Cheryl Small - PFA

As we enter the last week of Black History Month, we delve into the remarkable story of Black Wall Street, a symbol of Black economic success and resilience amid adversities.

Located in the Greenwood suburb of Tulsa, Oklahoma, Black Wall Street was one of the most prosperous Black economies in American history. The foundations of this thriving community were laid by O.W. Gurley, a wealthy African-American from Arkansas. In 1906, Gurley moved to Tulsa, purchased over 40 acres of land, and sold it to fellow African-Americans, paving the way for a flourishing neighborhood.

With the 1910s oil boom in northeast Oklahoma, Greenwood transformed into a buzzing area of prosperity. However, this beacon of success became the target of a devastating attack in 1921.

The Tulsa Race Riot of 1921 was a two-day massacre of hundreds of Black residents by a White mob. The aftermath was heartbreaking – over 800 people admitted to hospitals, an estimated 10,000 left homeless, and a thriving community of 600 successful businesses laid to waste.

Yet, the indomitable spirit of Greenwood shone through the rubble. Despite political efforts to thwart reconstruction, the community mobilized its resources and, within five years, the Greenwood area was rebuilt.

Black Wall Street is a testament to the resilience and determination inherent within the African-American community. It's a powerful reminder that even in the face of adversity, we have the collective power to rise, rebuild, and regain our rightful place.

🔥 At age 15, he took over the family farm and created an irrigation system to control the flow of water to the crops."
🔥 A free, self-taught, African-American mathematician, astronomer, almanac author, and farmer.
🔥 At age 15, he took over the family farm and created an irrigation system to control the flow of water to the crops.
🔥 In the 1750’s, he invented the first clock in America. It was this invention that put his talents on display for the country.
🔥 Responsible for surveying of territory for construction of the nation’s capital in
1791 after the lead architect quit.
🔥 Authored commercially successful series of almanacs.
🔥 Corresponded with Thomas Jefferson, drafter of the United States Declaration of Independence, on the topics of slavery and racial equality.
So who was this.... It was... Benjamin Banneker!

"Every person is what he is because of the thoughts which he permits to occupy his mind."

~Napoleon Hill