Starting a business is one sure-fire way of securing economic stability. During Jim Crow, Black Americans were forced to get creative with how they sustained themselves especially since most lucrative jobs were reserved for white workers. They also had to work twice as hard to get half as far since, culturally, they didn’t have the luxury of passing along generational wealth. Join me as we shine a Historical Spotlight on the Burdines Store, a successful Black American owned department store in Miami.

Black Americans have always struggled to gain a foothold economically, socially, and politically in America. From the evil act of slavery to discrimination, generations have had to fight tooth and nail just to have some semblance of peace. Even when smart business owners abided by segregation laws, their organizations were often undermined and sabotaged simply because of their success. Join me as we shine a Historical Spotlight on Bruce’s Beach, a successful Black beach resort in California that was unjustly taken by eminent domain.