Douglas in Chicago in Cook County, Illinois — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

Jesse Binga

1865-1950

— Bronzeville Walk of Fame —

Jesse Binga Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, September 28, 2026

1. Jesse Binga Marker

Inscription.
Founded the Binga State Bank, 1921

Erected 1996 by City of Chicago.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Industry & Commerce. In addition, it is included in the Bronzeville Walk of Fame series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1921.

Location. 41° 49.975′ N, 87° 37.01′ W. Marker is in Chicago, Illinois, in Cook County. It is in Douglas. It is on South Martin Luther King Jr. Drive south of East 33rd Place. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 3367 South Martin Luther King Jr Drive, Chicago IL 60616, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is on Chicago’s South Side and in Chicago’s Bronzeville.

It is also in the American Midwest.

Globally, it is in North America,

on the Great Lakes,

in the Western Hemisphere,

in the Western World,

and in the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Viceroyalty of New France,

the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

and the Northwest Territory.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance

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of this marker: Dinah Washington (within shouting distance of this marker); Claude Albert Barnett / Etta Moten Barnett (within shouting distance of this marker); John Jones (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Ada S. McKinley (about 400 feet away); Richard Wright (about 400 feet away); Vivian Harsh (about 400 feet away); Fannie Barrier Williams (about 400 feet away); Lorraine Hansberry (about 400 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Chicago.

Also see . . . Jesse Binga, Chicago’s First Black Banker Who Refused To Let Bombings Stop His Ambition. From Block Club Chicago in 2019, a look at a book about Jesse Binga's life and impact.

Excerpt: "Jesse Binga was Chicago’s first black banker. He was a real estate maven, a community leader, a millionaire and eventually a convicted felon. Binga was a Chicago legend, an icon of success in Chicago’s Black Belt. His story — layer upon layer of it — is chronicled in a new book more than two decades in the making."

(Submitted on September 29, 2026, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.)

Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, September 28, 2026

2. Jesse Binga Marker

Jesse Binga (1865-1950) image. Click for full size.

Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons, circa 1923

3. Jesse Binga (1865-1950)

Credits. This page was last revised on September 29, 2026. It was originally submitted on September 29, 2026, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois. This page has been viewed 2 times since then. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on September 29, 2026, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.