I know of just one:
Joshua Darden, although he's barely 20th century, and only half black, I think. Does it matter? :-)
But you might find some more among the "Building Letters" guys.

hhp

who are "building letters guys?"
where would i find more info on Joshua Darden?
thanks

/aaron

http://www.buildingletters.org/
http://www.myfonts.com/person/darden/josh/

hhp

thanks.
i was hoping to find something more mid-century. this is a good start though...
/aaron

I think it unlikely that you will find any mid-20th century black American type designers per se, but if you dug hard enough in the right places -- e.g. Harlem -- you would almost certainly turn up interesting work by local sign painters of that period, some of whom may be identifiable.

Also, dare I mention the original graffiti writers of NYC? Their distinctive writing has spawned countless imitations and cheesy fonts.

(Not all of these writers were black... some where white and hispanic)

(I wonder if we're supposed to accept Mo Funky Fresh as a "black" font?)

The funniest "Black" font is Neuland.

hhp

I need to go on the Greenway ride again to photograph some amazing graffiti in Manhattan its up near the Cloisters.

Strike that, that area is very Dominican and the graffiti might not be created by black artists.

thanks again. harlem sign painters sounds good... i have no idea where to find visual references to such things... live on the left coast...

Dan -- who cares if it's Dominican or white or Zimbabweian? If it's cool, shoot it.