Tempe History Society Lunch Talks 

“Arizona’s African American Barbers” by Dallas Teat

Wednesday, February 12, at 11:30 a.m.

The history of Southwestern African American barbers is a complex spiderweb of interesting stories and facts having origins in Arizona’s territorial days. Presently, some in the African American community fear the cultural influence and social atmosphere of the Black Barbershop has begun to fade. The documentary ‘Arizona’s African American Barbers’ examines the intricate relationship between barbers and the surrounding communities. Dallas asks if the customary social and cultural influence fostered by Arizona's African American Barbers continue to thrive into the 21st century?”

Dallas Teat is a documentary filmmaker. For over twenty years Dallas has visually preserved portions of Arizona’s rich African American history. His portfolio includes documentaries for the G.W. Carver Museum and Cultural Center, the Arizona Department of Health Services, and the Arizona Commission of African American Affairs. Dallas is a respected faculty member with the Film and Media Production program at Glendale Community College (GCC) in Glendale Arizona. Fifteen years ago, Dallas interviewed six of Phoenix's oldest and most iconic African American barbers, at that time, to ask how they saw their role within the community. Dallas has interviewed barbers throughout Arizona. In 2023 the Arizona Commission for the Arts awarded Dallas a grant to continue his research.