Dana Albert "D.A." Dorsey (1872-1940) - A businessman, banker, philanthropist was one of the first African American millionaires in Florida. (Wikipedia)
Born in Quitman, Georgia to former slaves, he was the first child of his family not born into slavery. He came to Miami in 1896, he worked as a carpenter for Henry Flagler Florida East Coast Rail Road. He recognized the need to provide housing for black railroad workers, so he purchased a piece of land in Overtown, expanding all the way to Ft. Lauderdale.
In 1917, he and his wife sold land to the City of Miami to build a park for African Americans; Dorsey Park. In 1919, he barrier island of Fisher Island to Carl Fisher. Dorsey also owned the first black hotel and bank. He believed highly in education and donated large amounts of land for black schools.
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