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Black business districts and neighborhoods have always provided a sense of belonging and safety that have allowed us to celebrate our culture and garner wealth. With events such as Jim Crow, segregation and desegregation, and the assassinations of Civil Rights leaders, individual livelihoods were greatly affected, as well as the stability of these neighborhoods.
Today, we are witnessing Black communities disintegrate due to gentrification and racism, while some are managing to rebuild and evolve. Either way, the history of these Black neighborhoods often gets hidden and not fully recognized.
The following are 10 Black business districts that are examples of Black economic excellence and self-empowerment. They are what we always have to remember, learn from and keep alive.
Greenwood/Black Wall Street (Tulsa, Oklahoma)
Tulsa, Oklahoma, is home of the Greenwood district, also known as Black Wall Street. It is one of the most well-known Black business districts from the early 20th century. The district was a successful, self-sufficient society where Black businesses thrived. Black people created their own community and economy, which included a newspaper, grocery stores, barbershops, doctors’ offices, schools, and more. The area was a Black utopia with a population of about 10,000 people at the time, until mobs of armed white residents descended on the community, burning down businesses, looting homes, and attacking/killing Black people on May 31, 1921. The massacre killed hundreds of Black residents and thousands of houses were destroyed.
18th & Vine (Kansas City, Missouri)
My hometown is not only the place for the best barbecue and jazz, but also Black businesses that have a rich history and culture. 18th & Vine is internationally recognized as a historical point of origin of jazz music and a historic hub of African-American businesses. Black Kansas citizens were prohibited from moving south of 27th Street during the first half of the 20th century. As the community grew in population it became completely self-sufficient. Black doctors, dentists, and lawyers practiced and lived in the neighborhood, while more than 600 businesses, hotels, theaters, restaurants and stores flourished. The number of successful businesses owned and operated by Black people made this neighborhood significant.
Hayti District (Durham, North Carolina)
The Hayti District became a successful Black community soon after Black people migrated to Durham to work. The land where the neighborhood emerged was initially owned by white merchants but was eventually purchased with capital that Black residents earned over time. From the 1880s to the 1940s, the district was one of the most successful Black communities in the country. The city was home to the historic North Carolina Mutual Insurance Company, Lincoln Hospital, as well as over 200 other Black-owned businesses.
Harlem (NYC)
Harlem was the epitome of Black excellence in the 1920s, and still gives that same energy today. This neighborhood was home to the Harlem Renaissance and will forever be ingrained in not just Black history but American history. Many cultural, artistic, and literary figures found inspiration and comfort in Harlem. The Great Depression had a devastating impact on Harlem. Even so, the community’s political, social, and economic influence has continued to shape the Black experience to this day.
U Street (Washington, D.C.)
Historically known as Black Broadway, Washington, D.C.’s U Street corridor was known as the epicenter for Black excellence and talent at the end of the 19th century and the first half of the 20th century. U Street was the home of Black social, cultural, and economic prosperity, despite racial and political tension in the country. Pioneers like Carter G. Woodson, Zora Neale Hurston, Mary McLeod Bethune, Billie Holiday, Langston Hughes, and more found refuge there to unapologetically celebrate their Blackness and talents. Currently, U Street is known as Washington’s cultural center, and it is home to many restaurants, clubs, markets, and more.
Tenth Street Historic District (Dallas, Texas)
Situated in a white community called Oak Cliff, Tenth Street District grew to become a prominent Black community soon after the Civil War because of segregation. More than 500 Black residents lived in the area by 1900. The strong Black presence in the district is one reason the area flourished. As with other Black communities in the country, the effects of integration caused many residents to relocate, taking their cultural influence and impact with them. The district was listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1994.
The Fourth Avenue District (Birmingham, Alabama)
This area became an affluent Black business district during the early-to mid-20th century. It was home to a surplus of businesses including theaters, restaurants, hotels, cafés, mortuaries, and more. Fourth Avenue District was a haven for many Black Americans to celebrate themselves in various ways. Not only was the district a great retail and entertainment area, but it also served as a location for community engagement and activism.
