Black mecca

A black mecca, in the United States, is a special city that many African Americans choose to live in. These cities attract people, especially singles, professionals, and families, because they offer great chances for success and a strong sense of community.

New York City was considered the first Black mecca

These cities often have many successful black business owners, leaders, and activists. They are also home to important schools and universities for black students. The cities play a big role in black history, arts, music, food, and culture. Some cities even have friendly relationships between different racial groups.

New York City, especially its Harlem neighborhood, was called a black mecca during the lively Harlem Renaissance in the 1920s, 1930s, and 1940s, and it still holds that title today. Atlanta has also been known as a black mecca since the 1970s. Meanwhile, Black Enterprise has called Houston an up-and-coming black mecca.

Atlanta

Harlem

Harlem renaissance

"Harlem, Mecca of the New Negro", March 1925 issue of Survey Graphic

Harlem in New York City was called a black mecca in the 1920s and 1930s. In March 1925, a magazine called Survey Graphic published an issue about Harlem's arts and literature, naming it "Harlem: Mecca of the New Negro." This issue highlighted what we now call the Harlem Renaissance. Many famous writers and artists were part of this movement.

Even many years later, people in Harlem still saw it as a special place for African Americans. Books have looked at this idea, showing how Harlem played an important role in history.

Mecca for West African Muslim immigrants

A book from 2010 called Black Mecca: The African Muslims of Harlem talks about Muslim West African immigrants in New York City. The book uses the word "Mecca" to describe a place that many people feel drawn to, linking it to the holy city of Mecca.

Houston

In 2016, Black Enterprise called Houston the "next great Black business Mecca of the South". Houston has a strong community of African American business leaders and entrepreneurs. The city is home to the Greater Houston Black Chamber of Commerce, which supports Black-owned businesses.

Nighttime view of the Downtown Houston skyline.

The Houston area has several historically Black colleges with many students. Texas Southern University and Prairie View A&M University are two of the largest. Houston is famous for its music, especially a special hip-hop style called "chopped and screwed," started by DJ Screw. Many famous musicians, including Beyonce and Megan Thee Stallion, are from Houston. The city also has a lively nightlife scene that is popular among Black adults. Houston is also a key place for Nigerian immigrants, who live there for job opportunities and good schools.

Other U.S. cities and statistics

Only Atlanta, Chicago, Harlem, Houston, and Washington, D.C. have been called black meccas.

Here is a comparison of cities with many African American residents:

City	Black population, 2010	Black-owned firms, 2007	Black median household income, 2009
Detroit	82.7%	64.2%	$26,759
Baltimore	63.7%	34.6%	$37,225
Memphis	63.3%	38.2%	$31,490
New Orleans	60.2%	28.9%	$25,324
Baton Rouge	54.5%	30.4%	$30,188
Atlanta	54%	30.9%	$29,107
Cleveland	53.3%	26.6%	$20,910
Newark	52.4%	35.3%	$28,275
Washington	50.7%	28.2%	$37,891
Richmond	50.6%	20.9%	$25,355

Chatham, Ontario, Canada

In the 1850s, the city of Chatham, Ontario was called the "Black Mecca of Canada" because it was a safe place for people who were looking for a better life. It was the last stop on the Underground Railroad. Today, the Black Mecca Museum reminds us of this history. The city had many black churches and businesses. Black Canadians were an important part of the city's population and had roles in the city's government. Nearby towns Dresden and Buxton were also home to many black families who owned land. A documentary from 2021, The North Star: Finding Black Mecca, tells more about Chatham's story.