"OUR RICH BLACK HERITAGE": James Edward Shepard

“So our people not only have to be reeducated to the importance of supporting Black businesses, but the Black man himself has to be made aware of the importance of going into business! And once you and I go into business, we own and operate at least the businesses in our community. What we will be doing is developing a situation, wherein, we will actually be able to create employment for the people in the community.” ~ Malcolm X James Edward Shepard was born in Raleigh, North Carolina on November 3, 1875. After graduating from High School , he attended Shaw University( where he received a degree in pharmacy ). In 1896, he opened a pharmacy in Raleigh, North Carolina. Two years later he moved to Washington D.C. to take a position as comparer of deeds in the recorder's office. In 1910, James Edward Shaperd founded “The National Training School and Chautauqua in Durham, North Carolina,”[ he served as the school’s president ]. The school faced many financial challenges and was eventually taken over by the state{ it became the Durham State Normal School in 1923 }. After a fire at the school in 1925, the school became the North Carolina College for Negroes, the first state supported liberal arts college for blacks in the nation. This same school would later become the “HBCU” that is now,” North Carolina Central University.” A list of James Edward Shepherd’s many achievements included being a Grandmaster of the Prince Hall Free Masons of North Carolina, secretary for the Knights of Pythias, President of the North Carolina Colored Teachers Association , and Director of the Mechanics and Farmers Bank. Additionally, he was the only Negro speaker to speak at the World Sunday School Convention held in Rome in 1910. On October 6, 1947, James Edward Shephard died at his home in Durham, North Carolina. In closing, It is so,so sad that most Black Americans born after 1975 have little or no recollection of when Blacks owned and ran just about “ALL” of the Businesses in the Black community[ Note : It has been stated that the “Black Dollar” circulated through the Black community 10-12 times before leaving the Black community ].