Old Walnut Way, or Walnut Street, was once the vibrant, bustling business and entertainment hub for African American culture in the city.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. — New markers honoring the history of Old Walnut Way, now Muhammad Ali Boulevard, in Louisville were installed on Tuesday.
It was once the vibrant, bustling business and entertainment hub for African American culture in the city.
Old Walnut Way, or Walnut Street, used to be a street known for it’s rich jazz culture in the 1950s, from 6th Street to the edge of west Louisville. It had diners, apartments, banks and bars.
Nathaniel Spencer got the old street its honorary signs.
“Walnut Street was a business and entertainment district of Black [Louisville],” Spencer said. “It so successful I think the powers at hand thought it would be too successful. Then came ‘urban removal.’ They call it urban renewal but we call it urban removal because it really wiped out Black businesses and it even wiped out some Black hope.”
Louisville’s famed sculptor Ed Hamilton also attended the ceremony. Hamilton grew up as a little boy near Walnut and 7th Streets.; his dad owned the popular barber shop across the street from their apartment.
Muhammad Ali was also known to parade down the street after his boxing matches.
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