Afternoon Quote by John Henrik Clarke
“I'm one of the people who believes that our losses were greater than our gains. Because before the Civil Rights movement we had entrepreneurship in the black community. Right now, in Harlem, if I wanted to get a shoe repaired, I would have a hard time finding a black shoe repairman. On near about every third corner, you could find a decent black barber, decent black laundry, had restaurants in the neighborhood that were open 24 hours. The food was good at 3 o'clock in the morning as at 3 o'clock in the afternoon.”
About This Quote
Source Book: Black History and the Great Migration, 1975
Black entrepreneurship declined after civil rights gains, reducing community services.
In simple terms: Black businesses fell after civil rights.
Key Takeaway
Support local black-owned businesses.
Themes
economic decline
community loss
civil rights
Mood
reflective
concerned
Type
historical
social
When to use this quote
- urban neighborhoods
- small business support
- economic revitalization
Key Concepts
entrepreneurship
economic disparity
social change
Questions to Reflect On
- What policies could revive black entrepreneurship?
- How can communities sustain local services?
A Different Perspective
Economic factors are complex; other causes exist.
