognize the local activists whose efforts shaped the broader Civil Rights Movement.
- While figures like Rosa Parks became household names, grassroots leaders like Griffin made waves in their own communities, driving change that often went unrecognized on a national scale.
Flashback: Griffin and two other Black residents were denied service at Katz Drug Store in downtown Des Moines in 1948, per Iowa History Journal.
- She organized a sit-in, boycotts and protests before eventually taking the owners to court, where a jury found them guilty of practicing racial discrimination and fined them.
- The Iowa Supreme Court upheld the conviction in 1949, setting a precedent for statewide civil rights cases.
Yes, but: A separate civil suit seeking $10,000 in damages led to an all-white jury awarding her $1, which her lawyer described as a "moral victory."
Here are two more significant local examples:
The Center Street district: A lost Black cultural hub
Center Street was a thriving hub for Black businesses, culture and music before urban renewal projects displaced many homes and businesses.
Zoom in: The district was adjacent to Sherman Hill and stretched from 15th Street to Keosauqua Way. It included grocery stores, hotels, jazz clubs and restaurants.
- Freeway construction in the 1960s, part of a federal interstate project, targeted this area and led to disinvestment and Black families being forced to move.
State of play: A historical marker was installed near Iowa Methodist Medical Center in 2023.
- A tiny 110-year-old grocery store near the district was recently designated a historical landmark and turned into offices for Sequel Architecture + Interiors.
The training of Black officers at Fort Des Moines
Fort Des Moines was the only training site for Black officers during World War I and the first training site for the Women's Army Auxiliary Corps (WAAC) in World War II.
Catch up quick: Black enlistments were restricted by the federal government in the early 1900s due to concerns that racial tensions would undermine military efforts, according to Iowa PBS.
- Fort DSM was established as a training site for Black officers in 1917 following political pressure from groups like the NAACP.
- The first WAACs arrived for training in 1942.
The big picture: Despite encountering discrimination both within and outside the military, hundreds of officers continued to serve honorably.
- Fort Des Moines is a crucial historical site, with ongoing efforts to preserve its heritage and educate future generations about its significance in racial integration within the U.S. military.
🔎 Discover more: Iowa PBS offers a collection of videos and websites focused on Iowa's Black history.