Black History Month: Historian & retired journalist Bob Greene

Maine (WABI) - In 1970, Black History Month was first marked for celebration during the month of February.

Ever since, there’s countless programs, discussions, historical facts, and even food events to highlight Black culture.

What about Black History here in Maine?

There’s so much to unpack, but TV5 wanted to talk about that with awesome individuals who not only paved the way for future generations to come but made it their mission to never forget Black History.

First, let’s meet Bob Greene.

Let’s get to know his story, his why and how it all started in Cumberland County, Maine.

Historian and retired journalist Bob Greene was born in 1936.

His family roots date back in Maine to 1750.

“I’m at least the eighth generation of my family being born in Cumberland County, Maine,” said Greene.

“My dad is one of ten, I think, and mom is one of 12. Dad is next to the baby; mom is the fourth oldest. And Dad’s family out in Kansas City were quite middle class if not upper middle.”

Although he loved history and writing, music is how he began his journalism career.

“I wrote for the Portland High School newspaper, and I had a music column,” said Greene. “I’ve always been involved with music, I don’t play, but I am proud of the fact that when I was in high school, I put the first R&B record on a jukebox in Portland, and it was Ruth Brown’s 5-10-15.”

Bob was one of the four black students who graduated from Portland high in 1953 and during that time, he said he never let anything stop him from achieving his goals.

“I don’t think anybody ever sat down and said you can be anything you want to be, but I never heard, you can’t do this, you can’t do that, until I got in college,” said Greene. “My dad from Kansas City said Blacks aren’t in journalism. Later on, he told me that he was very, very impressed with what had happened to my career.”

He went on to study journalism at Virginia State which is the nation’s first state supported Historically Black College.

During that time, he wanted more of a challenge, and that was certainly met.

“My second semester was when Brown vs. the Board of Ed came down, and I’m living in Petersburg, Virginia in a segregated area,” said Greene.

He went on to study at the University of Kansas and later landed a job.

During the interview, he looked back on unforgettable events.

“One night I was working at this little Black weekly newspaper in Indianapolis, Indiana, and it was the night we went to bed,” said Greene. “The night, that we put everything together to print the paper, and while we were in basically the print shop putting the paper together, a radio was on, and they came out and said that in Mississippi they found this body of Emmett Till, and I remember writing the story in type and making it the front page.”

After writing many stories before and during the Civil Rights Movement, Bob later wrote for the Associated Press.

He even took on sports and wrote about tennis witnessing The Handsome Eight play for a newly formed professional tour.

He often sports his U.S. Open vest and who wouldn’t after attending the last 44 tournaments.

Later in his life, Bob was approached by his oldest son who asked about their family history.

That led him to learning about his own family who had moved and worked in Maine for generations.

It also led him to discovering a Black man who was a hotel owner in 1860 in Eastport, and so much more.

“The first Black we know by name who had been in what is now Maine was Mathieu da Costa, and he was here in 1608,” said Greene. “Not unusual, and also what I found interesting is that he was the interpreter for the French and there’s other things all up and down, you’ll hear the history of Black folks.”

More research on Black History in Maine continued.

In fact, he wrote a book called Maine Roots versus The Manuel, Mathews, Ruby Family, which includes ties to his family tree.

When asked about why he dedicated his life’s work to storytelling and revealing history, this is what he had to say.

“It’s fun finding out why,” said Greene.

“We need to really understand our past just to understand that we’re not as different as people keep saying we are, or somebody says we are. The Irish, the Italians, the Polish, the French-Canadians, and now the Somalians, they all have been a problem when they first arrive and have gone through the same thing and they all, when you look back at them, they all have added to this tapestry that we call life.”