When you hear the phrase Black Wall Street, it’s not just a history lesson—it’s a powerful reminder of what’s possible when ambition meets community. Back in the early 1900s, Tulsa, Oklahoma’s Greenwood District was a booming hub of Black-owned businesses.
Doctors, lawyers, barbers, bankers—you name it—thrived across 35 vibrant blocks. But in 1921, that dream was violently destroyed during the Tulsa Race Massacre, costing generations of Black families their wealth and opportunity.
And yet, the spirit never died. It transformed.
Fast-forward to today, over 3.2 million Black-owned businesses in the U.S. are proof that the entrepreneurial flame is still burning bright. From startups to global empires, Black entrepreneurs continue to rise, not by accident, but by strategy, grit, and belief.
Take A.G. Gaston—he didn’t just build businesses, he built community infrastructure during segregation. Or Janice Bryant Howroyd, who turned a $900 loan from her mother into ActOne, a billion-dollar company operating in over 32 countries. Their stories shout one truth: success starts inside, even when the system says otherwise.
Start small, think big, build with purpose
You don’t need millions to get started. Just ask Cashmere Nicole Carillo, a single mom and cancer survivor who launched Beauty Bakerie from her kitchen and grew it into a global beauty brand by staying true to her mission. Or David Steward, whose World Wide Technology went from a few employees to over $14.5 billion in annual revenue—all built through relationships and vision.
And it’s not just about money. Entrepreneurs like Rodney Williams of LISNR are changing how tech works—literally—while staying rooted in their “why.” That mix of innovation and purpose? It’s a legacy stretching back to Christiana Carteaux Bannister, a 19th-century entrepreneur and abolitionist who used her profits to fight injustice.
So what can you do? Support Black-owned businesses year-round. Invest in them. Partner with them. Or be inspired to build your own. The blueprint is there, and the legacy is living proof: you are capable, worthy, and needed in the game.
Believe in your vision. Act on it. And never, ever let someone else’s limits become your own.
