What Really Happened on Indiana Avenue? A Story Untold

In the mid-twentieth century, Indianapolis’s Indiana Avenue was a thriving district of Black-owned restaurants, churches, businesses, and jazz clubs that would all but disappear in the coming decades. Indiana Landmarks hosts a panel discussion to explore the community’s untold story of activism to resist the decisions that led to the decline of the area as a Black cultural and business center during the 1970s and ’80s.
Speakers and panelists include Charles Blair, formerly with Lilly Endowment; Ken Morgan, first executive director of Madam Walker Urban Life Center (1981) and former president of Business Opportunities Systems; Jim Morris, vice chairman of Pacers Sports & Entertainment and former president of Lilly Endowment; Joe Slash, former deputy mayor of Indianapolis and former president of the Indianapolis Urban League; and Fay Williams, lawyer and civic leader.
A’Lelia Bundles, journalist, historian, and great-great-granddaughter of Madam C.J. Walker, moderates the discussion.
This event was held on February 1, 2024 and presented by Indiana Landmarks Black Heritage Preservation Program www.indianalan... and Reclaim Indiana Avenue www.reclaimind...

[@jarmyvicious]

Great program....
I am a Marsh, by last name. My Great Great Great Grandfather earned a piece of property here in Indiana by serving time in the military, given to him by deed to take in 1830.... and his children, and his children's children, made certain to attach our family name all over the northwest side of Indianapolis.

[@wilburshaw9330]

I worked right off the avenue in the late 60’s. It was always a haven for crime & criminals. It’s so much better now. You want it to return to its criminal past? Ok , I guess. Lol