“You can be educated in soul, vision, feelings as well as the mind. God creates every man with it, knowingly or unknowingly to him who possesses it, develop yours, and you become as great and full of knowledge as the other men without even entering a classroom.”
-Marcus Garvey
During the mid-50s, Bill Bryant was one of the few licensed barbers in Philadelphia. In 1955, there were very few Black-owned businesses and scattered Black homeowners in the West Philadelphia area. The majority of the residents were Italians and white Jews. In the mid to late 50s, the West Philadelphia community began to experience a slow influx of Black families, which caused the white residents to gravitate to the suburbs.
During this historical time of social change, William (Bill) Bryant would build a thriving and successful business that illuminated for (60) years. BILL’s BARBERSHOP, located at 259 South 52nd Street would become a beacon of light and a granite pillar in the community for (6) decades.
During this historical time of social change, William (Bill) Bryant would build a thriving and successful business that illuminated for (60) years. BILL’s BARBERSHOP, located at 259. South 52nd Street would become a beacon of light and a granite pillar in the community for (6) decades.
History teaches us that Black barbershops around the country provide services to a diverse pool from all walks of life. Pastors, professors, politicians, activists, doctors, retired teachers, cooks, structural engineers, songwriters, poets, bus drivers, saxophone players, single parents, convicted felons, retired police chiefs, business owners, Uber drivers, coaches, publishers, optometrist, and painters all get haircuts from Barbershops like BILL’S.
Our family-owned Barbershop never really needed a television. The huge 7ft by 5ft center window would serve as a flat-screen to the world. Since 1958, generations of loyal customers have witnessed a first-hand glimpse of a forever-changing world. When Bill Bryant first opened his shop, Eisenhower was the president, and the main window of the shop would be the looking glass to see (10) more presidents. In 2008, just 30 yards away from the entrance of BILL’S, the community would be jam-packed with over 200,000 people to see Barak Obama speak on the corner of 52nd and Locust.
During the duration of BILL’s Barbershop, the state of Pennsylvania had seen (7) Governors, and the city of Philadelphia had elected (8) Mayors. During this time, the country had witnessed the brutal murders and modern-day lynching of Dr. Martin Luther King, Fred Hampton, Emmett Till, George Jackson, Tamir Rice, Eric Gardner, Sandra Bland, and countless innocent Black Men and women at the vicious and merciless hands of white police and law enforcement.
Since the opening of BILL’s Barbershop, this country has witnessed the Vietnam War, the War in the Gulf, Afghanistan, Iraq, and the invasions of Panama and Grenada. The clients at BILL’s Barbershop also witnessed the horrific attacks on the Twin Towers and the body counts from Hurricane Katrina.
Since 1958, right here in Philadelphia, we witnessed the turbulent civil rights and anti-war protest, the rebellion on Columbia Avenue, and the assassination and imprisonment of many of our Black activists and revolutionary leaders.
Through the window of BILL’s Barbershop, the community witnessed the rise of the Black Power movement, the Black Panther Party, the Nation of Islam, RAM, UNIA, Republic of New Africa, SNCC, N/Cobra, AAPRP, Black People’s Unity Movement, Black Unity Council, Jericho Movement, Temple of the Black Messiah, and the Council of Independent Black schools.
Through that window, we witnessed the turbulent and brutal Mayor Frank Rizzo years, the deliberate bombing and burning of Osage Avenue, and the brutal murder and unjust imprisonment of the MOVE family members and our black political prisoners. Through that window, we witnessed the Revolutionary People’s Constitutional Convention, the construction of the Afro-American Museum, the historical and epic Million Women March, the proliferation of young Black males being tried and convicted as adults, and the dark side of the heroin, crack cocaine, and aids epidemic.
Unfortunately, many events within this view from BILL’S Barbershop’s window have given us unforgettable examples of devastation in our families and community. In 1958, there were (5) Pennsylvania state prisons. Now, there are (28) state prisons and many private prisons. During the time of the grand opening of BILL’S Barbershop, Philadelphia had only one county prison, holding up to (350) county prisoners. Today, five (5) county prisons hold up to (7,500) prisoners.
Every single aspect of the Black experience could be heard at BILL’S. Celebrating graduations, reunions, getting a job, retiring from a job, and even getting a successful divorce could be heard in the barbershop. The pain of a tragic loss, receiving a Master’s degree, triumph of beating cancer, overcoming years of drug addiction, and the history of Juneteenth could be celebrated at my grandfather’s African Embassy, BILL’S Barbershop.
Baba Khabyr Hadas is a teacher, historian, and student of Pan-African Nationalism. Baba is the director of MGAHF-Marcus Garvey Archive and History Foundation khabyrhadas@gmail.com 267-531-8789.
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