By Carla Thomas
Special to The Truth
What’s in a name? While many adopt the title “Black Wall Street” , the once thriving African American business district in the early 20th century, as a symbol of prosperity and empowerment, few take actionable steps to live up to that legacy.
However, one organization that is making a tangible effort to embody this legacy is Black Wall Street Community Development (BWSCD) which consists of three media entities: The Sojourner’s Truth newspaper, Stalwart magazine, and WJUC 107.3 The Juice radio station.
For Fletcher Word, publisher of The Sojourner’s Truth, the need for such an initiative became clear after years of observing the economic struggles many Black-owned businesses in Toledo faced.
“I realized it years ago when we started compiling lists of businesses to create an inclusive online directory of Black-owned businesses,” Word said. “But to really make an impact, it wasn’t enough to just catalog them—we had to help them network, support each other, and grow together.”
That realization led to the formation of Black Wall Street Community Development, a collaborative effort among Black-owned media outlets with a shared mission to rebuild and empower Toledo’s African American economic community.
The BWSCD team, often behind the scenes telling others’ stories, are now taking an active, hands-on role in bettering their own community. To them, Black Wall Street is not just a metaphor; they’re driving real community development efforts aimed at rebuilding a thriving African American economic community in Toledo, Ohio.
In the heart of Toledo, these three prominent Black-owned media outlets have come together with a mission: to revive the spirit of Black Wall Street and empower the city’s African American business community. Through collaboration, mentorship, and resource sharing, the media leaders are working to recreate the success of the original Black Wall Street of Tulsa, Oklahoma—a symbol of resilience, entrepreneurship, and community that still holds powerful meaning today.
Historically, Black Wall Street was a community in Tulsa, Oklahoma, known for its prosperous Black-owned businesses in the early 20th century. It represented economic self-sufficiency and collective success, only to be violently destroyed during the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre. That legacy, however, has endured as a symbol of what can be achieved through collaboration and community support. The media leaders behind Toledo’s Black Wall Street Community Development aim to emulate that spirit.
“The name ‘Black Wall Street’ is a reflection of what was built in Tulsa—a community that helped each other grow despite immense challenges. It’s not just a reference to the past; it’s a model for what we aim to do here,” said Word.
While Tulsa’s Black Wall Street was a geographically concentrated community, today’s economic landscape is vastly different, with businesses often relying on digital tools and global markets. But the underlying principle remains the same: collective uplift.
In Toledo, a city with a rich history of Black entrepreneurship, the echoes of Black Wall Street resonate deeply. During the 1950s and 60s, Dorr Street served as Toledo’s Black downtown, bustling with Black-owned businesses, social clubs, and a vibrant community life.
Toni Battle-Gaines, sales manager at WJUC 107.3 The Juice, remembers the era well. “Toledo was a good example in the 60s when we were centered around Dorr St. I witnessed my father’s business, Unity Beauty and Barber Supply, experiencing a lot of success,” she recalled. “But today, businesses are scattered across the city, and some are even looking beyond local markets for customers. The need to build a communication network for our businesses to thrive was clear.”
The transformation of Dorr Street from a vibrant, walkable, community hub into a five-lane thoroughfare due to urban renewal projects dealt a significant blow to Toledo’s Black community. In many ways, Toledo’s Black Wall Street initiative is an effort to recapture that sense of unity and shared prosperity, albeit in a different era.
Battle-Gaines emphasized the role of media in this effort. “The same collaboration theory applies to media outlets. We are a powerful voice in the community that is available to other businesses to communicate their value proposition,” she said. “How many cities today have a Black-owned radio station, newspaper, and magazine? It’s rare. But it’s also an incredible asset for other Black-owned businesses.”
For Battle-Gaines, the power of Toledo’s media collaboration lies in its ability to amplify Black businesses’ voices, offer education and training, and build a network of mutual support.
Central to Black Wall Street Community Development’s mission is ensuring that Toledo’s Black business owners have access to the resources, training, and networking opportunities they need to succeed. Word sees this as a crucial aspect of economic empowerment.
“The success of the business community directly impacts the needs and aspirations of the local community,” he explained. “By keeping money in the community, by growing wealth here, we open up job and investment opportunities. It’s about creating a cycle of prosperity that benefits everyone.”
One of the organization’s first major initiatives was a “Speed Funding” event held as part of the Juneteenth Celebration. During this event, local Black business owners had the opportunity to connect with potential investors and learn about funding opportunities. But the event also revealed a critical gap: many of the participants lacked essential business training, particularly in areas like accounting and financial management.
“We rose to the challenge of addressing those gaps,” Battle-Gaines said. “Black Wall Street members with expertise stepped up to coach and train. We also aligned ourselves with other organizations like The Entrepreneurs Club and Ternion Training and Education Center for additional support.”
The initiative’s efforts have been well received, and there’s a clear hunger in the community for more. Battle-Gaines explained, “The response has been very positive. Businesses want more of the same—more training, more opportunities to connect, more chances to grow.”
Looking forward, Black Wall Street Community Development has both short- and long-term goals to build on this momentum.
“In the short term, we want to offer more impactful training and support,” Battle-Gaines said. “Long term, we’re aiming for stronger collaboration and for our members to be able to access financial resources on a larger scale because they’re better prepared.”
The organization’s leaders are also excited about upcoming projects, though Battle-Gaines teased that some of these initiatives are still under wraps. “Stay tuned,” she said with a smile.
In many ways, Black Wall Street Community Development represents a modern reimagining of the principles that guided the original Black Wall Street of the 1920s. The focus on collaboration, mutual support, and economic self-sufficiency remains central.
“The historical significance is reflected in our desire to emulate what those predecessors accomplished during very difficult times,” Word said. “But it’s also about addressing the contemporary issues our community faces today.”
For Toledo’s Black Wall Street leaders, the future is bright. They’ve laid the foundation, but the real work is just beginning.
“We are not simply Black-owned businesses,” Battle-Gaines said proudly. “We are successful businesses that happen to be Black owned.”
With that spirit of resilience and determination, Toledo’s Black Wall Street Community Development is poised to make a lasting impact on the city’s African American business community and beyond.