From Black Wall Street to Blackwallstreets.store: How These Icons Paved the Way for Buyblack

Before there were hashtags and online marketplaces, there was a 35-block stretch in Tulsa, Oklahoma that proved what happens when Black dollars circulate within the Black community. The Greenwood District, known as Black Wall Street, wasn't just a neighborhood: it was an economic revolution. And the visionaries who built it? They wrote the blueprint for what we now call the Buyblack movement.

Let's talk about the OGs who made it happen and why their legacy matters more than ever in 2026.

O.W. Gurley: The Real Estate Mogul Who Started It All

Imagine arriving in Oklahoma with $30,000 in your pocket (that's about $1 million today) and a vision to build something that had never existed before. That was O.W. Gurley in 1906.

Gurley wasn't playing small. He bought 40 acres of land and sold it exclusively to Black people, creating a self-contained community where Black families could own property, build businesses, and create generational wealth. He opened a rooming house, a grocery store, and helped establish the infrastructure that would become Black Wall Street.

The Modern Money Move: Gurley understood something we're relearning today: ownership is everything. When you control the land, the buildings, and the businesses, you control the economic destiny of your community. This is exactly what platforms like Blackwallstreets.store are doing in the digital space: creating a dedicated marketplace where Black entrepreneurs can own their storefronts and keep their profits circulating within the community.

J.B. Stradford: The Luxury Hotel Owner Who Dreamed Bigger

J.B. Stradford wasn't content with good enough. He wanted excellence. Born to freed slaves in Kentucky, Stradford worked his way through law school and eventually landed in Tulsa with big plans.

In 1918, he opened the Stradford Hotel: a 54-room luxury establishment that rivaled any white-owned hotel in the region. It had running water, a dining room, and first-class service. For Black travelers facing discrimination everywhere else, it was an oasis of dignity and comfort.

The Modern Money Move: Stradford proved that Black businesses don't have to accept being "less than." Quality matters. Customer experience matters. When you Buyblack today, you're not settling: you're investing in businesses that often provide better service, more authentic products, and genuine community connection. The entrepreneurs on Blackwallstreets.store carry this same spirit, offering everything from premium jewelry and accessories to artisan goods that match or exceed anything you'd find in mainstream marketplaces.

A.J. Smitherman: The Media Maven Who Controlled the Narrative

A.J. Smitherman understood something crucial: if you don't tell your own story, someone else will: and they'll get it wrong. He founded the Tulsa Star newspaper in 1913, creating a platform for Black voices in a time when mainstream media either ignored or vilified the Black community.

His newspaper didn't just report news; it celebrated Black achievement, advocated for civil rights, and educated the community on economic empowerment. Smitherman used his platform to encourage Black residents to support Black businesses and build economic independence.

The Modern Money Move: In 2026, we're still fighting for narrative control. Social media has given us platforms, but algorithms don't always favor our stories. That's why the Buyblack movement isn't just about commerce: it's about visibility. When you shop at Blackwallstreets.store, you're amplifying Black entrepreneurs, helping their businesses gain the visibility they deserve, and creating success stories that inspire the next generation.

Dr. A.C. Jackson: The Surgeon Who Proved Excellence Knows No Color

Dr. A.C. Jackson was so skilled that the Mayo brothers reportedly called him "the most able Negro surgeon in America." He could have practiced anywhere, worked with anyone, but he chose to serve his community in Greenwood.

His practice was thriving, his reputation impeccable, and his presence in Greenwood showed young Black children that they could aspire to any profession, achieve any level of excellence.

The Modern Money Move: Dr. Jackson embodied the principle that Black excellence deserves Black support. He had options: he chose community. Today, when you choose to Buyblack, you're making the same choice. You're saying that Black talent, Black innovation, and Black entrepreneurship deserve your investment. You're keeping skilled professionals, creative artists, and innovative thinkers in the community ecosystem.

The Tragedy That Couldn't Kill the Dream

On May 31, 1921, a white mob descended on Greenwood and destroyed it. Over 35 blocks burned. Hundreds were killed. Thousands were left homeless. Black Wall Street was reduced to ash and rubble.

But here's what they couldn't destroy: the knowledge, the skills, the determination, and the blueprint for economic empowerment.

The survivors rebuilt. They passed down the lessons. And today, more than a century later, those same principles are fueling a new movement.

From Greenwood to Your Screen: The Digital Black Wall Street

The original Black Wall Street proved what's possible when Black people support Black businesses. Money circulated 36 to 100 times within the community before leaving. Compare that to today, where a dollar spends less than six hours in the Black community.

That's where the modern Buyblack movement and platforms like Blackwallstreets.store come in.

Think of it as Greenwood District 2.0: but instead of being confined to 35 blocks in Tulsa, it's accessible from anywhere with an internet connection. Black entrepreneurs from across the country can set up shop, reach customers nationwide, and build the kind of thriving businesses that O.W. Gurley, J.B. Stradford, and their peers would recognize and respect.

Why Buyblack Matters More Than Ever

The icons of Black Wall Street didn't just build businesses: they built an ecosystem. A dollar spent at Gurley's rooming house might pay a Black employee, who'd get their hair cut at a Black barbershop, who'd buy groceries from a Black-owned store, who'd hire a Black contractor to fix their roof.

That's the power of circulation. That's the power of Buyblack.

When you shop at Blackwallstreets.store, you're:

• Directly supporting Black entrepreneurs and their families
• Helping create jobs in the Black community
• Building wealth that stays in our communities
• Funding the next generation of Black business owners
• Proving there's a market for Black excellence

The Legacy Continues

O.W. Gurley, J.B. Stradford, A.J. Smitherman, Dr. A.C. Jackson: these weren't just successful business people. They were revolutionaries who proved that economic independence is the foundation of true freedom.

They faced laws designed to keep them down, violence meant to destroy them, and a system built to exploit them. And still, they built something extraordinary.

In 2026, we don't face the same physical dangers, but we face new challenges: wealth gaps, systemic barriers, and an economy that often overlooks Black businesses. The solution? The same one our ancestors used: support each other, build together, and create our own economic ecosystems.

Every purchase you make is a choice. Every dollar you spend is a vote for the world you want to see.

When you choose to Buyblack, when you shop at Blackwallstreets.store, you're not just buying products: you're honoring the legacy of those who came before, supporting those building today, and paving the way for those who'll come tomorrow.

That's not just shopping. That's revolution. That's how we build the next Black Wall Street: one intentional purchase at a time.

From Tulsa to the digital marketplace, the dream lives on. And this time, nobody can burn it down.