My ex lived there with his mother and 7brothers and sisters. Fast forward me and my two sons and him lived in Sheppard Square. Its funny how things come full circle. I asked him why it was called "Little Africa" and he said due to segregation Louisville had torn down alot of homes that blacks lived in, and they built Cotter Homes and Southwick. Because of stringent housing laws they were all put together in one large area. Most people who live in public housing have always had a negative connotation placed on them. Well I and my two sons lived there for 12yrs. Its not where you live its how you live. Some of the most beautiful people inside and out helped me and my family while we were there. Much love 💘 ❤ 💗 💕 💛
Your comments are so true, I lived in Little Africa all of my young life and wouldn't have exchanged it for nothing, thanks for your comments and let me hear from you soon
Born in Southwick 37 and Stratton I will be 37 this year. Thanks for this historical video may more learn more about Little Africa and may God Bles You!!😇🙏🏽🥰
the fact that we built up a community from nothing amazes me beyond. Dust floors but we have walls and a roof. I love the fact that we actually stuck together looked out for each other. We had our own little community minding our own business. I greatly appreciate you for sharing these memories I am a native of this area from childhood. Its so much submerged history in Louisville that involved US I am blown away because its never talked about its not forgotten at all its around its just not kept at a forefront to remember. Mr. Breckenridge I totally appreciate you for taking the time out to give us this history lesson about little Africa. WE ARE BLACK EXCELLENCE !!!! I would love to email you about some projects to come your craft is amazing and I'm glad to have found your channel. Liked and Subscribed.
Hello! Thank you for your comment. I have read your comment to my dad and wanted to respond personally/specifically: "I am open to providing any history there is to provide because I grew up in the middle of Little Africa and knew just about everyone who ever lived there, dating back to the people that came along before I was born, because they were talked about by the older generation, including audio tapes of the older generations talking about the area during their time as well as a lot of printed information on the area. I have a lot of photos of some of the people and because back then people did not have cameras to take pictures, as shown in this video, I had to sketch some of the streets and areas in the neighborhood. I have tried for many years to see if someone from Hollywood would make a film about the area while I am still living. We have tried numerous times to get PBS to broadcast this particular piece on their network or something on Little Africa itself, because we, as a community, were self-sufficient and never had to worry about outside help, but each time we were turned down on the prospect of doing a feature on Little Africa's history. My daughter, whose channel this video is on, keeps up with everything that I have about the area. You can email me at hbbreck@yahoo.com. There are three other communities back in those days that will be lost in history as well, Blackhill, The Tie Plant, and Fort Hill, but we can't get anyone to think this history is important enough. We need more people like yourself to help push this Black history to the forefront in Louisville."
We lived in the Louisville area for years and loved it. The city is so ALIVE! I still like to visit it as often as possible. This was a fascinating look at the city’s history. Thank you!
It's turned into a crap hole. I left and hate to even drive through to visit my sister. The hwys have huge holes and piles of garbage knee high. They tried patching a month or so back and did a crap job as always and crumbled as usual. I've seen better hwys in 3rd world countries. Sadly, it's only been the past few years I've seen it like this. It's absolutely disgusting.
I grew up in Louisville during the 1970's and the west-end of town was very nice to live. (I lived Shawnee Park). Now when I go home to visit it is a lot of crime.
Oh my! This Documentary of Little Africa, took me way back! Some things I remembered and some I never knew! Howard, you did a Wonderful job!! (Louise).
According to my dad (the speaker in this documentary), it was a name that came from within from the people of the community because it was an all-Black area.
If you have an email, feel free to send it directly via my website: dominiquerevue.weebly.com/booking-and-contact.html, and I will give it to my dad and see if he knows any of your people. He'd like to communicate. He said he knew some Smiths.
I love the black history in Louisville Kentucky but as the gentleman expressed below , that there's very little information or photography of this area .As an African American born and raised in Louisville I hope this changes .👑💯
I wonder if he remembers my Grandfather, Buck Binford? I won't say what he was famous for on 32nd and Young. He built a house by the railroad tracks on 34th. He owned Bucks Barbecue on the corner of Dumesnil behind Lyman T Johnson Middle School. He was a Bricklayer and owned several houses.
Just showed my dad this message and he said that he knew him like he knows himself!! He constructed some brick work for my dad on a project and my dad said he has a picture of him doing the work. He said he was a good man. And my dad says his dad (my grandfather) were good friends.
His name was Howard Breckenridge, Sr., but my dad said they called him "Snooks". He also said he could send you a snapshot of the photo, if you have an email address, his is hbbreck@yahoo.com. He also wanted to know if you knew Ninnie Towns and Watson's Brick Layers?
