NEW ORLEANS –During the month of February, we’re celebrating Black History Month by taking a look back at heroes and institutions that made an impact in New Orleans history.
Today we salute pharmacist and developer Horace Bynum Sr. as told by his son Adolph Bynum Sr., also a pharmacist and developer.
Horace Bynum was born in Monroe and graduated from the second class of Xavier University Pharmacy School.
“(He) worked in the post office because at that time, black pharmacists weren’t allowed to work in the white establishments because of segregation,” the younger Bynum explained.
Horace Bynum opened a store in the St. Bernard projects and also built the first black shopping center in that area.
In addition to those ventures, he and his son built 50 houses in what is known was as Village de L’est.
In the 1960s and ’70s, Horace Bynum was very involved in the Civil Rights Movement.
“I think that was his last hurrah,” Adolph Bynum Sr. said.
Our month-long salute to Black History on WGNO-TV is brought to you by The King Firm.