Hayti, Durham, North Carolina
Encyclopedia
Hayti is the African American
community in the city of Durham, North Carolina
. The business section was also known as "Lil" Mexico in the early 1920s and 30s. Over 200 Africian American businesses were located along Fayetteville, Pettigrew and Pine Streets, the boundaries of Hayti during it's heyday. Hayti is home to many nationally known African Americans; Fashion Consultant André Leon Talley
, NFL star and nationally renowned artist Ernie Barnes
, NBA star and professional coach John Lucas II
, 1950 - 1960's music legend Clyde McPhatter
, and 1950 - 1960s National Funnyman, Pigmeat Markham
. His family was the most prominent on their street, which came to be called (and later officially named) Markham Street in the Hayti District. Jazz Drummer Grady Tate
, NBA star Rodney Rogers
, and longtime Late Show with David Letterman
staff member Biff Henderson
. Even NBA star, Tracy McGrady
finished high school in the Hayti District using it as a launchpad for NBA greatest.
There are a few African "American First" to be found in this small black community.
First all African-American community that was fully self-sufficient. It had its own schools, libraries, churches, barbershops, hospital, movie theatre, recreation center, hotels.
North Carolina Central University
, the first African American College
in America
to be state funded, lies within the bounties of Hayti. Founded by James E. Shepard
as the National Religious Training School and Chautauqua. Dr. Shepard was also one of the founding fathers of Hayti along with Aaron McDuffie Moore, John Merrick
and Charles Clinton Spaulding
. James Shepard, Aaron Moore and John Merrick would go on to found North Carolina Mutual Insurance Company, the largest and richest African American company in the world at the time.
The first Sit-in
happened on June 23, 1957 when Hayti's Asbury Methodist Minister Rev. Douglas Elaine Moore leads a group of six other blacks (three women, three men) into segregated Royal Ice Cream Parlor, where they sat down in the white section. They are arrested and Moore turns to young Durham lawyer Floyd McKissick
. The case is appealed all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court. Durham’s black Ministerial Alliance initially opposed Moore’s “radical” efforts, as did the city wide political organization the Durham Committee on Negro Affairs, or DCNA. Participants in the sit-in included: Mary Elizabeth Clyburn, Rev. Douglas Elaine Moore, Claude Edward Glenn, Jesse Willard Gray, Vivian Elaine Jones, Melvin Haywood Willis, and Virginia Lee Williams." Well before February 5, 1960, when four black college freshmen from Agricultural and Technical College of North Carolina -- Joseph McNeil, Franklin McCain, Ezell A. Blair, Jr. (later known as Jibreel Khazan), and David Richmond sat down at a "white-only" Woolworth Department store lunch counter in Greensboro, North Carolina
.
Both W.E.B. Dubois and Booker T. Washington
visited Hayti in 1910. Both stated that the community was a model for all African American communities in America to follow.
African American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
community in the city of Durham, North Carolina
Durham, North Carolina
Durham is a city in the U.S. state of North Carolina. It is the county seat of Durham County and also extends into Wake County. It is the fifth-largest city in the state, and the 85th-largest in the United States by population, with 228,330 residents as of the 2010 United States census...
. The business section was also known as "Lil" Mexico in the early 1920s and 30s. Over 200 Africian American businesses were located along Fayetteville, Pettigrew and Pine Streets, the boundaries of Hayti during it's heyday. Hayti is home to many nationally known African Americans; Fashion Consultant André Leon Talley
André Leon Talley
André Leon Talley is the former American editor-at-large for Vogue magazine, listed as Contributing Editor in the April 2010 masthead. Talley has been a front-row regular at fashion shows in New York, Paris, London and Milan for more than 25 years...
, NFL star and nationally renowned artist Ernie Barnes
Ernie Barnes
Ernest “Ernie” Eugene Barnes, Jr. was an African-American painter, well-known for his unique style of elongation and movement. He was also a professional football player, actor and author.- Childhood :...
, NBA star and professional coach John Lucas II
John Lucas II
John Harding Lucas II is a retired American professional basketball player and a current assistant coach for the Los Angeles Clippers.-Basketball playing career and substance abuse:...
, 1950 - 1960's music legend Clyde McPhatter
Clyde McPhatter
Clyde McPhatter was an American R&B singer, perhaps the most widely imitated R&B singer of the 1950s and 1960s, making him a key figure in the shaping of doo-wop and R&B. He is best known for his solo hit "A Lover's Question"...
, and 1950 - 1960s National Funnyman, Pigmeat Markham
Pigmeat Markham
Dewey "Pigmeat" Markham was an African-American entertainer. Though best known as a comedian, Markham was also a singer, dancer, and actor...
. His family was the most prominent on their street, which came to be called (and later officially named) Markham Street in the Hayti District. Jazz Drummer Grady Tate
Grady Tate
Grady Tate, , is a hard bop and soul-jazz drummer and singer.He has played with Lional Hampton, Jimmy Smith, Grant Green, Lena Horne, Astrud Gilberto, Ella Fitzgerald, Miles Davis, Blossom Dearie, Chris Connor, Sarah Vaughan, Ray Charles, Cal Tjader, Peggy Lee, Bill Evans, Duke Ellington, Count...
