Something positive is happening at 4326 North American Street

I was not familiar with the area around 4326 North American Street until about eight weeks ago.

- Thera Martin

I have lived in Philadelphia for most of my life, except when I was away in college and a few years ago when I moved to North Carolina for about three years. I've crossed over North American Street many a day, heading to work at WURD back when I worked there. But I never was down in the 4300 block or anywhere near there. My first encounter at 4326 was just a couple of months ago when I was part of a podcast that was recorded there, talking about the importance of the Black Family.

I was blown away from the moment I walked through the front doors. It's like a Black history art museum, with a myriad of critical information on the many walls inside the establishment.

Getting to 4326 North American Street, all along the way, it seemed like endless mechanic repair shops, used auto body stores, a few bike shops and state inspection businesses for vehicles, used car lots for junker cars, and more auto mechanic shops. Also, in the mix, here and there, I saw what appeared to be old factories. If you're looking for “pretty,” getting to this part of North American Street isn't pretty by a long shot.