@@dominiquerevueproductions Watson does sound familiar and is Towns a woman? My Pops hired a woman at one time, she was better than all the men and she was deaf. I can’t remember her name though. I wonder if your Dad knows Junnie Powell. The entire Powell family has been well known in west Louisville
Its funny hearing Mr Breckenridge say that Ali played too much knowing that my grandfather was once hit by him for trying to take up for a classmate that Ali was pestering.
I was bused to the west end and went to school with a lot of black people. They generally dont care as much about education or home ownership. Its hard to explain to people that dont have black neighbors what its like to have black neighbors as a white person. I dont know if forcing people to live next to those that dont share values is good for society.
My dad said he mentions in this video, because of redlining and because Blacks did not have access to bank loan opportunities, they were not able to fix up their homes and businesses as they would have liked to, thus doing the best they could to keep pride in their community and that's the whole point of him sharing this documentary, to show the area he grew up in, Little Africa, which was not the West End, in the 1940s until it was taken from them for redevelopment in the 1960s, was filled with people who did the best they could to look after their homes, businesses and community with pride. If you have any evidence to the contrary, he said he would love to see it.
@@GSPfan2112 Respect goes a mighty long way. Although I'm not surprised at how predictable your kind is. Look at how you released your energy on here. I lived in the Portland neighborhood and it wasn't pretty seeing how your kind live. the nerve of you. All y'all do is stereotype us releasing hate. You weren't a bit critical you were being critical exactly how you intended it to be. We know when ignorance walks in and you walked in being just that. Your wear your hatred as a badge of honor handed down from generation to generation. How sad to live with that day in and day out and you had no choice to choose for yourself and even as an adult you still choose to hate another person bc of the color of their skin. We actually had our own schools our own hospitals our own everything. We had it hard to accomplish anything however we did it education wise and all other prominent avenues we took the stones thrown at us and built a thriving life with it. However your barbaric kind destroys everything we built. So take that up with your barbaric kind they the reason you went to school with 'black' people. Take it up with God bc we had no control over the skin he put us in. We always minded our own business this was installed long ago in us being how my people were treated back in the 1700's and still got bullied by your kind. Its one thing to go looking for trouble when nobody is bothering them in the first place and you enjoy being apart of the problem instead of the solution. Black neighbor or not your still infected carrying hate within over a race that has no control over the color of their skin. We are the Phoenix to rise from the ashes the rose that grew from the concrete. I am a descendent that came from black excellence.
@@royalgoddess3284 You have control over your kids and can teach them not to be bullies and jump people and threaten them and attack them for trying to explain rules.
My ex lived there with his mother and 7brothers and sisters. Fast forward me and my two sons and him lived in Sheppard Square. Its funny how things come full circle. I asked him why it was called "Little Africa" and he said due to segregation Louisville had torn down alot of homes that blacks lived in, and they built Cotter Homes and Southwick. Because of stringent housing laws they were all put together in one large area. Most people who live in public housing have always had a negative connotation placed on them. Well I and my two sons lived there for 12yrs. Its not where you live its how you live. Some of the most beautiful people inside and out helped me and my family while we were there. Much love 💘 ❤ 💗 💕 💛
Your comments are so true, I lived in Little Africa all of my young life and wouldn't have exchanged it for nothing, thanks for your comments and let me hear from you soon
Excellent documentary, this work needs to be aired on PBS !!!
Are you related to the Pointers from Little Africa, I grew up with them
I tried to get it aired on PBS, but they refused it. If enough people push the issue it may get it done, let me hear from you
@@howardbreckenridge3189 No, but I have family members who live in Louisville.
Thank you for this share
Born And Raised In Louisville KY And 20 Y/o Still Here Thank You For This Documentary 🤝❤️🙌
Let me hear from you
You should make a public showing of this focusing our elders
Thanks! He is in his 80s, and has every bit of it documented going back 100 years, if anyone wants to read it.
Much of this needs to be written down and documented for research in the future. This needs to be documented for research as you walk into the future.
Thank you! He is in his 80s, and has every bit of it documented going back 100 years, if anyone wants to read it.
