Untold Stories of Black Montevallo
Originally featured in Montevallo's Chamber Chatter, our stories amplify the voices of African descendants in and around Montevallo. While some narratives recount darker moments, together they celebrate the dignity, pride, resourcefulness, kindness, and hospitality of the African American community. Read on to discover the untold stories that bring our town’s rich Black history to light.
Published monthly in Montevallo’s Chamber Chatter, we compile these stories annually in a booklet available at MLP-sponsored events. Each story is then archived on this webpage, enhanced by additional images, maps, and content.
You can access and download PDF’s of the yearly booklets below.
Little Franklin’s Town
A Montevallo Legacy Project coloring book
Little Franklin’s Town is a beautifully illustrated coloring book by Arabella Cortes that invites readers of all ages to explore Black Montevallo history through the eyes of a young boy named Little Franklin, inspired by lifelong resident Oscar Franklin Fluker. Rooted in the Untold Stories series, this book offers a creative, reflective way to engage with the past and imagine a more inclusive future. The coloring book is available to purchase at MLP sponsored events, and at Meri Moon Cafe in Montevallo.
Search through the stories!
The Prentice Family
This instalment of Untold Stories highlights the positive impact on their communities of four of the Prentice sons.
A Good and Useful Citizen
A 1937 tribute to the Rev. Joseph Prentice in the Shelby County Reporter states, "He has proved himself a good and useful citizen" (April 15). This month we relay the untold story of this remarkable man's challenges to second-class status during the Jim Crow era.
The Remarkable Life of Rev. Joseph Sidney Prentice
This untold story focuses on the preacher and early champion of education for African Americans for whom Montevallo's "Negro" high school was named in 1954.
