The first entry under the letter N in “The Harlem Renaissance—A Historical Dictionary for the Era,” edited by Bruce Kellner, is John Nail, for being considered “the most successful real estate man in New York City in the early 20th century.”
James Weldon Johnson, in his book “Black Manhattan,” quoted Nail, a member of the Real Estate Board of New York and an appraisal authority, as saying that “Negroes own and control real estate property worth, at a conservative estimate, between fifty and sixty million dollars.”
It is important here to note there was a John B. and a John E. Nail, the latter being the son of the former.
John E. Nail, like his father, who owned a saloon before he began accumulating property, immersed himself in real estate, so he was able to speak with authority about the value and the extent to which African Americans were financially involved, but he obviously learned much about the trade and business from his industrious father. Our focus here is on the son, with a promise to profile the father later.
Nail, perhaps to distinguish him from his father, was called Jack, and was born in New London, Conn. He moved with his parents—John B. and Elizabeth—to New York City, where his father was soon the owner of a hotel, restaurant, and billiard parlor, after working temporarily in a gambling house.
After Jack graduated from high school, he began working at his father’s hotel. All of this, by 1904, was in preparation for his employment with Philip A. Payton and the Afro-American Realty Company. Payton, a phenomenal visionary, was ahead of the curve when it came to understanding the shifting demographics of the city and the heavy migration from the South. He advised Black homeowners and entrepreneurs to relocate to Harlem. Key to his success was his ability as a salesperson and uniting African American renters and white landlords.
Three years after Jack arrived at Payton’s company, there were financial difficulties, which convinced him that it was time to forge his own business with Henry C. Parker as his partner. At the core of his real estate plan was to stabilize homeownership among Black residents, thereby minimizing the widespread discriminatory practices.
One of the major deals Jack facilitated in 1911 with the Rev. Hutchens C. Bishop, pastor of St. Philips Episcopal Church, totaled more than $1 million in real estate property. Since the pastor could pass for white, he made it possible for their partnership to acquire large plots of land for a new church and apartment buildings.
Six years later, Jack was among the chief organizers of the Silent Protest Parade, and eventually became the most influential Black realtor in New York City. His business acumen, good looks, and engaging personality were recognized by thousands of Harlemites, Black and white. His sister, Grace, married the poet and leader of the NAACP, which added to his popularity. He was a member of several prominent organizations in the city, including the Housing Committee—in fact, its only Black member. President Herbert Hoover was among the notables seeking his advice about real estate matters. At one time, he was owner of the Marshall Hotel in midtown Manhattan, a cultural beehive of activity.
Jack Nail distributed his wealth to various cultural and political formations, further establishing his dream to uplift the community. He was the first president of the Negro Board of Trade in Harlem and the first Black elected to the Real Estate Board of New York. When Harry Pace and W.C. Handy formed their Black Swan recording company, Jack was a member of the board of directors.
Jack’s overall plan was to consolidate the Black middle class with Harlem as the center of business and cultural enterprises. By 1925, he and his associates owned and managed 50 apartment complexes and an annual income of $1 million. Some of their accumulated capital was earmarked for charity and funding the Harlem branch of the YMCA.
Like most Americans, when the depression hit, Jack was not immune. He went bankrupt in 1933.
He died on March 5, 1947, in New York City.
Find out more
Nail’s name pops up in several books about the history of Harlem at the turn of the century, including Gilbert Osofsky’s “Harlem: The Making of a Ghetto.”
Discussion
More can be found about Nail’s early years in Harlem through the newspapers of the day, none more vital than the New Age and the Globe.
Place in context
Jack Nail was more than a man about town—he embodied the dreams and aspirations of many enterprising Harlemites of the era.
This week in Black history
June 30, 1984: Vocalist and actress Fantasia Barrino was born in High Point, N.C.
July 1, 1899: Gospel pioneer Thomas A. Dorsey was born in Villa Rica, Ga.
July 2, 1925: Civil rights legend Medgar Evers was born in Decatur, Miss. He was shot and killed in 1963 by a member of the KKK.