Successful Black Entrepreneurs

Epilogue

ROBERT BLACKWELL JR. is a Black man described by the Los Angeles Times as “a savvy and successful entrepreneur.”¹ He owns a technology consulting firm, and in 2000, after then–Illinois State Senator Barack Obama lost his bid to become a congressperson, Blackwell hired him. Blackwell's company, EKI-Digital, paid Obama $8,000 per month.

Blackwell has always sought to use his entrepreneurial success to help the Black community. He recently proposed that the federal government should create more jobs for Blacks by supporting Black-owned technology firms. In his presentation, he says, “Try this experiment: name two well-known Black entrepreneurs with no connection to entertainment. If you can't, Black kids trapped in poverty can't, either.”

Fortunately, this book has armed the reader with the ability to pass Blackwell's experiment. There are more than 10 successful Black entrepreneurs included in this book who are not athletes or entertainers.

Another wonderful fact is that these entrepreneurs are in almost every industry imaginable, including technology, finance, real estate, cosmetics, manufacturing, accommodations, and franchising.

They have also gone the entrepreneurial route via every process in the entrepreneurship spectrum. Black entrepreneurs have gained wealth and experienced success by purchasing independent businesses, becoming franchisees and franchisors, and starting companies from nothing.

The contributions that these men and women make to the Black community ...