![]() In many ways the heart of Old West Baltimore was that community’s glittering, world-renowned gem of culture and entertainment Pennsylvania Avenue. And the Black community of Old West Baltimore was one of the most thriving in the United States during the Jim Crow era. Yet, in hindsight so many now see racial segregation as the “gift and the curse” for Black America of the 20th century becaused it compelled our communities to build and strengthen our own businesses and institutions. It was the first segregation ordinance in the nation and with it came the obvious indignities of second class citizenship and systemic White supremacy that are the hallmarks of Jim Crow. ![]() When Baltimore Mayor Barry Mahool instituted the city’s housing segregation ordinances on May 15, 1911, “…for preserving peace, preventing conflict and ill feeling between the White and Colored races in Baltimore City, and promoting the general welfare of the city by providing, so far as practicable, for the use of separate blocks by White and Colored people for residences, churches and schools.” According to historian Philip Merrill, “They kept an ad in the Afro and the commercial image of their restaurant was captured by black photographer, E Victor Wright Studio of Old West Baltimore.” (Courtesy Nanny Jack & Company)ĪFRO Senior Baltimore has experienced a particularly virulent version of segregation that continues to resonate and in some ways, devastate to this day. This image was from an ad in the AFRO (circa 1945). Sess’ restaurant, which was located at 1639 Division Street in Old West Baltimore, was arguably the top Black restaurant of the Jim Crow era.
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