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Allow Me To Introduce You To The Most Interesting Man You’ve Never Heard Of!
Sam “The Banana Man” Zemurray
Join me on a trip down to the steamy republics of Central America!
THREAD
Sam “The Banana Man” ZemurrayJoin me on a trip down to the steamy republics of Central America!
THREAD
The following is the story of how a Russian Jew - who arrived to America at age 14 without a dime to his name - became one of the most powerful men in the world; a man who could change history with a phone call.
It’s also a story about bananas. A story about the American dream!
It’s also a story about bananas. A story about the American dream!
A young Sam Zemurray saw his first banana in 1893 and fell in love.
He then devised a plan!
He would travel to Mobile, Alabama - where the boats brought the bananas from Central America - buy a supply and cart them back to Selma, Alabama and go into business.
He then devised a plan!
He would travel to Mobile, Alabama - where the boats brought the bananas from Central America - buy a supply and cart them back to Selma, Alabama and go into business.
Little did he know at the time, his little business venture would lead to him overthrowing two Central American governments and a level of power and influence larger than that of world leaders.
Read on! I'm here to tell you how that all went down.
Read on! I'm here to tell you how that all went down.
So. Sam bought his first batch of overripe bananas from the Boston Fruit company, who deemed them unfit to sell because they'd rot before reaching market.
But, too ripe or not, ol’ Sam hustled them muthafucking bananas!
Sold ‘em all, netting himself $40 profit in 6 days.
By the time he was 18 years old, he’d made $100,000 doing this. Shitload of money at the time..
That’s when he caught the attention of the United Fruit Company.
Sold ‘em all, netting himself $40 profit in 6 days.
By the time he was 18 years old, he’d made $100,000 doing this. Shitload of money at the time..
That’s when he caught the attention of the United Fruit Company.
The United Fruit Company (UFCO) respected his hustle - they wanted to work with Sam (and, keep an eye on him).
Thus, they hammered out a contract where any banana that had more than 1 freckle (i.e. ripes, Sam’s speciality) became the property of Samuel Zemurray.
Thus, they hammered out a contract where any banana that had more than 1 freckle (i.e. ripes, Sam’s speciality) became the property of Samuel Zemurray.
Just imagine that: legally owning any banana that gets old enough.
Such were Zemurray’s negotiating skills!
Such were Zemurray’s negotiating skills!
Ol' Sam then moved down to Honduras.
He wanted to learn every aspect of the business. Know the terrain. Work in the fields. Be among the labourers. He worked every single part of the trade.
He knew bananas inside out! Related quote!
He wanted to learn every aspect of the business. Know the terrain. Work in the fields. Be among the labourers. He worked every single part of the trade.
He knew bananas inside out! Related quote!
Although now working with the UFCO, Sam also owned his own banana company: Cuyamel Fruit Company.
In order to make his business profitable while still selling bananas for cheap, Sam had to bribe damn-near EVERYONE in Honduras to avoid taxes.
In order to make his business profitable while still selling bananas for cheap, Sam had to bribe damn-near EVERYONE in Honduras to avoid taxes.
But, A problem soon arose!
Honduras owed huge amounts of tax to Britain. And this debt kept piling up. The USA feared that Britain would come in and occupy Honduras and collect payment by force.
The USA didn’t want to give up their influence in the country that easy.
Honduras owed huge amounts of tax to Britain. And this debt kept piling up. The USA feared that Britain would come in and occupy Honduras and collect payment by force.
The USA didn’t want to give up their influence in the country that easy.
What did Sam do? Did he give up?
Nah, he didn’t fucking give up.
Nah, he didn’t fucking give up.
