Beale Street Was Once A Black Mecca

Another example of Blacks carving out their own niche in a segregated America is the original Beale Street. Even today it is still one of Tennessee's biggest tourist attractions. You might not view the conditions resulting in these havens memorable, they were mostly caused by segregation. It's sometimes a bitter pill to swallow, but nonetheless they existed. During those times complaining didn't really matter. Early on Blacks were mistreated and even killed. In spite of the odds overwhelmingly being stacked against them. Some Blacks repeatedly rose above their surroundings.

Though the street some claim has lost it's Black appeal. It is one of the top tourist attractions in the state of Tennessee. I do know thirty years ago it was a maze of old empty, rundown buildings. A combination of local and federal funds produced what we have today. The theme is still centered around the Blues. It stands to reason that the street would have progressed to the point it is today. There is some litigation as to how that was accomplished. I'm not sure I would want the Beale of yesterday to still be around. That was okay then, but it's different today.


Read the link below:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beale_Street