The "King of Ragtime" in Black history refers to Scott Joplin, an African American composer and pianist who was instrumental in popularizing ragtime music in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Joplin was born sometime between 1867 and 1868 in Texas, and he began playing the piano at a young age.

Joplin's compositions, such as "Maple Leaf Rag" and "The Entertainer," helped to define the ragtime genre and brought it to mainstream audiences. Ragtime music is characterized by its syncopated rhythms and lively, upbeat melodies, which reflected the blending of African American musical traditions with European musical forms.

Despite facing racial discrimination during his lifetime, Joplin's contributions to music were significant, and he is often credited with elevating ragtime from a regional style to a popular national phenomenon. Today, Scott Joplin is recognized as one of the most important figures in American music history and is often referred to as the "King of Ragtime."