On today's episode. If I didn't know, maybe you didn't either. Let's talk about stolen lands in your state. I'm talking about entire black towns that were built from the ground up, not just neighborhoods. I mean whole towns stolen. I'll explain, I didn't know. I didn't know. I didn't know. I didn't know. I didn't know. I didn't know. First stop Orange Mound in Memphis, Tennessee. Now, whenever I hear Orange Mound,
I immediately think of eight Ball and MJG. But Orange Mound was founded in eighteen eighty by a former slave named Thomas McKinney. Like I said, Look, I'm tired of working for y'all, so I'm buying this land, splitting it up and selling it to black folks. And black folks came through like bet. They turned Orange Mound into a
whole vibe. Businesses, schools, churches, They had everything. Fast forward, and now Orange Mound is the home to legends like Isaac Hayes Chef you damn right, and you're boored, Project Pat Uh from three to six, And y'all know, Project Pat put Memphis on the map. Orange Mound was the original black Wall Street of Memphis got it. So now let's head down to Florida Eatonville. Eatonville is historic, y'all because it was the first incorporated all black town in America.
It was founded in eighteen eighty seven. And let me tell you, they weren't waiting for permission. These folks got together like, look, we're gonna govern ourselves and be done with this foolishness. Are you familiar with the writer Zora Neil Hurston, one of the greatest writers to ever do it. She's from Eatonville, and if you read her books, she pretty much wrote stories that brought Eatonville's culture to life.
Eatonville was basically Wakanda before Marvel even thought about it. Now, if you slide over to Oklahoma, it's a spot called Bowley. Bowley was founded in nineteen o three and it was next level. They had black doctors, black lawyers. They even had their own bank. And they ain't taking no jump. They told white folks, don't even think about robbing this bank. It's a story about some robbers pulling up and the folks in Boli lit them up like it was the
fourth of July. There's maun Byu Mississippi that were founded in eighteen eighty seven by Isaiah T. Montgomery. This was another all black town built for us by us. They had schools, hospitals, and businesses run entirely by black folks. The town was so successful that even civil rights leaders like Medgar Evers came through to soak up some of the energy. As has been the theme this season, this is another example of black folks not just surviving but thriving,
and the spirit of these towns lives on. Look at hip hop. It's all about independence, ownership and telling your story. That's why Kendrick Lamar's line we gonna be all right, or Todd Tribbett because he said that in one of his songs too. Nevertheless, that's the anthem. That's the same energy that built Edenville, Orange Mound, Boldi and Mound by you. Now here's where I leave that I didn't know maybe
you didn't either, Audience. With a little homework, I need you to look up your oldest black town in your state. Google it, and if you're from North Carolina, I already got the answer for you. It's Lakeview, founded in eighteen eighty seven. You're welcome, but don't get lazy, Still do your research because I didn't know. Maybe you didn't neither. I didn't know.