“It is suprising that during pre Civil Rights Alabama, A.G. Gaston was making millions right there in Birmingham with his funeral homes, insurance company and business college, but it is true, and even now over ten years after his passing, his legacy remains. Born on the 4th of July 1892, in rural Demopolis, Alabama in Marengo County, he first came to Birmingham to work in the steel mills there, and got pretty thirfty with his money especially after loaning it to coworkers and charging them interest. Saddened to see no places to bury African Americans at the time, he opened his own funeral home back in the 20s, followed by his insurance company(Booker T.Washington Mutual). By the 30s, he became a millionaire, and his wife Minnie helped to start the Business College to train many African Americans in business(one of them was my aunt). Of course, he had some setbacks, and though quiet as it's kept, he did contribute to the Civil Rights movement and had the leaders stay at his hotel. He died at the age of 104 in 1996 and I highly recommend this book that was written by his nieces. ”
Savvynlady wrote this review Wednesday, September 19 2007.
(
reply |
permalink )