Scholarly works devoted to the successes of Black Entrepreneurship in American history have seen a renaissance in recent years and these accomplishments should be included in the pedagogy of American history. This discussion will provide educators with a quick synopsis for how to incorporate City Directories into classroom activities. By utilizing these materials as a template to springboard from, education professionals can help students can gain research experience as well as exemplify how race and racism in the study of American History are multifaceted.
HBCU students are eager to learn about the history of the Antebellum South, especially when it does not focus strictly on the violence of the plantation. Therefore, these classroom activities were specifically crafted to illustrate that people of color were very active in southern business communities and achieved various forms of success. By focusing on photocopied pages of the “Free Colored” section of the 1856 Charleston City Directory, students learn how to engage with a physical primary source, how to extract relevant information from that source, and then how to develop analytical queries that elevate Black Entrepreneurship in the American South.
The 1856 Charleston City Directory highlights Black achievements during a time of slavery, and provide a space for educators to discuss how to incorporate underrepresented entrepreneurs into their own pedagogy. With this focus, students can recognize the contributions of people of color to our historic economy and current economic culture.