, NBA star Rodney Rogers
Rodney Rogers
Rodney Ray Rogers is a retired American basketball player who last played power forward for the NBA's Philadelphia 76ers.-Early life:...
, and longtime Late Show with David Letterman
Late Show with David Letterman
Late Show with David Letterman is a U.S. late-night talk show hosted by David Letterman on CBS. The show debuted on August 30, 1993, and is produced by Letterman's production company, Worldwide Pants Incorporated. The show's music director and band-leader of the house band, the CBS Orchestra, is...
staff member Biff Henderson
Biff Henderson
James Jackson "Biff" Henderson, Jr. is an American comedian and television personality best known for his work on The Late Show with David Letterman. He is the show's stage manager and appears in occasional humorous segments, often involving interviewing people he meets in public places or at...
. Even NBA star, Tracy McGrady
Tracy McGrady
Tracy Lamar McGrady, Jr., is an American professional basketball player who last played for the Detroit Pistons.Entering the league after graduating from high school, McGrady eventually became a seven-time All-Star. He led the league in scoring in 2003 and 2004. He has also played for the Toronto...
finished high school in the Hayti District using it as a launchpad for NBA greatest.
There are a few African "American First" to be found in this small black community.
First all African-American community that was fully self-sufficient. It had its own schools, libraries, churches, barbershops, hospital, movie theatre, recreation center, hotels.
North Carolina Central University
North Carolina Central University
North Carolina Central University is a public historically black university in the University of North Carolina system, located in Durham, North Carolina, offering programs at the baccalaureate, master’s, professional and doctoral levels....
, the first African American College
College
A college is an educational institution or a constituent part of an educational institution. Usage varies in English-speaking nations...
in America
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
to be state funded, lies within the bounties of Hayti. Founded by James E. Shepard
James E. Shepard
James E. Shepard was the founder of what became the only taxpayer-funded liberal arts college for blacks in the nation, North Carolina Central University in Durham, North Carolina.-Personal life and family:...
as the National Religious Training School and Chautauqua. Dr. Shepard was also one of the founding fathers of Hayti along with Aaron McDuffie Moore, John Merrick
John Merrick
John Merrick may refer to:* John Merrick , English ambassador to Russia* John Merrick , African-American founder of North Carolina Mutual & Provident Insurance Company in Durham, North Carolina...
and Charles Clinton Spaulding
Charles Clinton Spaulding
Charles Clinton Spaulding was a prominent business leader who founded North Carolina Mutual Life Insurance Company, which became America's largest black-owned business, with assets of over US$ 40 million at his death....
. James Shepard, Aaron Moore and John Merrick would go on to found North Carolina Mutual Insurance Company, the largest and richest African American company in the world at the time.
The first Sit-in
Sit-in
A sit-in or sit-down is a form of protest that involves occupying seats or sitting down on the floor of an establishment.-Process:In a sit-in, protesters remain until they are evicted, usually by force, or arrested, or until their requests have been met...
happened on June 23, 1957 when Hayti's Asbury Methodist Minister Rev. Douglas Elaine Moore leads a group of six other blacks (three women, three men) into segregated Royal Ice Cream Parlor, where they sat down in the white section. They are arrested and Moore turns to young Durham lawyer Floyd McKissick
Floyd McKissick
Floyd Bixler McKissick was born in Asheville, North Carolina on March 9, 1922. He became the first African American student at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill's Law School. In 1966 he became leader of CORE, the Congress of Racial Equality, taking over from James L. Farmer, Jr. A...
. The case is appealed all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court. Durham’s black Ministerial Alliance initially opposed Moore’s “radical” efforts, as did the city wide political organization the Durham Committee on Negro Affairs, or DCNA. Participants in the sit-in included: Mary Elizabeth Clyburn, Rev. Douglas Elaine Moore, Claude Edward Glenn, Jesse Willard Gray, Vivian Elaine Jones, Melvin Haywood Willis, and Virginia Lee Williams." Well before February 5, 1960, when four black college freshmen from Agricultural and Technical College of North Carolina -- Joseph McNeil, Franklin McCain, Ezell A. Blair, Jr. (later known as Jibreel Khazan), and David Richmond sat down at a "white-only" Woolworth Department store lunch counter in Greensboro, North Carolina
Greensboro, North Carolina
Greensboro is a city in the U.S. state of North Carolina. It is the third-largest city by population in North Carolina and the largest city in Guilford County and the surrounding Piedmont Triad metropolitan region. According to the 2010 U.S...
.
Both W.E.B. Dubois and Booker T. Washington
Booker T. Washington
Booker Taliaferro Washington was an American educator, author, orator, and political leader. He was the dominant figure in the African-American community in the United States from 1890 to 1915...
visited Hayti in 1910. Both stated that the community was a model for all African American communities in America to follow.