A bit of history:
Black Wall Street has always been a symbol of economic hope and success. It got its name from the black district in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Where African Americans had created a self-sufficient prosperous business district due to the entrepreneurial spirit demonstrated by Greenwood residents who thrived together in the face of racism and segregation in the early 1900s.
After the Tulsa Massacre in 1921, the violent incident took a heavy financial toll on the African American community.
St. Louis, MO
Now in St. Louis, they are moving forward with rebuilding that strong foundation of Black Wall Street. On June 25th, Young Voices with Action and its partners will converge for the seventh year in the historic Wellston Loop business center. And they will be hosting the Annual Black Wall Street 314 Festival.
The festival collaborates investment of human capital and community development surrounding the north-eastern end of the city to north-western suburban Wellston. Young Voices with Action is a premier youth-led organization that empowers and challenges its peers to lead and take on leadership roles within their homes, communities, places of worship, schools and places of employment.
The mission of the festival is to educate, engage, and empower the local community in cooperative economics and social uplift. I think this is an amazing event for the community.
I feel it bridges the gap and brings the community closer together. Because there is so much negativity every day on the news about the black-on-black crime that I believe the media has painted a negative narrative about African Americans.
We always hear about the Jewish and Asians flourishing, So, I think this festival is a great thing for us African Americans to circulate our dollars where we live to create an economic boost in our neighborhoods.
As we continue to fight against racism and the injustices by the government and corrupt police officers, Moreover, we must start with the Black dollar to establish policy within our community.
I encourage everyone to come out and support this extravagant event. The festival will showcase concerts, Black Businesses, food trucks, a car and bike show, and games and fun for the whole family. There will also be small events throughout the month of June leading up to the big festival.
Black Wall Street 314 Festival
5955 Dr. Martin Luther King Drive
St. Louis, MO 63112
11 am till 6 pm
