Theophilus Augustus Thompson is considered the first recognized African-American chess player in the United States. Thompson was famous not only for his tournament play, but also as a problem composer.

<T. A. Thompson (Colored) was born in Frederick City, Maryland, on the 21st. day of April, 1855. At 13 years of age he left his native city and went to live with a family in Carroll County, in the capacity of house servant. In 1870, he returned to Frederick where he has been ever since. He saw a chess board and men used for the first time in April 1872, when he witnessed a contest between Mr. S. of Ohio, and Mr. H. of Frederick City; although he could not understand the game and dared not ask questions for fear of annoying the players, he watched every move with the closest attention. The partie finished he went home fully determined to learn the game. Mr. H. having heard of this ardent desire loaned him a chess board and a set of chess men, gave him some instructions, and left him a few two-move problems to solve. Thus thanks to the kind assistance of John K. Hanshew our hero became possessed of the open sesame to Caissa’s gardens of ever increasing intellectual delights. Hearing last summer of the Dubuque Chess Journal, he soon become a subscriber a student and a contributor thereto, accumulating the following rich store of Chess Compositions that are offered for perusal to the general chess reader, with great pleasure and much confidence by the proprietors of the Dubuque Chess Journal.
Dubuque, June 1st. 1873.>
Source: Thompson’s Chess Problems, Dubuque, Iowa, 1873, pp3-4 (n. pag.)

<Death of a Noted Chess Player.—We were pained to learn of the death of Theopilus [sic] A. Thompson, colored, who died at his residence, on Ice street, this city, on Saturday morning last, after several years illness, of consumption, aged 25 years. Mr. Thompson was a young man of considerable prominence among the chess players of this country and Europe. During the Centennial at Philadelphia, he was brought in contact with most of the champion chess players, and in games at the Philadelphia club houses showed his ability as a player. For several years he tought [sic] school in this city. He was a good mathematician, and a young man highly respected by all who had the pleasure of his acquaintance. His funeral took place from his late residence on Monday afternoon, attended by the order of Nazarites, and Asbury Sunday School of which the deceased was a member. His remains were taken to All Saint’s P. E. Church were the funeral discourse were delivered by Rev. Dr. Stevenson, of New Market. The interment took place at the Institution burying ground, East Fifth street.>
Source: Frederick Examiner, 1881.10.12(1)

(1) The Mystery of Theophilus Thompson Solved!!, https://www.thechessdrum.net/blog/2...

Additional Material:
Thompson’s Chess Problems, http://books.google.com/books?id=-G...