The history of Black Business Month can be traced back to the year 2004, when engineering entrepreneur Frederick E. Jordan partnered with the president and executive editor of the scholarly publishing company eAccess Corp,’ John William Templeton, to start this annual reflection and recognition event. The intention of the pair was to “drive the policy agenda affecting the 2.6 million African-American businesses,” in order to highlight and empower Black business owners all over, especially given the unique challenges faced by minority business owners. This stemmed from Jordan’s own personal experience of the struggle to gain financial backing and funding when he began his own firm in San Francisco in 1969.
The history of African American businesses is largely an untold story in America history. The end of slavery left African Americans free for the first time to take full value of their skills, capital and investments for themselves. Business success in the Black community provided a key source of money and leadership for the Civil Rights movement in the twentieth century. One need only recall multi-millionaire businessman A. G. Gaston’s role in Birmingham.
At the Fourth Atlanta Conference in 1898, conference convener, Dr. William E.B. DuBois voiced strategies needed for the growth of Black businesses. 2 of these tenets are easily in our grasp, but are seemingly elusive in actual application, one being that Blacks would patronize Black business, even to their financial disadvantage (i.e. perhaps paying a little more), and two that Black churches, schools, and newspapers would promote Black business. Imagine where our communities might be today, if we had been executing these basics for the last120+ years!
Support your own during Black Business Month in August, practice can become a year round habit.
Welcome to the Family
On February 24, 2021, at 1:00 p.m., Oakwood University and Huntsville Hospital hosted a Lease Signing event at the Oakwood University Community Health Action Center...
During Black History Month, 94.1 WHRP showcased the outstanding achievement of David Person, '85, a proud alumnus of Oakwood University...
Participate in business, educational and social activities to meet people who can help your business succeed by sharing information, providing services, products, resources, or referrals.
One-on-one personalized business coaching free of charge. Determine where you are, where you want to be, and walk away with a plan to get there.
Advertising through the Chamber offers your company exposure to the the business community. Creates awareness for your products and services, and allows you to target your marketing efforts to potential customers.
Informative Speakers bring knowledge and spur ideas. Non-members are welcome to attend
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