The Forgotten Black Wall Streets: How Thriving Black Communities Were Destroyed

When we hear “Black Wall Street,” most people think of Tulsa, Oklahoma, where a white mob burned down a prosperous Black neighborhood in 1921. But Tulsa wasn’t the only one.

Across the U.S., Black communities built their own economies, businesses, and wealth—only to be met with violence, destruction, and racist policies that wiped them out.

From Durham’s Hayti District to Jackson Ward in Virginia, these were places where Black excellence thrived despite segregation. And yet, many of them were erased from history.

Let’s talk about the forgotten Black Wall Streets—and what happened to them.

What Was Black Wall Street?

During segregation, Black entrepreneurs and professionals were often shut out of white economic systems—so they created their own.

🏦 Black-owned banks provided loans to Black businesses and homeowners

🏢 Thriving Black business districts included hotels, newspapers, restaurants, and theaters

📚 Schools and churches fostered Black education and leadership

💰 Black communities circulated wealth among themselves, building generational prosperity

These were self-sustaining Black economies—and that made them a threat to white supremacy.

Beyond Tulsa: Other Black Wall Streets That Were Destroyed

1. Durham, NC – The Hayti District

Once known as the “Capital of the Black Middle Class,” Durham’s Hayti District was home to:

✅ North Carolina Mutual Life Insurance, one of the largest Black-owned insurance companies in the U.S.

✅ Mechanics and Farmers Bank, which funded Black entrepreneurs

✅ Dozens of Black-owned businesses, schools, and churches

🔥 What Happened?

In the 1950s and 60s, urban renewal projects and highway construction bulldozed Hayti, displacing thousands of Black residents and businesses.

2. Richmond, VA – Jackson Ward

Known as the “Harlem of the South,” Jackson Ward was a major hub of Black business and culture.

✅ Home to Maggie L. Walker, the first Black woman to charter a bank

✅ A center for Black musicians, including Duke Ellington and Billie Holiday

✅ Flourishing Black businesses, including barber shops, pharmacies, and department stores

🔥 What Happened?

Jackson Ward was split in half by the construction of Interstate 95, destroying businesses and forcing Black residents to move.

3. Chicago, IL – Bronzeville

Bronzeville was one of the most influential Black communities in the U.S. during the Great Migration.

✅ Home to The Chicago Defender, a powerful Black newspaper that fought for civil rights

✅ A hub for Black artists, musicians, and activists

✅ Thousands of Black-owned businesses

🔥 What Happened?

The war on drugs, redlining, and economic disinvestment led to decades of decline, pushing many Black residents into poverty.

4. Rosewood, FL – A Thriving Town Burned to the Ground

In 1923, Rosewood was a thriving Black town—until a white mob, fueled by a false accusation, burned it to the ground.

✅ Black families owned homes, businesses, and land

✅ A self-sustaining, successful Black community

🔥 What Happened?

A white woman falsely accused a Black man of assault, and within days, an armed white mob murdered residents, burned homes, and erased the town from existence. Survivors were forced to flee and never return.

How Black Wealth Was Stolen and Suppressed

These communities weren’t just lost to violence—they were systematically dismantled through policies like:

❌ Urban Renewal & Highways – Black neighborhoods were bulldozed to build highways, displacing families.

❌ Redlining – Black residents were denied home loans, preventing wealth accumulation.

❌ Racial Terror – White mobs attacked and destroyed Black businesses with little to no consequences.

❌ Disinvestment – Black businesses were blocked from government funding and private loans.

This wasn’t just about segregation—it was economic sabotage.

Why This Still Matters Today

🏡 The racial wealth gap exists because Black communities were repeatedly targeted and destroyed.

📉 Black businesses still struggle to get funding and loans at the same rates as white businesses.

🚧 Gentrification continues to push Black families out of historic neighborhoods.

Black Wall Street wasn’t an anomaly—it was part of a larger movement of Black prosperity that white supremacy sought to erase.

The Fight for Economic Justice

Today, efforts are being made to rebuild Black wealth through:

✅ Black-owned banks and financial institutions

✅ Reparations for descendants of displaced communities

✅ Investment in Black businesses and entrepreneurs

✅ Preserving and restoring historic Black districts

Black Wall Streets were destroyed, but Black excellence and economic power remain. The fight continues.

💬 Let’s Talk:

Did you know about these other Black Wall Streets? What do you think should be done to restore Black wealth? Drop your thoughts in the comments!