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Rooted in Durham: America's First Black Wall Street

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💛 Mutual aid isn’t new. Durham’s Black women mastered it in 1907.

That year, a group of women in the East End neighborhood formed the East End Thrift Club. They pooled coins to cover education, healthcare, and family needs. What they built became one of the longest running Black women’s community clubs in the United States.
The first “community fund” in Durham didn’t come from City Hall. It came from a living room in East End.
We are including this history in Rooted in Durham: America’s First Black Wall Street, a documentary exploring the history and living legacy of Durham’s Black community.
💡 What other Durham stories should we share next? Comment below and follow us to #KnowYourRoots.
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#durham #blackwallstreet #durhamnc #northcarolina taken in Durham, North Carolina by @firstblackwallstreet

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👀 Know old Durham? Let’s talk.
We’re gathering stories from longtime residents, elders, and locals about the real Durham—its people, its past, and its power. You’ll sit one-on-one with a member of our documentary crew to share your story in a relaxed and intentional space.
📍 Missy Lane’s Assembly Room
📅 August 20, 2025 | 5–7 PM
🎥 Some stories may be featured in our upcoming documentary
🔗 Follow @firstblackwallstreet for updates by @firstblackwallstreet

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We’re building a documentary rooted in Southern Black history.... and we’re looking for team members to join us.
Rooted in Durham: America’s First Black Wall Street is now accepting applications for:
📍 Research & Outreach Assistant
📍 Production Assistant (Pre-Production Focus)

These are credited positions with potential for pay once funding is secured. We’re looking for folks based in Durham or the Triangle area who are organized, community-minded, and passionate about storytelling.

📧 Send your resume to americasfirstblackwallstreet@gmail.com to apply.

#DurhamNC #BlackWallStreet #DocumentaryFilm #CommunityStories #SouthernHistory #BlackFilmmakers #NCArtists #storytellingthatmatters by @firstblackwallstreet

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The legacy they tried to bury still lives here.

Rooted in Durham: America’s First Black Wall Street is a documentary honoring the legacy of Black entrepreneurs, visionaries, and community builders who shaped Durham into a national model for Black excellence.

We’re currently in development — digging deep into the stories, the struggle, and the spirit that built one of the most powerful Black economies in the South. This film is about reclaiming that legacy and asking what it means for us today.

We're looking to connect with elders, families, and community members who carry this history in their hearts, homes, and memories.

📧 Share your story with us: americasfirstblackwallstreet@gmail.com
🎥 Follow our journey and help us bring this history to light.
Coming in 2026

#RootedInDurham #BlackWallStreet #DurhamNC #BlackHistoryMatters #OralHistory #DocumentaryInProgress #SupportBlackStories taken in Durham, North Carolina by @firstblackwallstreet

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