One of America's wealthiest men, John D. Rockefeller Jr., also expressed his generous spirit by contributing greatly to the African American community in New York City.

Rockefeller financed the Paul Lawrence Dunbar Complex, named after the nineteenth century African American poet, knowing that profits might be minimal. He sought to help the dominantly African American neighborhood in Harlem and provide relief for the struggling community.

Rockefeller said One of the great social values of limited divided housing companies is their unusual opportunity to experiment with new methods of building, community planning and home ownership. Buying an entire block and creating six independent buildings on the property that would comprise the complex, Rockefeller sought to make the architecture of the buildings and the nature of the landscape as pleasant as possible.

This apartment complex not only had 511 apartments, ranging in size from three to seven rooms, but also a doctor's suite, a dentist's suite, and 10 commercial stores.

Additionally, the apartment complex had club rooms, nurseries, playgrounds, and other community elements for family usage.

Rockefeller did not build the complex to show his wealth and power, instead he made an investment of his time and money in order to benefit an entire neighborhood. His charitable contribution uplifted the people economically and socially, brought families together and benefited the greater African American community.

It became an opportunity for people to meet, connect, and form lasting relationships within Harlem. In just a few months, local African Americans bought all 511 apartments, and the community of Harlem bloomed thanks to the ingenuity of Rockefeller.

Even today, African American families in Harlem primarily use the apartments at the Dunbar Complex and still preserve Rockefeller's initial goal of bringing the neighborhood together for the common purpose of people living harmoniously.