African Americans Have Long History in Minnesota Coventry Cowens is the co-founder of the Minnesota African American Heritage Museum and Gallery. She says black people have a long history in our state going way back to 1802 when George Bonga was born near Duluth, believed to be the first black person born in Minnesota. So we've been here a long time. In some areas of the state, we've been more quiet, just about in all counties of the state. Our history and our contributions are part of what the story is that we want to tell in that we've been here a while and we're contributing to the vi...