Dorothy Blackwell McNeil facts for kids

Dorothy Blackwell McNeil was born in Jersey City, New Jersey, in the 1940s. She is an important person in the community of Hoboken, where she helped run a famous place called Club Zanzibar from 1961 to 1981. This club was special because it welcomed many African-American entertainers.

Honored by Her Community

Remembering Hoboken's History

In 2006, a group called the Hoboken Oral History Project created a small book about Dorothy McNeil. It was called Recollections of Dorothy McNeil. This book included photos of Hoboken, Dorothy, her family, and the Club Zanzibar. It also showed some of the famous performers who played there.

The project collects stories from people who have lived in Hoboken for a long time. This helps everyone remember the city's past, especially how different groups of people lived and worked together. Dorothy McNeil's book was the ninth in a series. By 2020, there were 33 such books!

Awards and Recognition

In 2010, Dorothy McNeil was one of 35 women honored by Hudson County. This award recognized women who worked hard to make their communities better.

In 2018, Hoboken honored Dorothy McNeil with a huge mural on a building wall. The mural was 150 feet long and 35 feet high! It also featured two other famous Hoboken women: photographer Dorothea Lange and sportswoman Maria Pepe. The mayor of Hoboken, Ravi S. Bhalla, called these women "trailblazers." This means they were pioneers who made a big difference in their community and the country. The artist, DISTORT, wanted the mural to celebrate Hoboken's history and the people who made it special.

About Dorothy's Life

Early Life and Family

Dorothy McNeil's mother, Gladys Elizabeth Richardson, was from the South. Her father, David Blackwell, was from New York State. Dorothy remembers her family as one of the first African-American families to live in Hoboken.

When she was a baby, a fire happened where her family lived. She was safely passed out a window. Dorothy later had a son and a daughter.

Club Zanzibar's Beginnings

Dorothy's husband, Charles McNeil, used to be a truck driver. He bought into the Club Zanzibar in 1961 with a partner, James Smith. In 1963, Charles bought out Smith and became the sole owner.

Dorothy and Charles met around 1971 or 1972. Dorothy had some experience as a model in New York City, but she didn't enjoy it much. She knew about the Zanzibar through friends and thought she would like working there as a bartender. In its later years, the Zanzibar became a popular local bar for the neighborhood.

Club Zanzibar's Importance

A Stop for Famous Performers

Club Zanzibar was known as one of the last stops on the "Chitlin Circuit." This was a network of venues that welcomed African-American entertainers during a time when many places were segregated. In its early years, performers at the Zanzibar had to have a hit record. Many of these songs were from record labels like RCA and Columbia.

Some of the famous African-American artists who performed there included Wilson Pickett, Millie Jackson, Rufus Thomas, The Coasters, Kool and the Gang, and The Drifters. Even white performers like Frank Sinatra appeared there. The music group The Manhattan Transfer also used the Zanzibar as their practice studio. The last performer before the club closed in 1981 was Sterling Harrison.

A Special Place in the Community

Dorothy McNeil explained that Club Zanzibar was very special for the African-American community for two main reasons:

• Late Hours: The club stayed open one hour later than bars in nearby cities. This meant that music promoters would book their acts at the Zanzibar for that last hour. People from other cities would come to Hoboken to see these performances. Many stars from Harlem's famous Apollo Theater would perform there. This helped Hoboken host more popular acts than it might have otherwise.
• Open Access for Women: In some places, women were not allowed to sit at a bar. But at the Zanzibar, women had free access. This made it a welcoming place for everyone.

Charles McNeil also helped the community by cashing payroll checks for workers. Many people, especially African-Americans at that time, did not have bank accounts. Charles would cash checks for workers from places like Maxwell House and the Post Office. He would handle as much as $30,000 to $40,000 in checks each week! In return, people would usually buy at least one drink. Dorothy remembered pouring a lot of drinks in one night!

Even Steve Capiello, who later became the mayor of Hoboken, worked security at the Zanzibar when he was an off-duty policeman.