Glossary
Activism Hubs
Places or organizations that serve as centers for organizing and coordinating social or political activism.
Example:
Beyond worship, Black churches transformed into powerful activism hubs, nurturing leaders and providing resources for the fight against racial injustice.
Advocacy
Public support for or recommendation of a particular cause or policy, often aimed at promoting social or political change.
Example:
Newspapers like the Pittsburgh Courier engaged in strong advocacy for civil rights, challenging segregation and discrimination through their reporting.
African American Christian Institutions
Churches and religious organizations founded and led by African Americans, which served as central pillars of community life, worship, and social activism.
Example:
African American Christian Institutions were not just places of worship but also vital centers for education, mutual aid, and political organizing.
African Methodist Episcopal Church (AME)
The first independent Black Christian denomination in the United States, founded in 1816, providing a space for free worship and community leadership.
Example:
The African Methodist Episcopal Church (AME) offered a sanctuary from racial discrimination and became a powerful force for social justice.
Black Press
Newspapers and other media outlets owned and operated by African Americans, serving as vital sources of information, advocacy, and community building.
Example:
The Black Press, including papers like the Chicago Defender, played a crucial role in documenting racial injustices and mobilizing the Great Migration.
Black Wall Street
A historic district in Tulsa, Oklahoma, known as Greenwood, which was a thriving and affluent Black business district in the early 20th century.
Example:
The prosperity of Black Wall Street demonstrated the immense potential of Black economic self-determination before its tragic destruction.
Challenging Standards
The act of questioning and resisting prevailing norms, especially those that are discriminatory or exclusionary.
Example:
Madam C.J. Walker's products were revolutionary in challenging standards of beauty that often excluded Black women, celebrating their natural hair and skin.
Citizens Savings and Trust Company
One of the first Black-owned banks in the United States, providing essential financial services to African American communities often excluded by mainstream institutions.
Example:
The Citizens Savings and Trust Company symbolized Black financial independence, offering loans and banking services that fueled Black entrepreneurship and homeownership.
Civil Rights Hubs
Locations or organizations that served as central meeting points and organizational bases for the Civil Rights Movement.
Example:
Churches like Ebenezer Baptist in Atlanta functioned as crucial Civil Rights Hubs, hosting meetings, rallies, and strategic planning sessions.
Community Growth
The development and expansion of a community, encompassing economic prosperity, social cohesion, and improved quality of life.
Example:
The success of Black businesses in places like Tulsa contributed significantly to community growth, fostering a sense of pride and a burgeoning Black middle class.
Community Support
The act of providing assistance, resources, or encouragement to a community, often through philanthropic efforts or direct investment.
Example:
Entrepreneurs like A.G. Gaston demonstrated significant community support by reinvesting their wealth into Black schools, churches, and civil rights organizations.
Economic Stability
The state of a community or individual having consistent financial resources and security, often achieved through self-sustaining systems.
Example:
Black communities aimed for economic stability by establishing their own banks and businesses, creating a parallel economy to overcome systemic barriers.
Independence (AME Church)
The state of being free from external control or influence, particularly referring to the AME Church's autonomy from white-dominated religious structures.
Example:
The independence of the AME Church allowed Black congregants to worship freely and develop their own leadership without racial prejudice.
Job Creation
The process by which new employment opportunities are generated within a community or economy.
Example:
Madam C.J. Walker's business was a powerful engine for job creation, employing thousands of Black women as agents across the country.
Leadership Development
The process of identifying, nurturing, and empowering individuals to take on leadership roles within a community or organization.
Example:
Black churches were instrumental in leadership development, producing influential figures like Martin Luther King Jr. and John Lewis who shaped the Civil Rights Movement.
Madam C.J. Walker
An African American entrepreneur, philanthropist, and political and social activist who became one of the wealthiest self-made women in America by developing hair care products for Black women.
Example:
Madam C.J. Walker built a vast business empire that not only created wealth but also empowered thousands of Black women as agents.
Mobilization
The process of assembling and organizing resources, people, or groups for a specific purpose, such as social or political action.
Example:
The Black press was instrumental in the mobilization of communities, encouraging participation in protests and civil rights initiatives.
Safe Spaces
Environments where individuals feel secure, accepted, and free from judgment or harm, particularly for marginalized groups.
Example:
Black churches provided essential safe spaces for community members to socialize, share experiences, and find solace away from the pervasive racism of society.
Self-Sufficiency
The ability of a community or individual to meet their own needs without external aid, particularly in economic terms.
Example:
Black-owned grocery stores and dry cleaners promoted self-sufficiency by providing essential services that white-owned businesses often denied to Black customers.
Voice and Visibility
The act of providing a platform for marginalized groups to express themselves and be seen, often through media or public forums.
Example:
The Black press provided essential voice and visibility for African Americans, highlighting their achievements and experiences that were ignored by mainstream media.