"Beyond Tulsa: Uncovering America's Forgotten Black Wall Streets"

Before Silicon Valley and the rise of Wall Street, Black communities across America built their own thriving economic centers—complete with banks, hospitals, schools, and newspapers. You've probably heard of Tulsa’s Greenwood District, but what if it wasn’t the only Black Wall Street?

In this powerful episode, host Davis unearths the hidden histories of places like Durham’s Hayti District, Richmond’s Jackson Ward, Atlanta’s Sweet Auburn, Chicago’s Bronzeville, and Boley, Oklahoma—communities where Black excellence wasn’t the exception, but the norm. Until it was systematically dismantled.

Through vivid storytelling and historical insight, “Beyond Tulsa” reveals how policy, infrastructure, and silence conspired to erase these legacies—and why reclaiming them matters now more than ever.

This isn’t just a history lesson. It’s a reclamation.

Episode Transcript

(00:06):
“Before there was Silicon Valley… before Wall Street became the symbol of American capitalism… there were Black Wall Streets.
Plural.”
“You've probably heard of Tulsa’s Greenwood District.
But what if I told you that wasn’t the only one? That across the United States, there were dozens of thriving Black communities—economic powerhouses—built from the ground up by men and women who had little more than grit, vision, and each other.”

(00:34):
“Entire ecosystems of Black-owned banks, hospitals, schools, newspapers, and businesses flourished… only to be erased—sometimes by fire and fury, sometimes by concrete and policy, often by silence.”
“Today, we go beyond the headlines and into the heart of hidden histories.
We’ll revisit the Hayti District in Durham… Jackson Ward in Richmond… Sweet Auburn in Atlanta… Bronzeville in Chicago… and Boley, Oklahoma.

(00:59):
Places where Black excellence wasn’t a moment—it was the norm.
Until it wasn’t.”
“This is not just an episode.
This is a reclamation.”
“Welcome to The Forbidden Frequency.

I’m your host, Davis, and this… is "Beyond Tulsa (01:11):
Uncovering America's Forgotten Black Wall Streets" Welcome to The Forbidden Frequency, where we delve into the stories history books often overlook.
Today, we journey beyond the well-known tale of Tulsa's Greenwood District to explore the myriads of Black Wall Streets that once thrived across America—communities that showcased Black excellence, resilience, and entrepreneurship, yet remain largely absent from our classrooms and collective memory.

(01:45):
Durham's Hayti District In Durham, North Carolina, the Hayti District emerged as a self-sufficient Black community post-Civil War.
By the early 1900s, it housed over 200 Black-owned businesses, including the North Carolina Mutual Life Insurance Company and Mechanics and Farmers Bank.
W.E.B.
Du Bois once remarked on Hayti's self-reliance, noting that a Black man could live his entire life supported solely by Black-owned enterprises.

(02:14):
However, the construction of the Durham Freeway (Route 147) in the late 1950s led to the destruction of much of Hayti.
The freeway split the center of the neighborhood, causing families to go homeless and businesses to go bankrupt.
Richmond's Jackson Ward Richmond, Virginia's Jackson Ward was dubbed the "Harlem of the South."

(02:38):
Established in the late 19th century, it became a hub for Black commerce and culture.
Notably, Maggie L.
Walker, the first Black woman to charter and serve as president of an American bank, founded the St.
Luke Penny Savings Bank here.
In the 1950s, the construction of Interstate 95 intentionally split Jackson Ward, leading to the displacement of many residents and the destruction of historic buildings.

(03:05):
Atlanta's Sweet Auburn Atlanta's Sweet Auburn district was once described by Fortune magazine as "the richest Negro Street in the world."
Home to Alonzo Herndon's Atlanta Life Insurance Company and numerous other Black-owned businesses, it was a testament to Black economic prowess in the early 20th century.

(03:26):
However, the construction of the interstate highway system in the 1940s and 50s divided Sweet Auburn, displacing thousands of residents and businesses.
Chicago's Bronzeville Chicago's Bronzeville neighborhood became a cultural and economic epicenter during the Great Migration.
It housed the Supreme Life Insurance Company and the Chicago Defender newspaper, both instrumental in advocating for Black rights and economic advancement.

(03:56):
After the 1940s, the neighborhood became increasingly impacted by the effects of persistent segregation, with many Black residents unable to find housing anywhere other than the residential neighborhoods that were already primarily Black.
Boley, Oklahoma Boley, Oklahoma, founded in 1903, was one of the most successful all-Black towns in the United States.

(04:21):
It boasted its own electric company, banks, and schools, and was home to over 4,000 residents by 1911.
However, like many rural towns, Boley suffered through hard times in the 1920s and 1930s, with its population dropping significantly.
Other Notable Black Wall Streets Beyond these, several other communities earned the "Black Wall Street" title.

Little Rock, Arkansas (04:47):
9th Street was a bustling corridor of Black businesses and culture.

Los Angeles, California (04:54):
Central Avenue was the heart of Black LA, teeming with jazz clubs, businesses, and cultural institutions.

Detroit, Michigan (05:02):
Paradise Valley and Black Bottom were vibrant Black neighborhoods, later razed during urban renewal projects.
The Erasure and Its Consequences Many of these communities faced systematic dismantling through urban renewal, highway construction, and gentrification.
Highways were often deliberately routed through Black neighborhoods, leading to displacement and economic decline.

(05:28):
The omission of these stories from educational curricula contributes to a lack of awareness about Black resilience and achievement.
Recognizing and teaching these histories is crucial for a comprehensive understanding of America's past and the systemic challenges that persist today.
The tales of these Black Wall Streets are not just stories of economic success; they are narratives of community, resilience, and the relentless pursuit of the American dream in the face of adversity.

(06:00):
By bringing these histories to light, we honor the legacies of those who built them and ensure that their contributions are remembered and celebrated.