Jackson Ward (Richmond, Virginia)
Nicknamed the Harlem of the South, Richmond’s Jackson Ward was a cultural, entertainment, and economic hub for Black residents. Thousands of Black Americans moved to the area that is now a historic district after the Civil War to create better lives for themselves and to start businesses. The prosperous area was home to many well-known churches and the first Black and woman-owned bank in the country, St. Luke Penny Savings, which was founded by entrepreneur and monumental figure Maggie L. Walker. Jackson Ward was a booming entertainment scene were Ella Fitzgerald, Duke Ellington, and Cab Calloway visited, in addition to its being the birthplace of Bill “Bojangles” Robinson.
Seventh Street (West Oakland, California)
Seventh Street in West Oakland became a prosperous area around the time of World War II. Black Americans moved to Oakland en masse due to war-related jobs and other opportunities. Black-owned businesses were created for residents to support and buy Black, which in turn laid the foundation to help the economy thrive. West Oakland was the West Coast epicenter for Black Americans, providing them the opportunity to embed their talents into the city.
Sweet Auburn Historic District (Atlanta, Georgia)
Sweet Auburn was a haven for Black Atlanta residents before the Civil Rights movement. The district’s cultural and social landscape shaped the Black experience in the city, birthing historic Black churches, businesses (such as the second largest Black insurance company in the country, Atlanta Life Insurance Company), talent and more. The Sweet Auburn district is also the birthplace of Martin Luther King Jr. Visitors can take a tour of his childhood home. It’s also where the Martin Luther King Jr. National Historical Park and King’s Ebenezer Baptist Church are located. It is definitely an emotional experience to visit. Sweet Auburn declined in the 1980s as social and economic factors reshaped the district.
Despite gentrification, oppressive policies, and federal interference, the impact of these communities still inspires entrepreneurs, creatives, and community leaders of all backgrounds as places of culture, creativity, and influence. In many of these districts, there has been a resurgence of support for Black businesses, and today Black Americans are using these neighborhoods as a blueprint to create their own legacies while ensuring our ancestors’ history continues to live on.
Black business districts and neighborhoods have always provided a sense of belonging and safety that have allowed us to celebrate our culture and garner wealth. With events such as Jim Crow, segregation and desegregation, and the assassinations of Civil Rights leaders, individual livelihoods were greatly affected, as well as the stability of these neighborhoods.
Today, we are witnessing Black communities disintegrate due to gentrification and racism, while some are managing to rebuild and evolve. Either way, the history of these Black neighborhoods often gets hidden and not fully recognized.
The following are 10 Black business districts that are examples of Black economic excellence and self-empowerment. They are what we always have to remember, learn from and keep alive.
Greenwood/Black Wall Street (Tulsa, Oklahoma)
Tulsa, Oklahoma, is home of the Greenwood district, also known as Black Wall Street. It is one of the most well-known Black business districts from the early 20th century. The district was a successful, self-sufficient society where Black businesses thrived. Black people created their own community and economy, which included a newspaper, grocery stores, barbershops, doctors’ offices, schools, and more. The area was a Black utopia with a population of about 10,000 people at the time, until mobs of armed white residents descended on the community, burning down businesses, looting homes, and attacking/killing Black people on May 31, 1921. The massacre killed hundreds of Black residents and thousands of houses were destroyed.
18th & Vine (Kansas City, Missouri)
My hometown is not only the place for the best barbecue and jazz, but also Black businesses that have a rich history and culture. 18th & Vine is internationally recognized as a historical point of origin of jazz music and a historic hub of African-American businesses. Black Kansas citizens were prohibited from moving south of 27th Street during the first half of the 20th century. As the community grew in population it became completely self-sufficient. Black doctors, dentists, and lawyers practiced and lived in the neighborhood, while more than 600 businesses, hotels, theaters, restaurants and stores flourished. The number of successful businesses owned and operated by Black people made this neighborhood significant.
Hayti District (Durham, North Carolina)
The Hayti District became a successful Black community soon after Black people migrated to Durham to work. The land where the neighborhood emerged was initially owned by white merchants but was eventually purchased with capital that Black residents earned over time. From the 1880s to the 1940s, the district was one of the most successful Black communities in the country. The city was home to the historic North Carolina Mutual Insurance Company, Lincoln Hospital, as well as over 200 other Black-owned businesses.
