The Richest Black Street In The World Isn’t The One You Think
Black History Year
PushBlack
4.6 • 2.2K Ratings
🗓️ 17 October 2025
⏱️ 2 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
It was once called the richest Black street in the world, but it’s not the one you think. Where was it, and what was the secret to its success?
—
2-Minute Black History is produced by PushBlack, the nation's largest non-profit Black media company.
PushBlack exists to amplify the stories of Black history you didn't learn in school. You make PushBlack happen with your contributions at https://www.BlackHistoryYear.com — most people donate $10 a month, but every dollar makes a difference. If this episode moved you, share it with your people! Thanks for supporting the work.
The production team for this podcast includes Cydney Smith and Len Webb. Our editors are Lance John and Avery Phillips from Gifted Sounds Network. Lilly Workneh serves as executive producer.
To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Transcript
Click on a timestamp to play from that location
| 0:00.0 | It was once called the richest black street in the world, but it's not the one you think. |
| 0:09.5 | Where was it? And what was the secret to its success? |
| 0:14.0 | I'm Len from Push Black, and this is Two-Minute Black history. |
| 0:19.4 | What you didn't learn in school. |
| 0:30.1 | In 1906, dozens of Atlanta's black residents were killed and injured as white mobs pillaged black businesses and homes. |
| 0:40.1 | Survivors of the violence needed to be safe and they found the perfect place. |
| 0:45.5 | They fled downtown to Auburn Avenue where they did their best to rebuild their lives. |
| 0:52.3 | By 1956, there were so many black businesses there that Forbes called it the richest Negro |
| 0:59.3 | Street in the world. |
| 1:01.5 | The civic leader John Wesley Dobbs nicknamed Auburn as Sweet Auburn, honoring the sweet |
| 1:08.1 | brown honey that had made the community's success possible. |
| 1:11.6 | Sweet Auburn was also the center of the civil rights movement, |
| 1:15.6 | where three generations of the King family championed justice and equality in their church and beyond. |
| 1:22.6 | Black prosperity is sweet, but Sweet Alburn's real wealth has been its ability to be a safe haven |
| 1:29.8 | for our people. Because if we don't have each other, what do we have? Sweet Auburn shows that when we support our community, we can build a future so sweet that racism can't sour its impact. |
| 1:56.8 | In order to move towards the future, you've got to look to the past. |
| 2:01.2 | This has been two-minute black History, a podcast by Push Black. |
| 2:05.2 | If you enjoyed this episode and want to show your support, |
| 2:07.9 | please rate and subscribe to our podcast. |
| 2:10.6 | Together, let's celebrate and honor the legacy of black History. |
Please login to see the full transcript.
Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from PushBlack, and are the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Tapesearch.
Generated transcripts are the property of PushBlack and are distributed freely under the Fair Use doctrine. Transcripts generated by Tapesearch are not guaranteed to be accurate.
Copyright © Tapesearch 2026.