Dana A. Dorsey
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Dana Albert Dorsey (1872-1940) was a businessman, banker, and philanthropist who became south Florida's first African-American millionaire.
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[edit] Childhood, education
Dana Albert Dorsey was born in Quitman, Georgia. He was the son of former slaves and the first child in his family not be born into slavery. He received only a fourth grade formal education, teaching himself after that.
[edit] Carpenter, businessman, philanthropist
Dorsey came to the Miami area of south Florida around 1896. He worked as a carpenter for Henry M. Flagler's Florida East Coast Railroad. During that time he recognized the need to provide housing for black workers. He purchased one parcel of land at a time, and 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 a small barrier island east of Miami accessible only by water to automotive pioneer Carl G. Fisher who was developing of Miami Beach, and named it Fisher Island. In 1925, Fisher traded the island to William Kissam Vanderbilt II in return for a 200 foot yacht. Vanderbilt's improvements created 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.
[edit] 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 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.
