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irisblue

(36,156 posts)
Sun Sep 14, 2025, 04:58 AM Sep 14

How the Sears Catalog Outsmarted Jim Crow

Almost 11 minute video from an AA historian

I do remember getting the Sears and Montgomery Ward catalogs

17 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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Hekate

(99,731 posts)
7. This is a fantastic piece of American history, and I had no idea
Sun Sep 14, 2025, 11:12 AM
Sep 14

Like the houses built from Sears-Roebuck kits that are still standing today, this is a legacy the founders can be proud of. Usually when I read someone say “follow the money” I hear cynicism — this time, I have a smile on my face.

Thanks, Irisblue!

Coldwater

(353 posts)
11. Black First Names vs White First Names
Tue Sep 16, 2025, 01:12 PM
Sep 16

I’m sure it also helped that our Christian names back then were race-neutral and essentially indistinguishable between white and black.

70sEraVet

(4,974 posts)
17. I think Coldwater was simply implying that the postal system,
Mon Oct 6, 2025, 12:33 PM
Monday

even on a local level, would have had a hard time interfering with deliveries to black residents. I didn't read it as a judgement against the use of african-sounding first names.

irisblue

(36,156 posts)
13. Coldwater, are you implying that the rise of African inspired names , esp in the 70s
Tue Sep 16, 2025, 02:22 PM
Sep 16

are a social issue/problem commercially?

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/African-American_names#:~:text=The%20Afrocentrism%20movement%20that%20grew,show%20pride%20in%20their%20heritage.

Snip-"The Afrocentrism movement that grew in popularity during the 1970s saw the advent of African names among African-Americans, as well as names imagined to be "African-sounding". Names such as Ashanti have African origins.[9] The Black power movement inspired many to show pride in their heritage

70sEraVet

(4,974 posts)
16. Julius Rosenwald, the President of Sears and Roebucks in the early 1900's,
Mon Oct 6, 2025, 12:24 PM
Monday

used much of his personal fortune to make education available to blacks, especially in the Jim Crow South.

The rural school building program was one of the largest programs administered by the Rosenwald Fund. This program eventually was responsible for construction in the South of more than 5,000 schools and shops for African-American children, as well as homes for their teachers. These schools became informally known as "Rosenwald Schools".[19]

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Julius_Rosenwald
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