Harlem (NYC)
Harlem was the epitome of Black excellence in the 1920s, and still gives that same energy today. This neighborhood was home to the Harlem Renaissance and will forever be ingrained in not just Black history but American history. Many cultural, artistic, and literary figures found inspiration and comfort in Harlem. The Great Depression had a devastating impact on Harlem. Even so, the community’s political, social, and economic influence has continued to shape the Black experience to this day.
U Street (Washington, D.C.)
Historically known as Black Broadway, Washington, D.C.’s U Street corridor was known as the epicenter for Black excellence and talent at the end of the 19th century and the first half of the 20th century. U Street was the home of Black social, cultural, and economic prosperity, despite racial and political tension in the country. Pioneers like Carter G. Woodson, Zora Neale Hurston, Mary McLeod Bethune, Billie Holiday, Langston Hughes, and more found refuge there to unapologetically celebrate their Blackness and talents. Currently, U Street is known as Washington’s cultural center, and it is home to many restaurants, clubs, markets, and more.
Tenth Street Historic District (Dallas, Texas)
Situated in a white community called Oak Cliff, Tenth Street District grew to become a prominent Black community soon after the Civil War because of segregation. More than 500 Black residents lived in the area by 1900. The strong Black presence in the district is one reason the area flourished. As with other Black communities in the country, the effects of integration caused many residents to relocate, taking their cultural influence and impact with them. The district was listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1994.
The Fourth Avenue District (Birmingham, Alabama)
This area became an affluent Black business district during the early-to mid-20th century. It was home to a surplus of businesses including theaters, restaurants, hotels, cafés, mortuaries, and more. Fourth Avenue District was a haven for many Black Americans to celebrate themselves in various ways. Not only was the district a great retail and entertainment area, but it also served as a location for community engagement and activism.
Jackson Ward (Richmond, Virginia)
Nicknamed the Harlem of the South, Richmond’s Jackson Ward was a cultural, entertainment, and economic hub for Black residents. Thousands of Black Americans moved to the area that is now a historic district after the Civil War to create better lives for themselves and to start businesses. The prosperous area was home to many well-known churches and the first Black and woman-owned bank in the country, St. Luke Penny Savings, which was founded by entrepreneur and monumental figure Maggie L. Walker. Jackson Ward was a booming entertainment scene were Ella Fitzgerald, Duke Ellington, and Cab Calloway visited, in addition to its being the birthplace of Bill “Bojangles” Robinson.
Seventh Street (West Oakland, California)
Seventh Street in West Oakland became a prosperous area around the time of World War II. Black Americans moved to Oakland en masse due to war-related jobs and other opportunities. Black-owned businesses were created for residents to support and buy Black, which in turn laid the foundation to help the economy thrive. West Oakland was the West Coast epicenter for Black Americans, providing them the opportunity to embed their talents into the city.
Sweet Auburn Historic District (Atlanta, Georgia)
Sweet Auburn was a haven for Black Atlanta residents before the Civil Rights movement. The district’s cultural and social landscape shaped the Black experience in the city, birthing historic Black churches, businesses (such as the second largest Black insurance company in the country, Atlanta Life Insurance Company), talent and more. The Sweet Auburn district is also the birthplace of Martin Luther King Jr. Visitors can take a tour of his childhood home. It’s also where the Martin Luther King Jr. National Historical Park and King’s Ebenezer Baptist Church are located. It is definitely an emotional experience to visit. Sweet Auburn declined in the 1980s as social and economic factors reshaped the district.
Despite gentrification, oppressive policies, and federal interference, the impact of these communities still inspires entrepreneurs, creatives, and community leaders of all backgrounds as places of culture, creativity, and influence. In many of these districts, there has been a resurgence of support for Black businesses, and today Black Americans are using these neighborhoods as a blueprint to create their own legacies while ensuring our ancestors’ history continues to live on.
Pokémon Squishmallows always create quite the stir. In fact, they usually sell out in minutes flat, causing fans to go on real like Pokémon journeys in order to catch ’em all. So, if you’re a big fan of the Pokémon Squishmallows, we suggest you get your Poké Balls and coins in order because two new Pokémon Squishmallows are heading our way. Next in this soft collectible line-up, we’ll get a Piplup Squishmallow and a Winking Pikachu Squishmallow.
