By David L. Fitts, Jr.
NCCU Staff Writer
the Durham VOICE
On Friday, Oct. 16, the final three of six permanent sculptures honoring the legacy of Durham’s Historic Black Wall Street were unveiled on East Parrish and Church Streets.
The Parrish Street Advocacy Group and the City of Durham displayed the markers which honored Parrish Street’s rich history.
The large sculptures include text to educate people about the history of Black Wall Street and symbolize the culture of African-Americans.
According to an informational fact sheet from the Parrish Street Advocacy Group, the markers are composed of historically significant materials from Durham’s tobacco, retail, manufacturing and transportation industries as well as bronze, aluminum, steel, glass, limestone and concrete as appropriate to the theme and concept of each marker.
The first set of markers was revealed on West Parrish Street in October 2008.
The themes for the markers are: 1) A Legacy of Community and Institutional Connections, 2) Financial and Professional Impact in Durham, 3) Empowering and Diverse Opportunities. VOICE videographer David L. Fitts, Jr. was there to record last week’s unveiling.
WALTER WEBB says:
NEW BLACK WALL STREET (PARRISH STREET) 2011
INVESTMENTS. QUOTES IN PARENTHESIS.
1. MECHANICS&FARMERS BANK (MFBP)
2. NORTH CAROLINA MUTUAL LIFE INSURANCE VIA M&F
BANK (MFBP)
3. ICAGEN(RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK) SICKLE CELL RE-
RESEARCH COMPANY (ICGN)
4. CARVER BANK (CARV)
5. RADIO ONE AND TELEVISION PROGRAMING FOR
AFRICAN AMERICANS (ROIAK)
6. MICHAEL JORDAN’S CHARLOTTE BOBCATS VIA
WACHOVIA BANK (WFC)
WALTER WEBB says:
PARRISH STREET HAS DONE A LOT TO HONOR BLACK STREET IN DURHAM, NORTH CAROLINA. ONE SUCH REWARD WHICH HAS BEEN A REWARD ALMED TO AFRICAN AMERICAN INDIVIDUAL INVESTORS AND COMPANIES IS FORMER BLACK ENTERTAINMENT TELEVISION EXECUTIVE, AND MINORITY OWNER OF THE
NBA CHARLOTTE BOBCATS IS MR. ROBERT JOHNSON.
THE EXTREMELY SUCCESSFUL BUSINESS HAS CREATED A HOTEL AND REAL ESTATE COMPANY WITH A MARKET CAPITALIZATION OF OVER ONE BILLION DOLLARS. THE
COMPANY, RLJ LODGING TRUST IS LISTED ON NEW YORK STOCK EXCHANGE UNDER STOCK SYMBOL “RLJ” CREATED
A CHAIN OF HOTELS SUITED FOR BLACK WALL STREET AND AFRICAN AMERICAN INVESTORS.
INVESTING IN MR. JOHNSON’S COMPANY ALSO GIVES
THE INDIVIDUAL INVESTOR A MINORITY INVESTMENT IN
THE NATIONAL BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION’S CHARLOTTE BOBCATS. IT ALSO COMES WITH A REAL ESTATE TRUST WHERE IT PAYS AN INVESTOR DIVIDEND.
WALTER WEBB says:
THE YEAR 2011 HAS USHERED IN A NEW BREED OF “BLACK WALL STREET” WHICH WOULD MAKE PARRISH STREET IN DURHAM, NORTH CAROLINA VERY PROUD. AND THIS IS THE COMTEMPARY EXISTENCE OF THE AFRICAN-AMERICAN CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER OR “CEO” AS WE ACRONYMLY KNOW. BELOW IS A LIST OF THESE ECONOMIC PILLARS OF THE FINANCIAL COMMUNITY.
1. MS. KIM SAUNDERS -MECHANICS&FARMERS (MFBP)
2. MR. ROBERT JOHHNSON-RLJ HOTELS (RLJ)
3. MS. CATHAY HUGHES-RADIO ONE (ROIAK)
4. MS. DEBORAH WRIGHT-CARVER BANK (CARV)
5. MR. KENNETH CHENAULT-AMERICAN EXPRESS (AXP)
6. MS. URSULA BURNS-XEROX (XRX)
7. MR. RICHARD PARSON-CITIGROUP (C)
8. MR. DON THOMPSON-MCDONALDS/CHICAGO (MCD)
9. MR. STANLEY O’NEAL-ALCOA (AA)
10. MR. RONALD WILLIAMS-AETNA (AET)