IDKMYDE: Stolen Lands

On todays episode of IDKMYDE, school’s in session as we break down the OG Black towns that flipped the script on segregation—where Black excellence wasn’t just a dream, it was the blueprint.

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
On today's episode. If I didn't know, maybe you didn't either.
Let's talk about stolen lands in your state. I'm talking
about entire black towns that were built from the ground up,
not just neighborhoods. I mean whole towns stolen. I'll explain,
I didn't know. I didn't know. I didn't know. I

(00:27):
didn't know. I didn't know. I didn't know. First stop
Orange Mound in Memphis, Tennessee. Now, whenever I hear Orange Mound,
I immediately think of eight Ball and MJG. But Orange
Mound was founded in eighteen eighty by a former slave
named Thomas McKinney. Like I said, Look, I'm tired of
working for y'all, so I'm buying this land, splitting it

(00:49):
up and selling it to black folks. And black folks
came through like bet. They turned Orange Mound into a
whole vibe. Businesses, schools, churches, They had everything. Fast forward,
and now Orange Mound is the home to legends like
Isaac Hayes Chef you damn right, and you're boored, Project
Pat Uh from three to six, And y'all know, Project

(01:13):
Pat put Memphis on the map. Orange Mound was the
original black Wall Street of Memphis got it. So now
let's head down to Florida Eatonville. Eatonville is historic, y'all
because it was the first incorporated all black town in America.
It was founded in eighteen eighty seven. And let me
tell you, they weren't waiting for permission. These folks got

(01:33):
together like, look, we're gonna govern ourselves and be done
with this foolishness. Are you familiar with the writer Zora
Neil Hurston, one of the greatest writers to ever do it.
She's from Eatonville, and if you read her books, she
pretty much wrote stories that brought Eatonville's culture to life.
Eatonville was basically Wakanda before Marvel even thought about it. Now,

(01:54):
if you slide over to Oklahoma, it's a spot called Bowley.
Bowley was founded in nineteen o three and it was
next level. They had black doctors, black lawyers. They even
had their own bank. And they ain't taking no jump.
They told white folks, don't even think about robbing this bank.
It's a story about some robbers pulling up and the
folks in Boli lit them up like it was the

(02:14):
fourth of July. There's maun Byu Mississippi that were founded
in eighteen eighty seven by Isaiah T. Montgomery. This was
another all black town built for us by us. They
had schools, hospitals, and businesses run entirely by black folks.
The town was so successful that even civil rights leaders
like Medgar Evers came through to soak up some of

(02:36):
the energy. As has been the theme this season, this
is another example of black folks not just surviving but thriving,
and the spirit of these towns lives on. Look at
hip hop. It's all about independence, ownership and telling your story.
That's why Kendrick Lamar's line we gonna be all right,

(02:57):
or Todd Tribbett because he said that in one of
his songs too. Nevertheless, that's the anthem. That's the same
energy that built Edenville, Orange Mound, Boldi and Mound by you.
Now here's where I leave that I didn't know maybe
you didn't either, Audience. With a little homework, I need
you to look up your oldest black town in your state.

(03:18):
Google it, and if you're from North Carolina, I already
got the answer for you. It's Lakeview, founded in eighteen
eighty seven. You're welcome, but don't get lazy, Still do
your research because I didn't know. Maybe you didn't neither.
I didn't know.