March 23, 2021
During the spring of 2021, I had the privilege of discussing the legacy of George and Novelean Harris with their son, Reverend James Harris. The Harris family is one of few Black pioneers whose descendants, homes, and businesses have remained in Richmond, California for over 80 years. Following the city’s incorporation on August 6, 1905, migration to Richmond increased significantly. From 1910 – 1960, Blacks in Richmond were counted on the U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census as follows: 29 (1910), 33 (1920), 48 (1930), 270 (1940), 13,374 (1950), and 14,388 (1960).[1] This demographic shift was part of the Great Migration where approximately six million Blacks left the south for new beginnings in northeastern, midwestern, and western states between 1910 – 1970.
Trosie and Minnie Bee Harris, George’s brother and sister-in-law, are credited as the first in their lineage to migrate from Warren, Arkansas to Richmond in 1938 followed by George shortly thereafter. Having witnessed their father be cheated out of land by southern Whites due to illiteracy, the Harris brothers were determined to own, develop, and maintain property on the west coast. Trosie, a carpenter by trade, purchased and developed properties in North Richmond upon arrival. Through his brother’s network, George purchased four lots for $400 from Italians. Prior to World War II (1939 – 1945), “North Richmond had been a rural, ethnically diverse area where blacks lived alongside Portuguese, Italian, and Mexican Americans. However, by 1943 North Richmond had become virtually all black”.[2] The Harris brothers built two homes whose structures remain solid today at 1636 and 1638 4th Street between Silver and Grove. The original blueprint contained a total of eight units, including a communal bathroom and washroom.
Novelean (Turner) Harris, a Bernice, Louisiana native, was equally ambitious and determined to defy the odds set before her in the South. Teased as an adolescent for her alleged lack of intelligence, short hair, and “bird legs”, she developed an interest in cosmetology. She befriended George in El Dorado, Arkansas after her family’s relocation to the area. Both were active members of their respective churches during their courtship; Novelean attended New Bethel Baptist Church (NBBC) in El Dorado, and George attended St. James Baptist Church in Warren, Arkansas. On December 10, 1936, the couple married in Union County, Arkansas. In 1938 they welcomed their firstborn son, Charlie Harris, named after his maternal grandfather, Charlie Turner.
Deacon Matthew Hall of NBBC sought new opportunities westward and migrated to Richmond with George. Upon settling, George sent for Charlie and Novelean followed by her parents, Charlie and Lillie Turner. The Harrises and Turners developed lifelong connections at their new church home, North Richmond Missionary Baptist Church (NRMBC), under the leadership of Reverend F.W. Watkins and Reverend C. W. Newsome. NRMBC “was the first black Baptist church in Contra Costa County, and it became the most prestigious of Richmond’s prewar churches”.[3] Novelean continued her pursuit of cosmetology and enrolled at Charm Beauty College in Oakland, California. After obtaining her license from the State of California she opened Novelean’s Beauty Salon, the first Black-owned beauty salon in North Richmond on July 3, 1943. To achieve work-life balance, the Harrises leveraged their 4th Street properties and operated the salon next door to their home.
When their second child, James Harris, was born in 1944, Black mothers were not allowed to give birth at Richmond Hospital. Delivery options included a hospital in Martinez, California, or home birth. Novelean chose the latter whereby James was delivered at their 4th Street home by midwife, Lillie Turner, his maternal grandmother. Despite the systemic racism they encountered in southern and northern states, George and Novelean instilled confidence in their children and encouraged self-advocacy. James recalled an elementary school teacher instructing students to draw pictures of their homes. When he drew his family’s properties throughout Richmond, she attempted to correct him. I said to draw where you live – not where your mom works. When he insisted that the assignment was done correctly, she drove to the Harris’ properties for personal validation. James soon grew tired of being labeled the “little rich kid” by his peers and was determined to gain independence. Inspired by his family’s ambition, he began working at age 13.
Deemed a “genius” by his little brother James, Charlie graduated high school at age 16 and was the first Black drum major at Richmond High School. By age 30, he was a successful real estate broker and owner of Charlie G. Harris Realty. His mentor, William Daniel Martin, was a prestigious real estate broker who owned Martin Realtors on San Pablo Avenue in El Cerrito, California. William’s wife, Ermestine was also a successful real estate broker and owner of Petgrave Realty in Richmond. Determined to develop additional housing for Blacks, the Martins partnered with Pastor Robert Louis Johnson of St. John Missionary Baptist Church in Richmond. They created St. Johns Apartments, a Richmond complex comprised of “158 HUD-subsidized apartments ranging from studios up to three bedrooms; these units were more upscale than most rental apartments available for Blacks.”[4] As of 2023, widow, Ermestine Martin, and her descendants hold “the keys to more than 150 units in apartment buildings, single-family homes, and commercial buildings, as well as vacant lots.”[5]
Novelean’s increasing clientele prompted the need for larger space. Bank of America was one of few banks that loaned to Blacks, and construction loans were generally allotted in phases. A plot of land for a new beauty salon had been earmarked for three years, and some naysayers began to doubt Novelean’s ability to expand. While styling Ms. Sidney, a client and fellow church member, Novelean casually discussed her aspirations of opening a larger salon, which required a loan to expedite the construction process. Ms. Sidney walked home and returned with a brown paper bag containing $3,000. When Novelean attempted to repay the loan with interest, Ms. Sidney refused the offer. In 1953, Novelean’s Beauty Salon opened at 1037 7th Street in Richmond.
