Entrepreneurship has been a constant thread in Black American history, serving as both an economic engine and a form of resistance against systemic oppression. As the saying goes, “We’re not new to this, we’re true to this.”
Black Americans have been entrepreneurs since the end of slavery—and even before emancipation in some cases.
After slavery, entrepreneurship became a vital pathway for economic survival and self-determination, especially in the face of systemic exclusion from mainstream economic opportunities.
Yet sometimes, I wonder if our collective memory of this history gets overshadowed. Maybe it’s because the types of businesses commonly launched back then—barbershops, beauty salons, medical practices, tailoring services, and small farms—look very different from the tech startups, online brands, and creative enterprises we see thriving today.
Turns out, I’ve been guilty of this within my own family.
For most of my formative years, my mother’s “job” was as a professional musician. It wasn’t until I was an adult that I truly understood: while she had an agent who booked her band, being a musician is akin to being an entrepreneur—it is a business.
And when she “retired” from working as a professional musician and began what would become a 38-year career with the Social Security Administration, she always kept another source of income. Sometimes she coached the pigtail league or umpired softball games; other times, she took roles in local theatre productions. And as soon as I graduated high school, she formed another band!
For as long as I can remember, my mother had multiple streams of income: her steady 9-to-5 and her entrepreneurial endeavors.
Yet—much to my chagrin—I never viewed her as an entrepreneur.
As a result, I didn’t immediately recognize how what I’d now call her “practical creativity” shaped the way I approach building and growing my own business.
Recognizing this oversight within my own family made me reflect on the legacy of Black entrepreneurship and how it is often hidden in plain sight.
Black Entrepreneurship Through History
Reconstruction Era (1865-1877): Right after emancipation, many formerly enslaved people turned to entrepreneurship as a means of gaining independence. They opened barbershops, beauty salons, tailoring businesses, restaurants, and small farms. These businesses were often the backbone of Black communities, providing both economic support and safe spaces in a segregated society.
The Rise of Black Wall Streets: By the late 19th and early 20th centuries, thriving Black business districts emerged in cities like Tulsa (Greenwood District), Durham (Hayti), Chicago (Bronzeville), and Richmond (Jackson Ward). These areas were home to banks, insurance companies, newspapers, and retail stores, all owned and operated by Black entrepreneurs.
I once heard someone describe these areas as “segregated prosperity.” I find myself leaning into this fact whenever the modern-day media narrative would have you and I believe that Black Americans are deficient in some way.
Madam C.J. Walker and Beyond: Madam C.J. Walker’s success in the early 1900s is one of the most famous examples, but she was part of a larger wave of Black entrepreneurs, including A.G. Gaston, who built a business empire in Alabama, and the founders of institutions like the North Carolina Mutual Life Insurance Company.
Black Entrepreneurship in the 21st Century: This legacy of demonstrating incredible resilience and innovation, building businesses and creating economic opportunities continues today in dynamic, expansive ways.
Take Rihanna, for example. While many know her as a global music icon, her entrepreneurial ventures—like Fenty Beauty and Savage X Fenty—have redefined what it means to build a brand rooted in both cultural influence and financial success. Fenty Beauty’s commitment to inclusive beauty, offering 40+ foundation shades, disrupted an industry that historically overlooked diverse skin tones. But beyond the products, Rihanna’s business acumen demonstrates the same “practical creativity” my mother embodied—leveraging her talents, seizing opportunities, and creating something that resonates far beyond herself.
Her journey mirrors the entrepreneurial spirit woven through Black history: identifying gaps, meeting unmet needs, and using business as a form of self-expression and empowerment. Whether through a barbershop in the 1900s or a billion-dollar beauty brand today, the thread remains the same.
However, Rihanna is just one example of a new wave of Black innovators disrupting industries—from tech founders to social entrepreneurs who are creating businesses with a focus on community impact.
Necessity and Innovation
While today’s entrepreneurs may face different challenges than those of the past, the driving force remains the same: turning necessity into innovation.
Segregation and discrimination often barred Black Americans from accessing certain services or products, so they created their own. This necessity-driven innovation is a hallmark of Black entrepreneurship, from the early days post-slavery to today’s tech and creative industries.
Navigating uncertainty is nothing new to any of us; this is especially true for Black Americans.
And sometimes, we need to revisit the timeline of Black American history to remember that entrepreneurship has been a constant thread in our history—helping us navigate the uncertainty we encounter as individuals, families, and a community.
More specifically, we need to remember how entrepreneurship has served as both an economic engine and a form of resistance against systemic oppression.
It’s Who We Are
As we kick-off Black History Month, I am remembering how entrepreneurship is built into my DNA.
Entrepreneurship is about creating opportunities where none exist, turning skills into income, and navigating systems that weren’t designed with us in mind.
This practical creativity, this ability to adapt and diversify, is part of the entrepreneurial legacy that runs through Black history—and continues to shape how we innovate, lead, and thrive today. It’s in the stories of street vendors who became shop owners, artists who turned passion into profession, and everyday people who juggled multiple hustles to secure their families’ futures.
And here’s the thing: this isn’t just about economic survival; it’s about agency.
Entrepreneurship has been a way for Black Americans to reclaim power—over our time, our talents, and our financial outcomes. It’s not just what we do; in many ways, it’s who we are.
When I think about my own business journey, I’m humbled. Despite how it may feel at times, I’m not starting from scratch—I’m building on the foundation my mother laid, and she was building on the foundation of generations before her.
Black entrepreneurship isn’t new nor is it a trend. It’s a tradition.
One that deserves to be honored, remembered, and celebrated—not just during Black History Month, but every day.
It’s not just our history—it’s our inheritance.
