In a resonant echo of the past, Detroit has witnessed the spirit of Black entrepreneurship again taking center stage.
In partnership with Downtown Detroit Partnership and Bedrock, Hot Sam’s, Detroit’s Black Wall Street hosted the ‘Past Forward’ event recently in Campus Martius. The heart of downtown Detroit thrummed with the energy of hundreds of Detroiters, who came to revel in an homage to the golden days of Black enterprise.
Detroit’s Black Wall Street is an initiative of The Institute of Legacy Preservation (ILP). The ILP, through this venture, is dedicating itself to a crucial mission: preserving the legacy of black business and the black community.
Its focus has been creating educational, empowering, and expressive entertainment for the entire community to enjoy and engage. Through this initiative, the ILP aims to recreate these prosperous periods, preserving their legacy for future generations. The organization uses this platform to showcase black-owned businesses and their successes and to bring our community together, reconnecting us to our shared past and leading us toward a prosperous future.
As a community, people gathered to celebrate the present and remember the indomitable spirit that had defined us during the early 20th century. A heart that was once the backbone of Tulsa’s Black Wall Street and Detroit’s own Black Bottom district.
Both neighborhoods, separated by geography but united in purpose, were beacons of Black entrepreneurship in the 1920s. They were our promised lands, places where our dreams, ambitions, and aspirations were not just possibilities but realities. In those streets, Black businesses thrived, Black communities flourished, and Black people uplifted each other economically and socially.
In the quiet yet defiant spirit of Black Bottom and Black Wall Street, the ‘Past Forward’ event unveiled an interactive archive installation: a window to our past, a mirror of our present, and a projection of our bright future. Musical storytelling reverberated across Campus Martius, offering a soulful recollection of our history and tenacity.
“In 2021 Hot Sam’s turned 100 years old,” said Lauren Stovall, Marketing Director of Hot Sam’s. “So, while we’re celebrating the 100th year of destruction in Tulsa, we’re also celebrating that this Black business is turning 100 years old, and that is how this event started three years ago.”
We saw the revival of that spirit through the Black Wall Street initiative. The event showcased over 30 Black-owned businesses, leveraging the power of the ‘BeFriend Me’ app to highlight local entrepreneurs. In this modern age, we are digitizing solidarity, echoing the unity that made Black Wall Street and Black Bottom possible. The innovative digital coupon hunt highlighted our evolution, blending modern technology with traditional community spirit.
The night was not just a celebration but also an affirmation. It was an affirmation of our shared history and a commitment to carry forward the legacy of our ancestors. Through the heartening display of unity, creativity, and entrepreneurship, it became clear that the spirit of Black Wall Street and Black Bottom is very much alive in Detroit.
As we look to the future, let us remember the resilience that has been the cornerstone of our past. Let us carry forward the determination that ignited the spark of black entrepreneurship in the 1920s. Let us forge ahead with the knowledge that the legacy of Black Wall Street and Black Bottom is not just a memory but a living testament to the undying spirit of black entrepreneurship.
Black entrepreneurship is not just a part of our history but our present and future. And as we stood together in Campus Martius, it was clear that Detroit was keeping that spirit alive and well. Our city remains a beacon of hope, a testament to our resilience, and a city where the dream of Black entrepreneurship shines brightly.
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