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Well, Philadelphia has had a lot of black people for a long time. Blacks were in Philadelphia far before they were in the Louisiana Territory, Georgia, Chicago, and Michigan. Only New York and Boston, and I suppose Jamestown, had black populations that predate Philadelphia's.
Philly's unique compared to its northern counterparts because it was the first stop for slaves on the underground railroad. Combine that with the fact that Quakers were formally intolerant of slavery and you get a large number of free blacks running around. Of all the northern cities (Washington, DC is not a northern city btw), Philadelphia has the largest percentage of blacks (40%). Pennsylvania is also the only state north of the Mason-Dixon with a Historically Black College or University.
My neighborhood was actually one of the breeding grounds of the abolitionist movement in the North. The house I grew up in, in Germantown, was actually used to house slaves that had escaped from the South. Try going to sleep as an 8-year old after hearing that bedtime story.
Couple of holes there -- St. Louis, Detroit and Cleveland all have larger black percentages than Philly.
In addition, Ohio, Missouri and Michigan all have HBCus.
Couple of holes there -- St. Louis, Detroit and Cleveland all have larger black percentages than Philly.
Those aren't northern cities, they're Midwestern cities. By northern, I mean Boston, NYC, and Philadelphia. I suppose people in Detroit think of themselves as northerners, but when people say "up north," I think most tend to think of the East Coast.
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In terms of the OP of which cities have the "richest" African-American culture, which to me means a large influence on culture and history and not just a high population of black people it would be in no particular order:
New York City
Atlanta
Chicago
D.C.
Philadelphia
Los Angeles
New Orleans
Detroit
Historically, I think Detroit and Chicago might have done more to propel Black families into the middle class than other cities. I realize that's debatable, and that's why I said it.
Historically, I think Detroit and Chicago might have done more to propel Black families into the middle class than other cities. I realize that's debatable, and that's why I said it.
Paradoxically, the closing of factories in both cities may have done more to propel black families into poverty than other cities as well.
Paradoxically, the closing of factories in both cities may have done more to propel black families into poverty than other cities as well.
Moreso Detroit than Chicago, but I see your point.
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