PhillyzFinest
All Star
Believe it or not, Philadelphia was once the premiere destination for blacks.
In 1901,
"Philadelphia had at that point the largest, most aggressive, and wealthiest free black population in the western world. Philadelphians knew it. Americans knew it...Everybody saw Philadelphia as the prototype of what a free African American would look like, and what a free African American would do. That is to say, they'd buy property; they'd take over the public space; they would see themselves...as gentlemen and ladies..."
- Emma Lapsansky, historian
What happened?
The easy answer is racism. But how? I'll tell you.
1. Get rid of the prominent black school.
America’s first Historically Black College or University was in Philly. Historians will tell you Cheyney University is America’s first HBCU. But few are aware that Cheyney was originally named the Institute for Colored Youth at 7th and Bainbridge in the heart of Philadelphia in 1852. It’s original name in 1837 was the African Institute. They changed it to Institute for Colored Youth. The first black college originated in Philadelphia.
This college was a lynchpin in the foundation of a functioning black community in Philadelphia. Slowly, a self-sustaining middle class of business owners, professionals and competitive and competent skill workers emerged. Thanks to Booker T. Washington & a board of white Quakers, they decided to move the school from the heart of black Philadelphia to a suburb 25 miles away.
2. Get rid of the prominent black bank(s).
Black society in Philadelphia began to peak in the early 1900’s. The backbone of Philadelphia’s black community was found in it’s two black owned banks; The Brown & Stevens Bank in South Philly and Cosmopolitan Bank in North Philly. (Yes, Philadelphia had TWO black owned banks!)
Banks add vitality to a community. Providing loans for houses and businesses, blacks could build wealth alongside their white counterparts and create their own community. They invested in Marcus Garvey's Black Star Network and other up and coming black entrepreneurial ventures.
But when those banks collapsed, Cheyney left Philadelphia… it lost its foundational building.
How did they collapse? J. Edgar Hoover's Bureau of Investigation sabotaged Marcus Garvey's network (which was like an Alibaba for Black People) by throwing foreign matter into the fuel of the boats, damaging the engines.
devil.
The FBI attacked all the investments made by the banks... causing their investments to fail. And when the investments failed, there was a "run" on the banks meaning people felt they would lose their deposited money.
Black people couldn't get their money back. The two lynchpin banks failed at the same time.
Without the strength of a black bank and a top local HBCU pumping out eager graduates looking to make a difference in the city, Philadelphia’s black community suffered. They missed a golden opportunity to build wealth, prestige and branding. They were left to the hands of the white community; denied loans, redlining, panic selling and failed businesses. Without jobs and an influx of drugs, gang activity began.
3. Inject drugs and weapons.
You got rid of the black banks, empowering black people. You got rid of the prominent black school, which keeps blacks from consolidating their knowledge.
Then you squeeze them on policy and work with the private sector to ensure racism keeps black wealth down. And any outrage you meet with police.
Finally, you add in drugs and weapons. Philly is an easy hub, located right by the Delaware river which leads to the Delaware Bay and the Atlantic Ocean.
We know how that works.
4. Overpolice the community.
Wash and repeat.
In 1901,
"Philadelphia had at that point the largest, most aggressive, and wealthiest free black population in the western world. Philadelphians knew it. Americans knew it...Everybody saw Philadelphia as the prototype of what a free African American would look like, and what a free African American would do. That is to say, they'd buy property; they'd take over the public space; they would see themselves...as gentlemen and ladies..."
- Emma Lapsansky, historian
What happened?
The easy answer is racism. But how? I'll tell you.
1. Get rid of the prominent black school.
America’s first Historically Black College or University was in Philly. Historians will tell you Cheyney University is America’s first HBCU. But few are aware that Cheyney was originally named the Institute for Colored Youth at 7th and Bainbridge in the heart of Philadelphia in 1852. It’s original name in 1837 was the African Institute. They changed it to Institute for Colored Youth. The first black college originated in Philadelphia.
This college was a lynchpin in the foundation of a functioning black community in Philadelphia. Slowly, a self-sustaining middle class of business owners, professionals and competitive and competent skill workers emerged. Thanks to Booker T. Washington & a board of white Quakers, they decided to move the school from the heart of black Philadelphia to a suburb 25 miles away.
2. Get rid of the prominent black bank(s).
Black society in Philadelphia began to peak in the early 1900’s. The backbone of Philadelphia’s black community was found in it’s two black owned banks; The Brown & Stevens Bank in South Philly and Cosmopolitan Bank in North Philly. (Yes, Philadelphia had TWO black owned banks!)
Banks add vitality to a community. Providing loans for houses and businesses, blacks could build wealth alongside their white counterparts and create their own community. They invested in Marcus Garvey's Black Star Network and other up and coming black entrepreneurial ventures.
But when those banks collapsed, Cheyney left Philadelphia… it lost its foundational building.
How did they collapse? J. Edgar Hoover's Bureau of Investigation sabotaged Marcus Garvey's network (which was like an Alibaba for Black People) by throwing foreign matter into the fuel of the boats, damaging the engines.
devil.
The FBI attacked all the investments made by the banks... causing their investments to fail. And when the investments failed, there was a "run" on the banks meaning people felt they would lose their deposited money.
Black people couldn't get their money back. The two lynchpin banks failed at the same time.
Without the strength of a black bank and a top local HBCU pumping out eager graduates looking to make a difference in the city, Philadelphia’s black community suffered. They missed a golden opportunity to build wealth, prestige and branding. They were left to the hands of the white community; denied loans, redlining, panic selling and failed businesses. Without jobs and an influx of drugs, gang activity began.
3. Inject drugs and weapons.
You got rid of the black banks, empowering black people. You got rid of the prominent black school, which keeps blacks from consolidating their knowledge.
Then you squeeze them on policy and work with the private sector to ensure racism keeps black wealth down. And any outrage you meet with police.
Finally, you add in drugs and weapons. Philly is an easy hub, located right by the Delaware river which leads to the Delaware Bay and the Atlantic Ocean.
We know how that works.
4. Overpolice the community.
Wash and repeat.
