Episode Details

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Episode Audio Link: https://podcast.ablackexec.com/episode/who-owns-our-story-

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Who owns Black history, and who benefits when that history becomes a source of economic power?

Tony Tidbit and Chris P. Reed welcome April and Justin Hampton, entrepreneurs, historic preservationists, storytellers, and community builders transforming neglected properties in Montgomery, Alabama.

The Hamptons discuss how redlining, systemic racism, discriminatory appraisals, white flight, and deliberate disinvestment shaped Black neighborhoods. They also explain how historic preservation, homeownership, faith, education, tourism, and community investment can help create healing, ownership, workforce housing, and generational wealth.

From Justin’s decision to leave Corporate America after Harvard to April’s work restoring properties built by Black hands, their journey demonstrates what becomes possible when people reclaim their history and invest in their communities.

The conversation explores Montgomery’s connection to slavery and the Civil Rights Movement, the modern economics of Black history, their purchase of six abandoned properties along the Civil Rights Trail, and the difficult but necessary work of building authentic relationships across racial and cultural differences.

Black history is not simply something to remember. It is an inheritance, an economic blueprint, and power that can be used to shape the future.

▶︎ In This Episode

00:00 Why Do Black Neighborhoods Look This Way?

01:08 Meet April and Justin Hampton

06:00 Reclaiming Black History and Economic Power

14:00 The Civil Rights Stories History Books Missed

19:58 Choosing Purpose Over Corporate America

27:00 Montgomery and the Business of Slavery

30:00 Ownership, Mentorship, and Modern Redlining

35:00 Turning Black History Into Economic Power

41:00 Restoring Communities and Buying the Block

46:00 Faith, Racial Healing, and Authentic Relationships

53:00 Own Your Story and Shape the Future

59:00 Tony’s Tidbit and Final Takeaways

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