Obviously, just one kind of Pikachu Squishmallow isn’t enough. We need at least two varieties of this squishy friend. And Piplup seems like a great choice to join the ranks of Pokémon Squishmallows. Just look at that face. Nothing says adorable like huge eyes and little wings. We’re ready to snuggle this one already. And it’s nice to have a different type of Pokémon in the mix.
Although Squishmallows is happy to tease us with these new Piplup and Winking Pikachu stuffed animals, they’re less forthcoming with when we should expect them to appear in stores. We suspect, though, we’ll find out more sometime soon. In the meanwhile, hug the Pokémon Squishmallows you’re lucky enough to have caught already and get some room ready on the shelf.
The post New POKÉMON Squishmallows Piplup and Winking Pikachu Are Coming Soon appeared first on Nerdist.
Happy June! It is Pride Month, a time where we celebrate the creative works, societal strides, and overall brilliance of LGBTQ+ activists, artists, collectives, characters, and trailblazers who have shaped our world. Of course, this extends deeply into pop culture entertainment, from the LGBTQ+ icons who changed TV, film, music, and more to fictional characters who resonate deeply with fans, cementing a permanent place in their hearts. When it comes to dissecting and celebrating entertainment, indie podcasts and YouTube vloggers continue to reign supreme.
Both mediums are a way for fans to ensure that their analysis, joy, and thirstiest of thoughts are heard. More importantly, entertainment podcasts and vlogs with LGBTQ+ hosts provide their needed perspectives on representation and thematic choices in media, whether they are tied to their specific identities or not. So, to celebrate Pride Month, we want to show these creatives a lot of love.
LGBTQ+ Led Nerdy and Pop Culture Centric Podcasts
Midnight Mass (Hosted By: Peaches Christ & Michael Varrati)
Brilliant host Peaches and filmmaker Michael are a podcasting match made in heaven with a deep affinity for cult movies. The pair dives into different aspects of a film, focusing on actors, genres, or perhaps a specific creative along with special guests. There’s lots of great analysis and laughter to be had with this biweekly podcast.
Cerebro (Hosted By: Connor Goldsmith)
Cerebro is a podcast about Marvel’s the Uncanny X-Men. Each episode, Connor focuses on a specific character from the franchise alongside a guest. As we know, there are so, so many X-Men characters that he’s got plenty of material to mine from!
That S**t We Do Like (Hosted By: Bianca & Niq)
This chaotic delight of a pop culture podcast is all about, well, that s**t that Bianca and Niq like, even if it isn’t popular among the masses. They dig into things they love (or love to hate) and talk about its relevance and impact.
The Queer Archive (Hosted By: Skye & Brenna)
Doctor Who fans rejoice! Skye and Brenna expertly break down episodes of the famed sci-fi series, examining it from a queer and feminist perspective. Doctor Who is heading in what seems to be an increasingly (and delightfully) queer direction, so we are sure that this duo will have lots of thoughts as we head into this new era.
Gaylords of Darkness (Hosted By: Anthony Hudson & Stacie Ponder)
There’s no doubt that queerness is a big part of horror, for better or worse. The Gaylords of Darkness podcast traverses through the dark world of horror, touching on everything from mainstream hits to indie works that lurk in the recess of fans’ minds.
The Wibbly Wobbly Timey Wimey Podcast (Hosted By: Talia Franks & Lucia Kelly)
Yes, there are two Doctor Who podcasts on this list because why not? The Doctor does have two hearts, after all, so they deserve a double dose of love. And this podcast has a lot of love (and valid critiques) to give, with two nerds coming together from different time zones to chat about all things Doctor Who.
Podcast Style YouTube Channels with LGBTQ+ Hosts
That Gay Jedi
Would this truly be a Nerdist list without a Star Wars offering? That Gay Jedi is all about covering Star Wars, but they also dig into Marvel and Stranger Things, too. We love their brilliant content, effervescent energy, and insightful roundtables.
