By Dawn Tree, Staff Reporter
Tulsa Native, Billie Parker was the definition of Black Wall Street market before she even knew she was the Black Wall Street market.
It was placed early on Parkers heart that she wanted a store. In the 4th grade Parker remembers going to the Ben Franklin store off Apache circle with her mom, there she noticed they didn’t have anything for black people.
“This is actually when I started painting white ceramic dolls black,” she exclaims while smiling.
She explains that her parents and family had the entrepreneurship gene; owning construction, steel businesses and her mother even started her own counseling service in the historic Greenwood District.
Parker later became known as the popcorn lady, selling popcorn balls from the 4th grade on up to the 7th.
“I started at 10 cents, I even had people working for me, I didn’t think too much of it because they were my friends.” Parker laughs. “ I ended up charging 50 cents by the end and those who helped would get leftovers; it was merely sweet popcorn rolled in a ball put in plastic.”
That was the beginning for Parker.
Her journey has grown from playing store in the house to owning her first mart called the Pine Street Mart in 2006, off Kenosha and Pine.
“My cousin had a business and I was below her selling black art, pictures, small groceries,” Parker recounts.
She mentions that she added the dashiki’s later on, ceramic black figurines, elephants, black clowns, black angels and even a lady that practiced massage therapy.
That lasted until 2008 she says and in 2010 she set up in the Gateway Market at 52nd and N. Pine. She had 4 businesses inside. After 2 years the name changed to African Hotep Market.
“People couldn’t pronounce it right,” Parker laughs out loud. So she says she did a survey for Black Wall Street Market and the elders said it wasn’t time, this was in 2013.
Currently there are new businesses being established using the name Black Wall Street. Those elders were wrong and Parker was above the curve. Officially changing her name from African Hotep Market to the Black Wall Street market.
The rent reached $2000 so Parker left because she could not afford that, even with 4 other businesses hosted inside.
“Now it was time to own land, so I started that search,” Parker says. “I found Osage Drive out here and been here ever since, all because I knew I was going to be in this business for forever.”
Parker who has been at 5616 N. Osage Dr. for one year calls the market the Dashiki headquarters. She has an array of traditional African clothes, hats, fabric, small veggies, soaps, oils, jewelry & even electronics. There is a mix of items found in the market, she also open to hosting local
Parker’s sister Angie Parker who says this place [the Black Wall Street Market] is place for vision, to have your own veggies, fresh fruits, even cotton; it’s a need.
“Her ability is over the top, her will and her desire to do for her community is unremarkable, her love for kids, but for black people as a whole,” says, who is a Central High School substitute teacher coordinator.
“Nothing about my sister is selfish, she works to lift others and I’m just proud of her.”
It hurts Parker that people are using the term Black Wall Street name and not giving back to the community, she explains it must be shared with the community.
Inside of the market is the Community Pride Farmers Market.
“People can go to whole foods but my focus is healthy remedies, nutrients and doing it your own, for black people; to be better aware of self,” Parkers says. “We have a greenhouse out here ready for community members to partake of; it’s a community garden.”
Billie Parker is located at 5616 N. Osage Dr. Tulsa, OK open Tuesday – Saturday 10:30-6pm.
Events that occur at the Black Wall Street Market:
Feb. 16, 2019- 6th annual Black Wall Street Heritage festival 36th st N. Event Center celebrating our elders 90yrs or older starts May 2019- Dashiki Pop-Up sell your veggies, fruits, merchandise, old school entertainment and African culture, food Vendors so bring a chair and enjoy the music, until the sunsets.
