Dana A. Dorsey
Encyclopedia
Dana Albert "D. A." Dorsey (1872-1940) was a businessman, banker, and philanthropist
who became one of the first African American
millionaire
s in Florida
and the American South
.
. He was the son of former slave
s and the first child in his family not be born into slavery. He received only a fourth grade formal education, teaching himself after that.
around 1896. He worked as a carpenter
for the Henry Flagler Florida East Coast Railroad. During that time he recognized the need to provide housing for black workers. He purchased one parcel of land in Overtown at a time, which he designed and constructed one rental house per parcel, reinvesting the rental income to build more and rent more, eventually expanding as far north as Ft. Lauderdale
.
In 1917, he and his wife Rebecca sold land to the City of Miami for a park for African Americans (during an era of segregation
). Dorsey Park is located on Northwest 17th Street and First Avenue.
In 1919, Dorsey sold the barrier island
of Fisher Island, just east of to automotive pioneer Carl G. Fisher
who was developing Miami Beach
. In 1925, Fisher traded the island to William Kissam Vanderbilt II
in return for a 200 feet (61 m) yacht. Vanderbilt's improvements led to what is today one of the wealthiest and most exclusive residential enclaves in the area.
The first black-owned hotel in Miami was his Dorsey Hotel, and he was the owner of the Negro Savings Bank. Dorsey was a firm believer in education and he donated a large quantity of land for black schools. He gained great respect and admiration from the white community.
Miami's Dorsey Memorial Library, which was opened on August 13, 1941, was built on land he donated shortly before his death.
He donated to Dade County Public Schools
the property at NW 71st Street and 17th Avenue on which Dorsey High School was later built.
D. A. Dorsey Educational Center has a rich and positive tradition in the Liberty City area of Miami as a fully operational adult education
center.
Philanthropist
A philanthropist is someone who engages in philanthropy; that is, someone who donates his or her time, money, and/or reputation to charitable causes...
who became one of the first African American
African American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
millionaire
Millionaire
A millionaire is an individual whose net worth or wealth is equal to or exceeds one million units of currency. It can also be a person who owns one million units of currency in a bank account or savings account...
s in Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
and the American South
Southern United States
The Southern United States—commonly referred to as the American South, Dixie, or simply the South—constitutes a large distinctive area in the southeastern and south-central United States...
.
Childhood, education
Dana Albert Dorsey was born in Quitman, GeorgiaQuitman, Georgia
This article is about the Georgia city. For the county in the same state see Quitman County, Georgia.Quitman is a city in Brooks County, Georgia, United States. The population was 4,638 at the 2000 census. The city is the county seat of Brooks County....
. He was the son of former slave
Slavery
Slavery is a system under which people are treated as property to be bought and sold, and are forced to work. Slaves can be held against their will from the time of their capture, purchase or birth, and deprived of the right to leave, to refuse to work, or to demand compensation...
s and the first child in his family not be born into slavery. He received only a fourth grade formal education, teaching himself after that.
Carpenter, businessman, philanthropist
Dorsey came to the Miami area of south FloridaSouth Florida metropolitan area
The South Florida metropolitan area, also known as the Miami metropolitan area, and designated the Miami–Fort Lauderdale–Pompano Beach, FL Metropolitan Statistical Area by the U.S...
around 1896. He worked as a carpenter
Carpenter
A carpenter is a skilled craftsperson who works with timber to construct, install and maintain buildings, furniture, and other objects. The work, known as carpentry, may involve manual labor and work outdoors....
for the Henry Flagler Florida East Coast Railroad. During that time he recognized the need to provide housing for black workers. He purchased one parcel of land in Overtown at a time, which he designed and constructed one rental house per parcel, reinvesting the rental income to build more and rent more, eventually expanding as far north as Ft. Lauderdale
Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Fort Lauderdale is a city in the U.S. state of Florida, on the Atlantic coast. It is the county seat of Broward County. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 165,521. It is a principal city of the South Florida metropolitan area, which was home to 5,564,635 people at the 2010...
.
In 1917, he and his wife Rebecca sold land to the City of Miami for a park for African Americans (during an era of segregation
Racial segregation
Racial segregation is the separation of humans into racial groups in daily life. It may apply to activities such as eating in a restaurant, drinking from a water fountain, using a public toilet, attending school, going to the movies, or in the rental or purchase of a home...
). Dorsey Park is located on Northwest 17th Street and First Avenue.
In 1919, Dorsey sold the barrier island
Barrier island
Barrier islands, a coastal landform and a type of barrier system, are relatively narrow strips of sand that parallel the mainland coast. They usually occur in chains, consisting of anything from a few islands to more than a dozen...
of Fisher Island, just east of to automotive pioneer Carl G. Fisher
Carl G. Fisher
Carl Graham Fisher was an American entrepreneur. Despite having severe astigmatism, he became a seemingly tireless pioneer and promoter of the automotive, auto racing, and real estate development industries...
who was developing Miami Beach
Miami Beach, Florida
Miami Beach is a coastal resort city in Miami-Dade County, Florida, United States, incorporated on March 26, 1915. The municipality is located on a barrier island between the Atlantic Ocean and Biscayne Bay, the latter which separates the Beach from Miami city proper...
. In 1925, Fisher traded the island to William Kissam Vanderbilt II
William Kissam Vanderbilt II
William Kissam Vanderbilt II was a motor racing enthusiast and yachtsman and a member of the prominent United States Vanderbilt family.-Biography:...
in return for a 200 feet (61 m) yacht. Vanderbilt's improvements led to what is today one of the wealthiest and most exclusive residential enclaves in the area.
The first black-owned hotel in Miami was his Dorsey Hotel, and he was the owner of the Negro Savings Bank. Dorsey was a firm believer in education and he donated a large quantity of land for black schools. He gained great respect and admiration from the white community.
Legacy
When Dorsey died in 1940, flags were lowered to half-staff all over Miami.Miami's Dorsey Memorial Library, which was opened on August 13, 1941, was built on land he donated shortly before his death.
He donated to Dade County Public Schools
Miami-Dade County Public Schools
Miami-Dade County Public Schools is a public school district serving Miami-Dade County, Florida. Founded in 1885, it is the largest school district in Florida and the Southeastern United States, and the fourth largest in the United States, with a student enrollment of 380,006 as of July 5, 2010...
the property at NW 71st Street and 17th Avenue on which Dorsey High School was later built.
D. A. Dorsey Educational Center has a rich and positive tradition in the Liberty City area of Miami as a fully operational adult education
Adult education
Adult education is the practice of teaching and educating adults. Adult education takes place in the workplace, through 'extension' school or 'school of continuing education' . Other learning places include folk high schools, community colleges, and lifelong learning centers...
center.