Crazy how his recollection is on point. Just wow,
I can tell you more about Little Africa let me hear from you
Born in Southwick 37 and Stratton I will be 37 this year. Thanks for this historical video may more learn more about Little Africa and may God Bles You!!😇🙏🏽🥰
Shawn this is Celina, my Brother Sidney's sister ! I know the Matthew's Family well lived in the next building to ours....Hello! ✅😀💯💗
the fact that we built up a community from nothing amazes me beyond. Dust floors but we have walls and a roof. I love the fact that we actually stuck together looked out for each other. We had our own little community minding our own business. I greatly appreciate you for sharing these memories I am a native of this area from childhood. Its so much submerged history in Louisville that involved US I am blown away because its never talked about its not forgotten at all its around its just not kept at a forefront to remember. Mr. Breckenridge I totally appreciate you for taking the time out to give us this history lesson about little Africa. WE ARE BLACK EXCELLENCE !!!!
I would love to email you about some projects to come your craft is amazing and I'm glad to have found your channel. Liked and Subscribed.
Hello! Thank you for your comment. I have read your comment to my dad and wanted to respond personally/specifically:
"I am open to providing any history there is to provide because I grew up in the middle of Little Africa and knew just about everyone who ever lived there, dating back to the people that came along before I was born, because they were talked about by the older generation, including audio tapes of the older generations talking about the area during their time as well as a lot of printed information on the area. I have a lot of photos of some of the people and because back then people did not have cameras to take pictures, as shown in this video, I had to sketch some of the streets and areas in the neighborhood. I have tried for many years to see if someone from Hollywood would make a film about the area while I am still living. We have tried numerous times to get PBS to broadcast this particular piece on their network or something on Little Africa itself, because we, as a community, were self-sufficient and never had to worry about outside help, but each time we were turned down on the prospect of doing a feature on Little Africa's history. My daughter, whose channel this video is on, keeps up with everything that I have about the area. You can email me at hbbreck@yahoo.com. There are three other communities back in those days that will be lost in history as well, Blackhill, The Tie Plant, and Fort Hill, but we can't get anyone to think this history is important enough. We need more people like yourself to help push this Black history to the forefront in Louisville."
We lived in the Louisville area for years and loved it. The city is so ALIVE! I still like to visit it as often as possible. This was a fascinating look at the city’s history. Thank you!
Thanks so much, Joi!!
It's turned into a crap hole. I left and hate to even drive through to visit my sister. The hwys have huge holes and piles of garbage knee high. They tried patching a month or so back and did a crap job as always and crumbled as usual. I've seen better hwys in 3rd world countries. Sadly, it's only been the past few years I've seen it like this. It's absolutely disgusting.
Thank you for taking the time to educate us
I have much more I can share, let me hear from you
This is very good. Thanks for sharing this story.
I once lived in this community and still remember when someone called it little Africa. I have good memories of my family and friends
I live here in Louisville KY and it's gotten so bad I want to move smh
Still a lot of shootings in the city
I grew up in Louisville during the 1970's and the west-end of town was very nice to live. (I lived Shawnee Park). Now when I go home to visit it is a lot of crime.
Move to a different part of the city or move at one of the outer counties....
I remember when it was the place to live, things can get better when the people get together and push back
Oh my! This Documentary of Little Africa, took me way back! Some things I remembered and some I never knew! Howard, you did a Wonderful job!! (Louise).
Thank you!
My grandmother lived in Little Africa when she was young. She was born in 1925, I wish I would have asked her more about it before she passed.
I can tell you more of what I remember
@@howardbreckenridge3189 do tell
My old neighbor Floyd Robinson use to talk about The Dreamland all the time he was full of history that was my very good friend RIP Mr Robinson
I LOVE theses kinds of conversations ❤️😊◉‿◉.
This is wonderful how did it come to be known as little africa
According to my dad (the speaker in this documentary), it was a name that came from within from the people of the community because it was an all-Black area.
Lived in Cotter Homes as a little girl. Grew up on 31st and Southern. Southwick Elementary, DuValle Jr. High, Shawnee High School.
Great info ... Thanx for sharing!
Glad it was helpful!
I love this. Really enjoyed this
I'm still alive! From Little Africa 3822 Stratton Ave. Building 47 Celina Wilson (Smith) mother Margaret Father, Sylvester
Yes! Yes! And Thank You for those memories of Our Home.
If you have an email, feel free to send it directly via my website: dominiquerevue.weebly.com/booking-and-contact.html, and I will give it to my dad and see if he knows any of your people. He'd like to communicate. He said he knew some Smiths.
@@CelinaWilson-mx9os 🙏🏾
I love the black history in Louisville Kentucky but as the gentleman expressed below , that there's very little information or photography of this area .As an African American born and raised in Louisville I hope this changes .👑💯
If you let me hear from you I will let you know more
I wonder if he remembers my Grandfather, Buck Binford? I won't say what he was famous for on 32nd and Young. He built a house by the railroad tracks on 34th. He owned Bucks Barbecue on the corner of Dumesnil behind Lyman T Johnson Middle School. He was a Bricklayer and owned several houses.
