So that’s exactly what he did by taking $500 that he had carefully saved and using it to open a record store in Lorain, Ohio. After school he gained a place at Central State University but, finding that he couldn’t afford to continue with his studies beyond the first year, he left to set himself up in business.Īfter a series of jobs, ranging from plumber to kitchen assistant, Barden realised that the only way to make real money was to work for yourself. Over time, Barden became an accomplished sportsman too captaining both his high school football and basketball teams. Born in Detroit, Michigan, on December 20, 1943, he proved himself to be a very hard worker from an early age. So it’s even more remarkable when someone from humble beginnings achieves this while also creating a major milestone in the annals of African American history.īut then Don Hamilton Barden was a very remarkable man. Black History Month Poetry Competition 2023.
Don Barden: the first African American casino owner in Vegas - Black History Month 2023
