Black Titan: A.G. Gaston and the Making of a Black American Millionaire

[Tiger1]

By the 1960s, Arthur G. Gaston was probably the richest black man in America. He was the leading employer of blacks in Alabama and directly and indirectly gave substantial aid and comfort to the civil rights movement. In the decade after the Montgomery bus boycott, Martin Luther King Jr. and his allies used the A. G. Gaston Motel in Birmingham, Alabama, as a safe refuge to plan their activities. When Eugene “Bull” Connor, the notorious commissioner of public safety, had King arrested in 1963, Gaston put up the $160,000 bail money from his own pocket.

http://www.independent.org/publications/tir/article.asp?a=579

 

[Tiger1]

http://www.amazon.com/Black-Titan-Gaston-American-Millionaire/dp/0345453484

 

[BulldogM.Ed.23]

I haven't read the book but I know a lot about A.G. Gaston in the movement from back in the day. I'm sure it will be an interesting read. As well respected as Mr. Gaston was, he was really not big fan of King and others doing what they did simply because he feared he had a lot to lose (business wise). I've read about many personal but respectful disagreements he had with King behind the scenes. Still the cool thing that I learned about Gaston that even though he resented King and others for protesting (which again put him at an odd position because of all that he owned) , he never let it be known to others publicly. In other words, the issues that he had with those in the movement, he kept behind closed doors.

Thinking of the times, I can only imagine his feeling that if someone would be lowdown enough to bomb a church and kill those precious Black girls, then there is no telling what they could do to any of his businesses.

On another note, I was there as a kid in 1985 when Alabama A&M hosted an Archie Cooley coached and Willie Totten led Mississippi Valley team in the 1st and only A.G. Gaston Bowl at Legion Field in Birmingham.

 

[Killer Bees]

By the 1960s, Arthur G. Gaston was probably the richest black man in America. He was the leading employer of blacks in Alabama and directly and indirectly gave substantial aid and comfort to the civil rights movement. In the decade after the Montgomery bus boycott, Martin Luther King Jr. and his allies used the A. G. Gaston Motel in Birmingham, Alabama, as a safe refuge to plan their activities. When Eugene “Bull” Connor, the notorious commissioner of public safety, had King arrested in 1963, Gaston put up the $160,000 bail money from his own pocket.

http://www.independent.org/publications/tir/article.asp?a=579

As someone who grew up in Birmingham (proper), you see his name several times. I did not know who he was until college. I have the book. This man was ahead of his time. W.E.N.N. radio, which was the only black radio station, during the 80's was own by him.