Zack Cherry
When it comes to deep horror analysis, especially for the Scream and Halloween franchises, no one does it quite like Zack Cherry. His insight into everything from a killer’s rationale to glaring narrative holes in a franchise will make you want to watch films ten times for closer inspection. Generally speaking, Zack is a horror whiz
Rowan Ellis
Rowan’s video essays about pop culture, history, and representation from a queer viewpoint are well-crafted and extremely thoughtful. There are lots of great recommendations in her shorter vids as well as some wholly unique topics of discussion, like the “tragic potential of queer zombies.”
The post 9 Queer Podcasts and Vlogs That You Should Support appeared first on Nerdist.
Realms of fantasy collide sometimes, and the meeting of The Lord of the Rings and Magic: The Gathering makes for quite the mash-up. As part of Magic‘s Universes Beyond Our Own line, which brings in characters and settings from outside Magic‘s Multiverse, Lord of the Rings: Tales of Middle-earth puts a J.R.R. Tolkien-inspired coat of paint on the beloved trading card game. Nerdist joined Wizards of the Coast and other outlets for a virtual preview of Tales of Middle-earth with senior art director Ovidio Cartagena. He took us through the gorgeous set of The Lord of the Rings Magic cards, sharing insight into the design and gameplay. We’ll take a closer look at some Lands, a special Legendary Creature, and Starter Kit cards.
Magic: The Gathering‘s The Lord of the Rings Land Cards
First, let’s look at the basic lands. In Magic: The Gathering, lands represent locations under the player’s control.
You’ll notice all of Magic‘s land cards feature characters in this The Lord of the Rings collection—well, the silhouettes of them. Cartagena explained it’s to represent the different paths the characters in The Lord of the Rings have to traverse. Here, the land serves Magic‘s gameplay, but it also represents the journey at the heart of Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings trilogy. The cards are meant to show the epic nature of Frodo’s quest to destroy the ring.
Character and Creature Cards in Lord of the Rings: Tales of Middle-earth
The design team wanted to incorporate familiar characters and creatures into Lord of the Rings: Tales of Middle-earth. Beyond the names and creatures you’d expect, this extends to creatures such as Bill the Pony. The loyal and brave steed is a Legendary Creature, so you could have Bill the Pony as a Commander if you so choose. Cartagena made sure to point out the pans that are part of Bill the Pony’s pack; it’s a nod to Samwise’s cooking and one of the many Easter eggs in the set.
![[embargo, 5/30, 10:30am PT] Flip Through the Gorgeous THE LORD OF THE RINGS MAGIC: THE GATHERING Cards_1](https://legendary-digital-network-assets.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/30100350/Bill-the-Pony_Main.jpg)
With Tales of Middle-earth, players can join the fellowship and fight on the forces of good, or they can serve the Dark Lord Sauron and spread shadow across Middle-earth. The Magic cards featuring The Lord of the Rings characters we know so well have different spins on them, though. Sauron is one of the cards in the Starter Kit, and though someone asked Cartagena how he was going to illustrate Sauron’s eye, he said he understands the eye as more of a metaphoric thing. So, his team designed a unique look for Sauron. And with Frodo, they wanted a more heroic look, something that reflects the many years that pass between him inheriting the ring and embarking on the journey to destroy it.
The Starter Kit has two pre-constructed 60-card decks. Get a preview of some of those cards, including Sauron and Frodo, below.
Lord of the Rings: Tales of Middle-earth Release Date and Magic Card Offerings
Lord of the Rings: Tales of Middle-earth has two launch windows in 2023, June and November. The June 2023 release (prerelease June 16-22, available everywhere on June 23) includes a starter kit, jumpstart boosters, regular boosters, a prerelease pack, a bundle to get your journey going, and more. And on June 26, a special Secret Lair release will feature a drop based on Ralph Bakshi’s 1978 The Lord of the Rings animated film.
We’re not the only ones who got to preview these The Lord of the Rings Magic cards, though. Frodo Baggins himself, Elijah Wood, took a look at the deck. And his expressions say it all.
But they aren't the only people we met with. We traveled to Middle-earth, to talk to one very special fan… #MTGxLOTR pic.twitter.com/reUw7PfGWY
— Magic: The Gathering (@wizards_magic) May 30, 2023
Finally, no, they didn’t forget about the importance of food in this story.
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