Prince Hall Freemasonry (also known as African American Freemasonry) was named after Prince Hall (c. 1735–1807). He was an African American noted as an abolitionist for his leadership in the free black community in Boston and as the founder of Prince Hall Freemasonry. He lobbied for education rights for black children and was active in the back-to-Africa movement. He is considered one of the most influential free black leaders in the late 1700s.

 

Some Famous Prince Hall Masons are Congressman John Lewis, UN Ambassador Andrew Young, “Count” Basie, Henry Blair, Edward Bouchet, “Nat King” Cole, Ossie Davis, W.E.B. DuBois, Edward Kennedy, “Duke” Ellington, Medgar Evers, Alex Haley , Benjamin L. Hooks, Rev. Jesse Jackson, Jack Johnson, Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall, Benjamin E. Mays, Kweisi Mfume, Richard Pryor, A. Philip Randolph, “Sugar” Ray Robinson, and Booker T. Washington. A number of our founding fathers of this great nation were Masons; Prince Hall, Ben Franklin, Benjamin Banneker, Paul Revere, John Hancock and several Presidents George Washington, James Monroe, Theodore (Teddy) Roosevelt, Franklin D. Roosevelt, Harry S. Truman and Gerald Ford.