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MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN, SUPPORT BLACK-OWNED BUSINESSES.
Brooke Brown
WCP Consulting & Communications
UPDATED
08/25/2023
Black
Business Month is celebrated in August, and it's a time to acknowledge and
appreciate black-owned businesses across the nation and all they represent in
the country's continued struggle for diversity and equality.
"Black
Business Month is exciting because it allows us to focus on a community that is
far too often underrepresented when it comes to access to capital and
opportunities to build wealth," said Dr. Tanya Wiley-Brown, the Founder
and CEO of WCP Consulting & Communications, a global consulting agency
based in North Carolina. She adds, “Honoring black business proprietors and
innovators through celebration and support acknowledges the contributions of
those who are all too often overlooked.”
Emphasizing the significance of black-owned
enterprises during this month underscores the crucial role black business
owners play in enhancing the national economy. Roughly 10% of American
businesses are owned by people of color, with statistics indicating that
approximately 30% of minority-owned businesses belong to black entrepreneurs.
Black-owned businesses operate prominently in sectors such as health care,
social work, repair and maintenance, beauty salons, restaurants, as well as
other sectors. These enterprises are on the rise across the country, with
Washington D.C. boasting the highest concentration of black-owned businesses,
at an impressive 28%. These businesses play a vital role in supporting students
and education by contributing funds for scholarships, thereby benefiting the
next generation of leaders. The importance of entrepreneurship has consistently
had a profound impact on the Black community, thereby playing an essential role
in the national economy. Below is a compilation of various scholarship available to Black students.
The value of entrepreneurship has long been a significant
driving force within the Black community, making it a pivotal contributor to
the nation's economy.
Recent challenges, such as the
devastating global pandemic and ongoing socioeconomic disparities such as
limited access to essential capital for starting or expanding ventures, have
created exceedingly difficult circumstances for Black entrepreneurs aiming to
progress in the highly competitive business landscape.
The month of August represents
National Black Business Month. This historically significant annual event
offers an opportunity for both consumers and proprietors to not only show
support for Black businesses but also to provide them with a platform for growth,
contributing to the expansion of their enterprises and the accumulation of
wealth for current and future generations of African Americans.
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The United States is home to more than 3.2 million Black-owned
businesses. Based on data from the 2018 Annual Business Survey and Non-employer
Statistics by Demographics, over 3.2 million Black-owned businesses in the U.S.
were employing over 1.18 million workers, according to figures from the U.S. Small Business Administration. Around 19.4% of employer firms in 2019 were
minority-owned, comprising approximately 1.1 million firms, with 2.4% being
Black-owned. National Black Business Month, established in 2004 by two Black
entrepreneurs, engineer Frederick E. Jordan and John William Templeton,
president and executive editor of eAccess Corp., a scholarly publishing
company, aims to provide assistance in overcoming obstacles, reflecting the
perseverance of business owners like Jordan.
The history of Black
entrepreneurship traces back to the late 1700s, when free and enslaved Black
individuals established small enterprises like barbershops and tobacco outlets,
as reported by National Business Today. The number of Black-owned firms grew
following emancipation and continued to expand during the early 20th century,
defying the challenges of that era.
The period between 1900 and
1930 marked the 'golden age' for Black-owned businesses, partly nurtured by
segregation, which facilitated the growth of Black-owned districts, including
the renowned Black Wall Street in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Another significant
milestone was the establishment of the National Negro Business League in 1900
by the iconic Booker T. Washington, now known as the National Business League,
the oldest and largest trade group for Black businesses in the United States.
Black businesses are
rebounding from the pandemic but have faced more challenges than other groups.
Notably, around 53% of Black business owners experienced a revenue decline of
50% or more since the onset of the widespread concern over COVID-19, compared
to 37% of white business owners.
Advocates emphasize the
necessity of support due to systemic racism prevalent throughout the nation,
and Black businesses require assurance that they are not battling these
conditions alone. Additionally, such advocacy and consumer engagement
contribute to diversity and inclusion, as Black businesses tend to hire a more
diverse workforce and invest in their communities. Estimates suggest that Black
entrepreneurs can earn over ten times more than their non-Black counterparts,
which aids in narrowing the racial wealth gap and promotes economic equity.
Patient Suffers Permanent Disfigurement Following Retained Surgical Item
In an effort to track his family history the author has skillfully layered the foundation of his roots. Julius Faucette searches for a workable meaning to his life through his ancestor's choices of color. Faucette takes the reader back to the 1700's through research and intimate conversations with one of the oldest members in the family. Eugene Pinnix, who lived to be 104, speaks to the readers through Julius Faucette. 
Fluidly, calmly, insightfully, Faucette guides his readers straight to the intersection of the most serious questions of identity, class and race. The Saga of Madison Brown "A Choice of Color" is a story of race, inheritance and color choices. Not often does one hear of someone of German ancestry passing for black. Through his research, Faucette reveals how individuals in the Madison Brown family were able to make color choices, which ultimately resulted in life changes.
Faucette cleverly shifts between information obtained through general research and his on-going interviews with Eugene Pinnix. By combining both, he is able to educate and entertain his readers. The author deciphers a historic unknown by matching it with known facts obtained through his cousin Eugene. And the contrast between those born in slavery and those born to freedmen is powerful. This historical pictorial will draw readers in.
As the Madison Brown history unfolds, each generation passes down to the next that thirst to make color choices. The struggles of each play out in this candid historical review. In this irresistible story, Faucette resists the urge to paint with a broad brush that will stereotype the races. He utilizes the information obtained from not only his dear cousin, but also documents from local courthouses, state records, etc., to present a complete family picture.
This first edition will take the reader back several generations and the result is that
most will yearn to know their family origins.
We are very excited to share our archive issue newsstand section. Click on the desired thumbnail to view the entire issue. Archived issues are organized on the newsstand by year. At the bottom of the newsstand click on the year to view additional issues.
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