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[Last name, First name], Oral history interview conducted by [Interviewer’s First name Last name], [Month DD, YYYY], [Title of Collection], [Call #]; Brooklyn Historical Society.

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David Ramnauth

Oral history interview conducted by Bahati Williams

May 13, 2008

Call number: 2008.030.33

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0:00 - Ramnauth's motivation for opening Big Brother's Discount Hardware and Appliance

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2:35 - Joining the Fulton-Nostrand Merchants Association, association of licensed street vendors

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8:27 - Pros and cons of gentrification

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10:40 - Response to an entrepreneur's ethical dilemma

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13:04 - Giving back to the community

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15:46 - Thoughts on the disappearing family business; interview conclusion

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Interview Description

Oral History Interview with David Ramnauth

David Ramnauth was the owner of Big Brother's Discount Hardware and Appliance. After immigrating to America in 1975 from the small village of Leguan, Guyana, Ramnauth grew up in Brooklyn and attended P.S. 93.

In this interview, David Ramnauth discusses his motivation for starting a business; he says the family's entrepreneurial spirit began in their hometown of Leguan, Guyana, where his mother started a donkey-cart vending venture. Ramnauth says that in America, the Ramnauths turned to licensed street vending to subsidize the high cost of living; but by saving their money, they eventually purchased Big Brother's Discount Hardware and Appliance. Ramnauth discusses the pros and cons of merchants' associations, business improvement districts, and gentrification. Ramnauth tells of his philanthropic philosophy, and reflects on the decline of the American small business. Interview conducted by Bahati Williams.

Brooklyn Historical Society (BHS) and Bedford Stuyvesant Restoration Corporation (Restoration) partnered on the Bedford Stuyvesant Restoration Corporation oral history project in 2007-2008 to celebrate the fortieth anniversary of Restoration's founding as the first community development corporation (CDC) in the United States. Nearly sixty interviews were conducted with founding Board members, supporters, activists, artists, tenants, and other community members. Audio clips from these oral history interviews were included in the exhibit "Reflections on Community Development: Stories from Bedford Stuyvesant Restoration Corporation" (BHS 2008, Restoration 2009).

Citation

Ramnauth, David, Oral history interview conducted by Bahati Williams, May 13, 2008, Bedford Stuyvesant Restoration Corporation oral histories, 2008.030.33; Brooklyn Historical Society.

People

  • Dabu, Joel
  • Fulton-Nostrand United Merchants Association
  • Ramnauth, David

Topics

  • Business enterprises
  • Economic development
  • Enterprise zones
  • Entrepreneurship
  • Gentrification

Places

  • Bedford-Stuyvesant (New York, N.Y.)
  • Brooklyn (New York, N.Y.)

Finding Aid

Bedford Stuyvesant Restoration Corporation oral histories