Black Excellence Then and Now: How to Buyblack and Build the New Black Wall Street

What if I told you that over 100 years ago, Black folks built one of the wealthiest communities in America? And what if I told you we could do it again: starting today?

Let's talk about real Black excellence. Not just hashtags and feel-good moments, but actual economic power that changed lives and built generational wealth. The story of the original Black Wall Street isn't just history: it's a blueprint we can use right now.

The Original Black Wall Street: When We Built Our Own

In 1906, a visionary named O.W. Gurley did something radical. He bought over 40 acres in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and made a decision that would change everything: he sold that land exclusively to Black people. No exceptions.

This wasn't just about real estate. It was about building a self-sufficient economy where Black dollars stayed in Black hands. By 1920, Tulsa's Greenwood District: better known as Black Wall Street: had become one of the most prosperous Black communities in the entire United States.

We're talking about a thriving district with everything: schools, hospitals, newspapers, law offices, doctors, dentists, grocery stores, theaters, you name it. Over 300 Black-owned businesses. The community had its own infrastructure, its own economy, its own power.

And here's the key: every dollar circulated within the community multiple times before leaving. When you bought groceries from a Black-owned store, that store owner paid Black employees, who spent their money at other Black businesses, who hired more Black workers. The money kept flowing, kept growing, kept building.

That's not just economics: that's Black excellence in action.

The People Who Made It Happen

Black Wall Street wasn't built by one person. It was built by a community of dreamers and doers who understood that our collective success was everyone's success.

Besides O.W. Gurley, there were people like J.B. Stradford, who built a luxury hotel that could house 80 guests. There was John and Loula Williams, who owned the Williams Dreamland Theatre and Williams Confectionery. There was Dr. A.C. Jackson, considered one of the finest surgeons in America: Black or white.

These weren't just business owners. They were nation builders. They understood something profound: when you Buyblack, you're not just making a purchase: you're making an investment in your community's future.

What Destroyed Black Wall Street: And What We Learned

On May 31 and June 1, 1921, white mobs destroyed 35 city blocks of Black Wall Street. An estimated 150-300 people were killed. 10,000 people were left homeless. Property losses? About $31 million in 2017 dollars: over $60 million in today's money when you count all the claims.

They burned it down because our success threatened their system. Our prosperity proved that when we support each other, we're unstoppable.

But here's what they couldn't destroy: the blueprint. The knowledge. The understanding that economic solidarity is our superpower.

The Modern Buyblack Movement: Building the New Black Wall Street

Fast forward to 2026. We're in a different world, but the principles remain the same. The modern Buyblack movement isn't about excluding anyone: it's about including ourselves in economic prosperity.

Right now, Black Americans have over $1.6 trillion in buying power. That's trillion with a T. But here's the problem: studies show that Black dollars leave our communities faster than any other group. We're not circulating our money like our ancestors did in Greenwood.

The new Black Wall Street isn't about a single district in one city. It's about creating economic ecosystems everywhere: online and offline. It's about being intentional with every dollar we spend.

Your Modern Money Moves: How to Buyblack in 2026

Let's get practical. Here's how you can be part of building the new Black Wall Street right now:

1. Know Where You're Spending

Start tracking your expenses for one month. How much are you spending with Black-owned businesses versus corporations that don't invest back in our communities? No judgment: just awareness. You can't change what you don't measure.

2. Make the Switch

You don't have to change everything overnight. Start with one category. Maybe it's coffee: find a Black-owned coffee shop. Maybe it's clothing: shop at Black-owned fashion brands. Blackwallstreets.store makes it easy to discover Black-owned businesses across every category you can imagine.

3. Think Long-Term

Buying Black isn't just about today's transaction. It's about creating jobs, building wealth, and giving our kids better opportunities. When you Buyblack, you're investing in someone's dream: and that dream employs people, which supports families, which builds communities.

4. Support the Infrastructure

Just like O.W. Gurley built the infrastructure for Black Wall Street, we need to support the platforms connecting Black businesses with Black consumers. Whether it's marketplaces like Blackwallstreets.store or local business directories, these platforms are essential for the ecosystem to work.

5. Spread the Word

Your influence matters. When you find a great Black-owned business, tell people about it. Post about it. Review it. The original Black Wall Street grew through word of mouth and community support. Social media is our modern-day word of mouth on steroids.

The Multiplier Effect: Why Every Dollar Matters

Remember how money circulated in Greenwood? That same principle applies today. When you spend $100 at a Black-owned business:

• That owner can pay Black employees
• Those employees spend money in their communities
• That business can afford to hire more people
• More employed people means more economic stability
• More stability means safer neighborhoods and better schools

It's not just a purchase. It's a cycle of prosperity.

Building Together: The Community Approach

Here's something the original Black Wall Street teaches us: we don't build wealth in isolation. Those businesses in Greenwood supported each other. The doctor went to the Black-owned pharmacy. The lawyer ate at the Black-owned restaurant. The hotel owner bought supplies from the Black-owned store.

Today, we can do the same thing digitally. When you visit Blackwallstreets.store, you're not just shopping: you're joining a movement of people committed to economic empowerment through intentional spending.

This isn't about being perfect. It's about being purposeful. It's about recognizing that our buying power is a form of voting: and we can vote for our own prosperity.

Your Role in the New Black Wall Street

The beauty of this moment is that you don't need to own 40 acres to make a difference. You don't need to build a hotel or start a newspaper. You can start exactly where you are, with what you have.

Every time you Buyblack, you're laying another brick in the new Black Wall Street. Every time you support a Black entrepreneur, you're honoring the legacy of O.W. Gurley and the pioneers of Greenwood. Every time you choose to invest in your community, you're creating the future our ancestors dreamed about.

The original Black Wall Street proved what we're capable of when we work together. Now it's our turn to show the world what Black excellence looks like in 2026.

So here's my challenge to you: This week, make one intentional decision to Buyblack. Just one. Maybe it's switching to a Black-owned brand you discover on Blackwallstreets.store. Maybe it's supporting a local Black business in your neighborhood. Maybe it's telling someone else about a Black entrepreneur who deserves more customers.

One decision, multiplied by millions of us, builds movements. Builds wealth. Builds the new Black Wall Street.

Let's get to work. Our ancestors built something incredible with far less than what we have today. Imagine what we can build together.