A Chief Lieutenant of the Tuskegee Machine: Charles Banks of Mississippi

A Chief Lieutenant of the Tuskegee Machine: Charles Banks of Mississippi

Pilots of the Ground

Charles Banks, the subject of this appealing biography was a seemingly well-known Black leader, like such as Obama Baraka and Jessie Jackson. Banks status, demeanor, and power were unlimited, way beyond his hometown of Clarksdale and Mound Bayou, Mississippi all-black towns. Born in 1873, in Clarksdale, Mississippi, Banks spent most of is life in this well known racially discriminating and violent town. These afflictions of Clarksdale motivated him, so much to the point that he wanted to become an advocate to help his community, in the process he became a successful entrepreneur. This book brilliantly explores the achievement of Banks with proficiency and a clear-cut style.

After reading this biography I came to the conclusion that this book essentially depicts the limits of Blacks during the era of white dominance, and how a man and his "army", Booker T. Washington's Tuskegee Machine that supported Banks and Mound Bayou, were able to battle and defeat whites wanting to run and prosper from the black community. Together, this story suggest a convincing and thought through picture of a black civic leader seeking resources for the Mound Bayou community, all in an effort to find freedom for Mound Bayou but on there own terms.

Mr. Banks himself; he was the premier fighter for equal opportunity of black's especially in Mound Bayou. He fought for the blacks of Mound Bayou, for them to be able to maintain their towns self sufficiency despite their monoculture, which mainly depended on the cotton they grew and the white businessmen who sold it. A second ingredient would be Booker T. Washington. After Banks met Washington at an inaugural meeting of the National Negro Business League, Banks impressed Washington with his business suave, Washington immediately placed Banks as his trusted correspondent. Washington and his secretary, Emmett Scott, relied upon Banks for information about Mississippi affairs. Through Banks newfound connection to Booker T., Banks was able to obtain affluent connections and financial aid for Mound Bayou.

Banks' seemed most well-known for his financial comings and goings, but mainly for his investment in the Mound Bayou Oil Mill and the Bank of Mound Bayou. As a founder of the Bank of Mound Bayou, Banks