Just showed my dad this message and he said that he knew him like he knows himself!! He constructed some brick work for my dad on a project and my dad said he has a picture of him doing the work. He said he was a good man. And my dad says his dad (my grandfather) were good friends.
@@DominiqueRevue I would love to see that picture if possible. Thank you for responding.
@@DominiqueRevue what was your Grandfather’s name? My Grandfather was my best friend, I was always with him. I may possibly know your Grandfather
His name was Howard Breckenridge, Sr., but my dad said they called him "Snooks". He also said he could send you a snapshot of the photo, if you have an email address, his is hbbreck@yahoo.com. He also wanted to know if you knew Ninnie Towns and Watson's Brick Layers?
@@dominiquerevueproductions Watson does sound familiar and is Towns a woman? My Pops hired a woman at one time, she was better than all the men and she was deaf. I can’t remember her name though. I wonder if your Dad knows Junnie Powell. The entire Powell family has been well known in west Louisville
Real Facts.😯😯😯😯😯
Great pics of the Rankin Boys..lol
My dad used to live there.
❤️
Its funny hearing Mr Breckenridge say that Ali played too much knowing that my grandfather was once hit by him for trying to take up for a classmate that Ali was pestering.
Live on 34th & Southern with Henry & Pearl Mcgee
They should make a movie on little Africa
Wow 👌🏿💯
Who remembers Mr. Stockdale's haircuts?
IT'S CALLED THE WILLIE LYNCH SYNDROME.
Why?
Does anyone know if the rhythm and blues guitarist Mickey Baker was born here ?
Yes
I was raised in Louisville. I could never live there. Its terrible.
I fw ur sound, hella different
Anyone remember the Minors?
Yes I remember them
South wick &cotter home area
yeap aka Lil Africa with the police station in the middle of the hood. The old projects didnt think it had that much history
Movie
The sound quality is bad
That whole shot of whiskey if you vote Democrat was funny/f’ed up lol
I was bused to the west end and went to school with a lot of black people. They generally dont care as much about education or home ownership. Its hard to explain to people that dont have black neighbors what its like to have black neighbors as a white person. I dont know if forcing people to live next to those that dont share values is good for society.
My dad said he mentions in this video, because of redlining and because Blacks did not have access to bank loan opportunities, they were not able to fix up their homes and businesses as they would have liked to, thus doing the best they could to keep pride in their community and that's the whole point of him sharing this documentary, to show the area he grew up in, Little Africa, which was not the West End, in the 1940s until it was taken from them for redevelopment in the 1960s, was filled with people who did the best they could to look after their homes, businesses and community with pride. If you have any evidence to the contrary, he said he would love to see it.
@@dominiquerevueproductions some areas are quite well taken care of. I was a bit critical.
@@GSPfan2112 Respect goes a mighty long way. Although I'm not surprised at how predictable your kind is. Look at how you released your energy on here. I lived in the Portland neighborhood and it wasn't pretty seeing how your kind live. the nerve of you. All y'all do is stereotype us releasing hate. You weren't a bit critical you were being critical exactly how you intended it to be. We know when ignorance walks in and you walked in being just that. Your wear your hatred as a badge of honor handed down from generation to generation. How sad to live with that day in and day out and you had no choice to choose for yourself and even as an adult you still choose to hate another person bc of the color of their skin. We actually had our own schools our own hospitals our own everything. We had it hard to accomplish anything however we did it education wise and all other prominent avenues we took the stones thrown at us and built a thriving life with it. However your barbaric kind destroys everything we built. So take that up with your barbaric kind they the reason you went to school with 'black' people. Take it up with God bc we had no control over the skin he put us in. We always minded our own business this was installed long ago in us being how my people were treated back in the 1700's and still got bullied by your kind. Its one thing to go looking for trouble when nobody is bothering them in the first place and you enjoy being apart of the problem instead of the solution. Black neighbor or not your still infected carrying hate within over a race that has no control over the color of their skin. We are the Phoenix to rise from the ashes the rose that grew from the concrete. I am a descendent that came from black excellence.
@@royalgoddess3284 Exactly proving my point. Im not hateful. Im just sick of talking about skin color and thats all "your kind" cares to talk about.
@@royalgoddess3284 You have control over your kids and can teach them not to be bullies and jump people and threaten them and attack them for trying to explain rules.