
The Deal McDonald's Made With Black America
From One Mic Black History by Michael Motley jr
November 10, 2025 · 11 min · Season 9
About this episode
The episode discusses the establishment of Black-owned McDonald's franchises in Chicago following Dr. King's assassination and the implications of this business model.
In 1968, Chicago after Dr. King’s murder. Windows are boarded. Stores sit dark. McDonald’s needs a plan. Operation Breadbasket has one: put Black owners in Black neighborhoods. In December, Herman Petty opens the first Black owned McDonald’s in Chicago. It works, More owners follow and a pipeline is created. But there is a catch. McDonald’s owns the land, sets the fees, and picks the sites. This is how a Black franchise empire created, and what it cost.Audio Onemichistory.comFollow me on Instagram: @onemic_historyFollow me on Substack: https://onemicblackhistorypodcast.substack.com/Follow me on Threads: https://www.threads.net/@onemic_historyPlease support our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/user?u=25697914Buy me a Coffee https://www.buymeacoffee.com/Countryboi2m
People in this episode
Host: Michael Motley jr
Topics covered
- Black history
- franchising
- McDonald's
- community empowerment
- economic development
Keywords
- McDonald's
- Black franchise
- Herman Petty
- Operation Breadbasket
- Chicago
- economic empowerment
- 1968
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: McDonald's
Places: Chicago
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