As a group, African Americans have endured innumerable horrors and obstacles in their pursuit of Life, Liberty and Happiness in the United States of America.

People of African descent, recently emancipated from slavery, migrated north to flee the systemic oppression and reoccurring hostility that threatened their existence.

Upon reaching Brooklyn and other parts of New York City, they soon discovered there were few places welcoming their arrival as new residents.  Weeksville, a thriving, self sufficient African American community, were one of a few where those migrating from the south were welcomed.

It is in Weeksville, Brooklyn, (currently known as Crown Heights) where you witness an enlightened agenda existing among its inhabitants that was birthed out of necessity, which could easily be termed: SELF PRESERVATION.

in a recent blog post, Just One More Thought on the Reason Why, I used the phrase Enlightened Capitalism, which I defined as…

channelling peoples natural desire to create wealth through enterprising endeavours that improves their quality of life.

Self Preservation may have served as motivation for survival by Weeksville’s residents but it started with the enterprising endeavour of James Weeks to purchase the plot of land in 1838 where the community was founded.

The short video shares a lot about how a community decided there own fate in spite of  how hostile the environment that existed during that time.

Become inspired by the story of a community who had even less than we do now.  You can learn more about this amazing community at the Weeksville Heritage Center

Bedford Stuyvesant, Brooklyn, Crown Heights, Enlightened Capitalism, James Weeks, Real Estate, Weeksville Heritage Center