Peter Bynoe (Finding Aid)

Peter Bynoe

1951 -

Favorite Color: Purple

Favorite Food: Fried Chicken

Favorite Time of Year: Spring

Favorite Vacation Spot: Telluride, Colorado

Interview Length: 102 minutes

Interview Date(s): March 28, 2000

Interview Location(s): Piper, Rudnick Offices, Piper Rudnick Offices, Piper, Rudnick Office

Abstract

Peter Bynoe's interview begins with several photographs of him with notable figures as well as older photos of his father with well known black athletes and politicos. Bynoe shares some anecdotes of his early childhood with extended family in Boston. He continues with background information on his parents as immigrants and migrants to New England. Bynoe delves into the question of whether or not having a West Indian parent gave him a West Indian view on life. This segment concludes with recollections of his mischevious childhood. Boston was a place of great social upheaval during Bynoe's youth. Segregation and racism were a fact of life in one of America's first cities. He talks about his father's legal practice and political/social involvement with some major players on the politcal stage.Bynoe then reminisces about the impact the Vietnam War had on his life and friends lives. Attending Harvard College shaped Bynoe's life and career choices, particularly his ability to recognize great opportunites . This segment closes with Bynoe's account of the battle to create and Afro-American Studies Department at Harvard. Peter Bynoe discusses just how he came to be an entrepreneur. He attributes his success to being at the right place at the right time and knowing a great opportunity when it presents itself. Bynoe attributes a great part of his achievement to the mentorship of Mayor Harold Washington and the opportunities his tenure presented a young black real estate developer. Bynoe laments the lack of black mentorship he received in Chicago and notes that white businessmen backed him instead. He details how many of these same businessmen backed him when he decided to purchase the Denver Nuggets, making him the first black general managing partner of a major NBA franchise. Finally, Bynoe ponders the state of black ownership of professional sports teams. In reflecting on his legacy as a black entrepreneur, Peter Bynoe weaves the threads of his life into a complete work. He sees his life as a continuation of what his father began, not merely a reflection of it. Bynoe ponders the future of black America and the impact of the "digital divide" on black acheivement. He wraps up the interview with his assessment of his legacy, who the most influential businesspeople are in his life and conjectures about what advice his father would offer to him now.

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