The Sears catalog, a seemingly innocuous mail-order booklet, became an unexpected tool for subverting Jim Crow laws in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. For Black Americans living under the oppressive racial segregation of the time, shopping at local stores was often a humiliating experience. The Sears catalog offered an alternative, allowing Black families to purchase goods without facing racial discrimination or inflated prices. By delivering directly to homes, Sears bypassed the prejudi

72 more Sears and Kmart stores are closing — see if yours is on the list | Business Insider