From a Slave Background to a Millionaire

America’s richest black girl, Sarah Rector

Sarah Rector (1886–1957), taken inside the Rector Mansion in the 1920s. — Photo courtesy of the Rector descendants.

Born on March 3rd, 1902 in Taft, Oklahoma, United States, Sarah Rector, later on, became the richest black girl in America. She was the daughter of Joseph Rector and Rose McQueen. Rector grew up in quite a large family alongside her siblings, Roy, Rebecca, Rosa, Lillie, Joe Jr., and Lou Alice.

The Acts that changed everything

Sarah Rector’s land allotments on the Cimarron River is highlighted
on “Hastain’s Township Plats of the Creek Nation,” 1910. —Image courtesy of Diane Euston

Muscogee Creek Indians enslaved both Rector’s maternal grandmother and paternal great-grandfather.

However, in 1866, after the civil war and the abolishment of slavery, Rector’s ancestors became freedmen. Also, her ancestors became members of the tribes that had enslaved them.

In 1887, the Federal government introduced the Dawes Act. The act resulted in many Native Americans losing their land as it was deemed excess. The land was awarded to white settlers, free of charge.

Following the act, in 1898, the Curtis Act was passed. The new act resulted in the break up of tribal governments and communal lands in Indian territory. Thus, the legislation led to the formation of…