From the bustling streets of Harlem to the vibrant neighborhoods of New Orleans, African-American entrepreneurs have woven an indelible thread into the fabric of hotel ownership across America. Against the backdrop of segregation and discrimination, pioneers like John H. Johnson and Madam C.J. Walker defied the odds, carving out spaces of luxury and hospitality for their communities. There have also been some major contributions by those not so well known, such as Tunis Gulic Campbell, an African-American politician during Reconstruction who published a first-of-its-kind book in the U.S. that provided practical information for operating a first-class hotel.
With this as a backdrop, Calvin Stovall, MPS ‘93, is preparing for the release of a coffee table-style book that will feature the hotel, motel, and resort contributions of African Americans beginning in the late 1700s up until today. It will introduce its readers to many of the unsung heroes and entrepreneurs of the hospitality industry fundamentally unknown to mainstream America.
Join Mr. Stovall and Victor Younger, the Director of Diversity and Inclusion at Cornell’s Nolan School of Hotel Administration, as they have a robust conversation about Black contributions to the history of the hospitality industry. They will also look at what the future holds for minorities in the hotel and hospitality space.
