Philadelphia has a rich history when it comes to Black history. It was home to the first African American protest against slavery in 1688, known as the Germantown Protest.

During the 18th and 19th centuries, Philadelphia became a hub for African American abolitionists and civil rights activists. Notable figures such as Richard Allen, the founder of the African Methodist Episcopal Church, and Absalom Jones, the first African American ordained as a priest in the Episcopal Church, were based in Philadelphia.

Philadelphia was also home to influential Black intellectuals like W.E.B. Du Bois, who attended the University of Pennsylvania and contributed to the development of the civil rights movement.

In the 20th century, Philadelphia saw the rise of important Black cultural and political movements, including the founding of the Nation of Islam by Elijah Muhammad and the Black Panther Party's Philadelphia chapter.

In more recent history, Philadelphia has continued to be a center for activism and advocacy for Black rights, with organizations like the Black Lives Matter movement having a strong presence in the city.