Remembering Wall Street History: Joseph Searles and Dr. Jerome H. Holland

Remembering Wall Street History: Joseph Searles and Dr. Jerome H. Holland

February 13, 2018 marks only 48 years for African Americans on Wall Street. What helped open the door to this late entry into the New York financial sector for African Americans?

African Americans had long been college graduates and African Americans had long been owners of financial businesses, from banks to insurance companies. Yet, African American were not welcome on Wall Street.

Click here for a look at a few African American owned businesses

It was with the passing of the following federal laws that helped open the doors to Wall Street.
Civil Rights Act of 1957
Civil Rights Act of 1964
Voting Rights Act of 1965
Civil Rights Act of 1968 (Fair Housing Act)

Below are a few historical articles taking a look back on the first African Americans engaged with the New York Stock Exchange.

Joseph Searles became the first African American member of the New York Stock Exchange

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Dr. Jerome H. Holland became the first African American named to the board of directors of the New York Stock Exchange

Dr. Jerome H. Holland was the 9th president of Hampton Institute (now Hampton University). He was the 2nd African American to serve as president of Hampton, following Dr. Alonzo Moron. Moron became the first African American to serve as Hampton’s president in October 1949 -April 1959. Holland served as Hampton’s president from 1960 to 1970.