St Luke's Emporium (c. 1907)

St. Luke's Emporium (2015)

Site Name: St. Luke’s Emporium

Date of Construction: Spring 1905

Reason for Construction: To uplift the African American community in a positive way by having a place where they could buy and sell their own. This was especially beneficial to the African American women that desperately needed jobs to support their family such as the women in Maggie Walker's community.

Site History:

Many white storeowners did not let African-Americans buy from their store or would make them buy worn, used products. Appalled, Maggie Walker wanted people in her community feel as though they too could own nice things and could do so at a reasonable price. She also wanted them to feel like their contributions mattered and they could make a great a big impact on African-American life. Because of these circumstances Maggie Walker founded the St. Luke’s Emporium. The Emporium was one of the many entities of the independent order of St. Luke. Even though her bank is the most critically acclaimed accomplishments of Maggie Walker, many people lose sight of the importance of her Emporium. This Emporium became one of the areas of boycott in the white community. Because of Jim Crow laws, many white manufacturers were afraid to sell products to St. Luke’s emporium due to the fear of losing their jobs. The Emporium broke many stereotypes of African-Americans not being able to go into business for themselves. Instead, the business grew and African-Americans were able to buy products of the same quality of the white merchandisers.

 

Area History:

Jackson Ward and Broad Street were interchangeable in nature during the time of Maggie Walker. It was a time when businesses White and Black were thriving.  It also grew the community into a place of industry as well as entertainment. This had dwindled a little today. Broad Street is still a place of shops and a pretty reliable source of entertainment, but Jackson Ward has suffered. Because the mentality of Maggie Walker faded way for the next 50 years, Black people started moving during the great migration and money was not kept within its community. Today there are many places in Jackson Ward that need to be built up again. With that being said, the Richmond African American Museum is being built on 00 W Clay St, in the heart of Jackson Ward. Hopefully this would create a chain of improvement that Maggie Walker would be proud of.

How has the site changed?

The site is now unable to be even seen. It is borded, cemented, and is painted with vulgar graffiti. It is really hurtful to see it be so unrecognizable.

How has the area changed?

It has changed from being a place of booming industry to a place of boutiques, shops and galleries on Broad Street. Like the Harlem Renaissance, Jackson Ward and Broad became a center of entertainment (With the Hippodrome in the heart of Jackson Ward) and a massive community support in the African-American community. However, with the emergence of white flight, many of Broad Street's resources left with the people leaving the community; leaving it destitute. But as time went on, many people have come back to Broad Street and Jackson Ward with vested interest to change and renovate the community. People today still live in Jackson Ward. Places such as the Hippodrome have been refurbished to be places were people can remember a time before.

Reflection:

I have a great respect for places that have helped the community in the past. I wish that people would research history so that it cannot be forgotten. I also think a mural should be painted were the Emporium once stood to commemorate it.

Sources:

Bullard, Ethan. "The St. Luke Emporium: Economic Empowerment as Jim Crow Resistance" Paper  

presented at the annual meeting of the 96th Annual Convention, TBA, Richmond, VA, <Not Available>.

2014-11-25 <http://citation.allacademic.com/meta/p522145_index.html>

Reynolds, Sharon T. “Maggie Walker  Remembered” National Park Service http://www.nps.gov/mawa/the-

st-luke-penny-savings-bank.htm 2014-3-5 (accessed March 17,2015)

Colter, Peter F. “Richmond City.” Richmond Times Dispatch http://www.richmond.com/news/article 2012-

10-11 (accessed March 18, 2015)

Author: Brooke Arrington