I.W. Young and the Vision of Rentiesville
Dr. Isaac William “I.W.” Young was one of the most influential African American leaders in Oklahoma during the early twentieth century. Although he is not widely remembered today, his contributions to education, medicine, civil rights, and community development helped strengthen the network of All-Black towns that made Oklahoma unique in American history.
Born on January 2, 1874, in Glencoe, Louisiana, Young pursued an education at a time when opportunities for African Americans were severely limited. He attended Methodist schools before earning a medical degree from Flint Medical School at New Orleans University. He later received a Doctor of Letters degree from Wiley College in Texas. By the early 1900s, he had established himself as a respected physician and would eventually become Oklahoma’s only African American ear, nose, and throat specialist.
Young settled in Oklahoma during an era when African Americans were building independent communities throughout the territory and later the state. Between the late nineteenth century and the early twentieth century, more than fifty All-Black towns were established in Oklahoma, more than in any other state in the nation. These communities represented a bold effort by African Americans to create places where they could own land, operate businesses, educate their children, and govern themselves.
Although Young was not the founder of Rentiesville, Boley, Taft, or other individual towns, he became one of the most prominent leaders serving the people who lived in them. His medical practice, civic involvement, and political activism connected him to Black communities across Oklahoma. He served as mayor of the historic All-Black town of Boley and became a leading voice for African American advancement throughout the state.
Young believed that education was essential to progress. His influence reached its peak through his leadership of Oklahoma Colored Agricultural and Normal University, now known as Langston University. Serving two terms as president, from 1923 to 1927 and again from 1931 to 1934, he guided the institution through a critical period and helped it achieve accreditation. His work ensured that future generations of African Americans would have access to higher education within Oklahoma.
His political influence was equally significant. Often referred to as the “Father of Black Democracy” in Oklahoma, Young advocated for greater political participation among African Americans. During the 1920s and 1930s, he became one of the state’s most influential Black leaders, organizing voters, supporting social reforms, and encouraging civic engagement. His ability to mobilize Black communities earned him the nickname “The Black Governor.”
Beyond medicine, education, and politics, Young served in numerous civic organizations and professional associations. He helped organize medical groups, supported charitable causes, trained Red Cross nurses during World War I, and worked with fraternal organizations dedicated to community improvement. His leadership demonstrated the interconnected nature of Black institutions during an era of segregation, when community success often depended on dedicated local leaders.
Dr. I.W. Young died on June 27, 1937, but his legacy remains intertwined with the story of Oklahoma’s All-Black towns. While others may have founded the towns themselves, Young helped sustain the people, institutions, and aspirations that allowed those communities to flourish. Through education, medicine, and public service, he became one of the most important champions of Black progress in Oklahoma history.