Due to Richmond’s developments and increasing population, Novelean’s Beauty Salon relocated to its third and present-day location at 401 Harbour Way South in 1961. Per best practices in the 1940s and 1950s, George and Novelean had their new home built adjacent to the salon. Kay Chesterfield, an Oakland-based manufacturing company founded in 1921, customized furniture for the Harris’ properties on 7th Street and Harbour Way South. To strengthen cooperative economics, George and Novelean hired predominantly young, Black entrepreneurs. Sherman Workman, an architect and recent graduate, drew the blueprint for the 3,344-square-foot property on Harbour Way South. Marlon Radford constructed the site along with other Black electricians and plumbers. For the finishing touch, a Black engineer installed an electric garage door opener.
The Harris’ socioeconomic and political network drew crowds to their home where they hosted social gatherings frequently. Novelean mentored many entrepreneurs, including cosmetologists who successfully opened their own salons. She also worked as a consultant and fundraiser on political frontlines with candidates at local, state, and national levels, and was appointed Secretary-Treasurer in the St. John District. George, a Masonic Lodge Member, became “the first African American to serve on Contra Costa County’s Grand Jury for two terms”.[6] During his career, he sold life insurance at Golden State Mutual Life Insurance Company and Prudential Financial, Inc. His primary clientele included Blacks who experienced racial discrimination and policy constraints at other insurance companies. Versus the traditional sales pitch, George listened to his client’s personal stories about their families, and tailored insurance policies based on their needs. As a testament to his service and reputation, he was named “Man of the Year” three times.
On August 22, 1962, James was drafted to the United States Air Force in Texas and later discharged due to a neck and spine injury. Any side effects of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) were repressed. Black people didn’t want to be labeled as ‘crazy’. Though some resources were available, they weren’t openly marketed to Black veterans. James refused to subscribe to any limitations and was fueled by Charlie’s encouragement. Similar to Trosie and George’s bond, James attributes many of his accomplishments to his brother. The first time I saw a color TV was at Charlie’s house in 1963. In 1965, James purchased his first home at age 21. During a conversation at the Masonic Hall on Silver Street, a prophet told Novelean that James (age 7) would become a preacher, which later manifested at age 30. On January 13, 1974 (Super Bowl Sunday), James preached his first sermon at Richmond Auditorium’s Bermuda Room. The following year in 1975, George had a stroke and Novelean began selling property. James began managing his family’s properties on 4th Street in 1977 and assumed additional responsibilities after George’s passing in 1982.
Novelean remained dedicated to her family, community, and place of worship. A woman of immense faith, she committed to daily prayer at 12:00 PM. Her contributions to North Richmond Missionary Baptist Church include Women Missionary Union 1st Vice President, Clothes and Food Giveaway Program Organizer, Soup Kitchen Supervisor, Solace Committee member, and one-fifth of The Bochum Five Singers.[7] In 1970, she chartered a trip to the World Baptist Alliance in Hong Kong, China. In 2004, she received the President’s Award from Richmond’s NAACP Branch for her community leadership and philanthropy. In 2008, the City of Richmond declared May 1st “Mother Novelean Harris Day”. At age 90, she began hosting annual birthday celebrations, drawing crowds of up to 200 people. Charlie and James’ bond remained solid until Charlie’s passing on Father’s Day in 2010. Two years later in 2012, Novelean passed away at age 95. A bench with an engraving of her name is installed in front of North Richmond Missionary Baptist Church. Some of Novelean’s infamous hot combs and curling irons are curated at the Richmond Museum of History.
Two generations of my family have patronized Novelean’s Beauty Salon over a 40-year timespan from the 1950s – 1990s. My mother and aunt, born in 1947 and 1949, recall hair appointments as children at the 7th Street salon. I experienced my own waves of nostalgia during my discussions with Reverend Harris at the Harbour Way South location; there I sat in the same beauty salon that I frequented often from childhood to adolescence nearly 32 years ago. I was pleasantly surprised by its familiarity post current renovations: the window signage, neatly trimmed grass, the black iron gate surrounding the salon’s perimeter, and Ms. Novelean’s infamous booth to the left upon entry. For a split second, I envisioned myself wincing and holding my ear down as she instructed before applying her hot comb and curling iron to my hair.
I asked Reverend Harris what influenced his family to remain in Richmond after their migration in 1938, and learned that George planned to return to Arkansas after World War II ended in 1945. However, his investments, communal associations, and Novelean’s faith and insight solidified George as a Californian. Recalling what sustained his parent’s 46-year marriage, James repeated his mother’s sentiment of her husband: George Harris was my best friend. Like the pioneers who preceded him, Reverend Harris continues to serve his community and support generations of Black entrepreneurs. Since 1985, he has owned and operated Novelean’s Beauty Salon on Harbour Way South and charges the same booth rent as his mother prior to her retirement in 2009. The blueprint for the Harris’ success is modeled via his ministry, philanthropy, and business acumen. I’m picking up my parent’s baton and running with it. It’s not about the money; it’s about the legacy.
[1] Moore, Shirley Ann Wilson. To Place Our Deeds: The African American Community in Richmond, California, 1910 – 1963. University of California Press, 2000, pp. 12, 101.
[2] —. To Place Our Deeds: The African American Community in Richmond, California, 1910 – 1963. University of California Press, 2000, p. 24.
[3] —. To Place Our Deeds: The African American Community in Richmond, California, 1910 – 1963. University of California Press, 2000, p. 27.
[4] Scoggins, Gloria Petgrave. Through a Trail of Tears: A Black Family’s Story of Generational Wealth. EPM Living Press, 2022, p. 274.
[5] —. Through a Trail of Tears: A Black Family’s Story of Generational Wealth. EPM Living Press, 2022, p. 446.
[6] Commemoration of Novelean Harris and 92nd Birthday Celebration May 2, 2008
[7] Novelean Harris Obituary. January 2012.
Images courtesy of Reverend James Harris, Myers Sr. Home Photo Service, and Photographer, Calvin L. Harrell of Harrell Studio