Ep. 4 -The House That Daddy Built

“Sweet Daddy Grace Buys the Tallest NY Apartment House”

Jet Magazine, May 21, 1953

Daddy Grace’s relationship with money – how much he seemed to have, how his followers practically threw cash at him – bothered many people outside the church, including Marcy’s  relatives. But what was all that money used for? Sure, Daddy Grace had fancy cars and custom made suits. But in a time when it was hard for many Black people to get a mortgage, the United House of Prayer owned luxury buildings around the country: investment properties that guaranteed the church would last after Daddy Grace was gone. So was Daddy Grace just looking after his own well-being? Or was he actually a brilliant entrepreneur, ahead of his time?

Guests:

Bishop C.M. Grace aka Sweet Daddy Grace

Jibreel Khazan, Activist, Artist + Civil Rights Legend

Alcides Vicente, Author and Media Specialist

Dr. Hasan Jeffries, Associate Professor of History, Ohio State University

Bishop Talbert Swan, Prelate, Church of God in Christ, President of NAACP, Springfield, MA

Listen to full episode :