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Black Women in Business: A Celebration of Tenacity, Triumph, and Transformation

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Photo: Veteran journalist and publisher Cheryl Smith has been a powerful voice in Black media for over four decades. A Florida A&M alum, Smith is founder of I Messenger Enterprises, publisher of Texas Metro News, Garland Journal, and I Messenger. From The Dallas Weekly to KKDA-AM, she’s shaped news, mentored youth, and championed community causes. A trailblazer, educator, and award-winning leader, Smith continues to uplift voices and inspire change in North Texas and beyond.

(WASHINGTON, DC – July 24, 2025) – Across boardrooms, storefronts, and startup spaces nationwide, Black women are rewriting the story of American entrepreneurship. They are not just participating—they are leading. With nearly 2.7 million Black women-owned businesses across the United States, generating over $60 billion in annual revenue, these trailblazers are pushing past obstacles and creating new paths of possibility.

At BlackUSA.News, we celebrate these women not only for their bold business ventures, but for the powerful statement they make every single day: We will not be denied.

The Fastest Growing Force in Business

From 2014 to 2019, the number of businesses owned by Black women grew by 50%—the highest growth rate of any female demographic. Black women now make up 42% of all new women-owned businesses and represent 36% of all Black employers. This is no small feat; it is a revolution.

This surge is more than a trend—it’s a testament to vision, resilience, and grit. Whether launching a beauty brand, building a tech company, founding a nonprofit, or running a food truck, Black women are stepping into their power and redefining success on their own terms.

Courage in the Face of Challenges

The road to entrepreneurship is rarely smooth—and for Black women, the path is often filled with barriers that others never encounter. Discriminatory lending practices, lack of access to venture capital, and systemic economic inequalities persist. Nearly two-thirds of Black women entrepreneurs self-fund their businesses, despite having less generational wealth or household income compared to their white counterparts.

And yet—they rise.

Even as fewer than 3% of Black women-owned businesses reach the five-year mark, this community of innovators continues to build, to dream, and to rise above the statistics. They juggle caregiving, full-time jobs, and community commitments—often working double-time just to stay in the game.

Their businesses may be born out of necessity, but they are driven by purpose. And that purpose is reshaping industries and communities.

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The Legacy Continues

From the legacy of Madam C.J. Walker, the first self-made Black woman millionaire, to modern moguls like Oprah Winfrey, Janice Bryant Howroyd, Cathy Hughes, and Beyoncé Knowles-Carter, Black women have long shown what’s possible when brilliance meets opportunity.

And today, new names are being etched into that legacy. Names like Rosalind Brewer, CEO of Walgreens Boots Alliance. Sheena Allen, fintech founder. Melissa Butler, creator of The Lip Bar. Pinky Cole, founder of Slutty Vegan. The list grows by the day—and every name represents a story of perseverance and power.

A Call to Action

It’s not enough to applaud Black women from the sidelines—we must invest in them, mentor them, partner with them, and amplify their work. The financial community, government agencies, and private institutions all have a role to play in eliminating structural inequities and providing real access to capital, networks, and growth opportunities.

As JPMorgan Chase’s Tosh Ernest puts it: “Black women are positioned to play an increasingly visible and important role in the United States’ future like never before.”

We at BlackUSA.News believe that future is already here. It’s being built every day by women who defy the odds, uplift their communities, and turn vision into value. They are not just surviving—they are thriving. And we’re proud to tell their stories.

In Their Honor

To every Black woman entrepreneur grinding before dawn, balancing motherhood with market research, transforming a side hustle into a legacy—we see you. We salute you. We celebrate you.

Because when Black women rise, we all rise.

🖤 For more stories like this, visit www.BlackUSA.News —where Black voices lead the narrative.

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Business

My ancestors were full-blooded Indians … until the census said otherwise

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2 weeks ago

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August 17, 2025

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(OKLAHOMA – August 17, 2025) – When I first started researching my family’s genealogy, I thought I was just going to fill in a few blanks.
Instead, I uncovered a lie so deep, so systematic, it reshaped everything I thought I knew about who we are as a people.

I want to show you something personal.

Below, you’ll see two official U.S. government records—both documenting one of my direct ancestors. Thomas Jefferson Adams Harjo.

Creek Nation certificate

Creek Nation certificate

📜 The first is from the Dawes Roll, the federal list created in the early 1900s to register members of the Five Civilized Tribes.

As you’ll see, my ancestor is listed as a Full-Blood Indian—a clear acknowledgment of their tribal heritage and cultural identity.

1900 US Census

But then, take a look at the second image:

📄 That’s the federal census record from just a few years later.
Same ancestor.
Same location.
But this time, the government marked them as Negro.

No tribe. No Indian classification.
Just folded into the general Black population—without consent, without explanation.

That wasn’t a mistake.
That was paper genocide.

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This is what happened to millions of Indigenous Black Americans across the South.
Their identities were stripped away on paper—one document at a time—by a system designed to erase, absorb, and exploit.

This wasn’t just about racism. It was about land, power, and control.

By reclassifying tribal people as Negro or Colored, the government could:

  • Deny them land rights

  • Remove them from tribal rolls

  • Steal their inheritance

  • And make sure future generations never knew who they really were

This is why so many of our elders say, “My grandma said we had Indian in us.”
They weren’t lying.
They just didn’t have the tools to prove it.

Now we do.

And I’m not showing you this to just share my story—I’m showing you because this might be your story, too.

If you’re ready to go deeper, tomorrow I’m going to pull back the curtain on how far this went—how the reclassification of Black Indians was not an exception, but the rule across the Southeast.

You’re not crazy.
You’re not reaching.
You’re remembering.

—Mike
Founder, Native Black Ancestry

 

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Business

SHOPPE: Olympic Gold Medalist Dominique Dawes Is Building a Business Empire

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2 weeks ago

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August 12, 2025

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From a single Maryland facility to three locations and now two more opening in 2025, Dominique Dawes is scaling her gymnastics academy with a goal of 50 nationwide.

Her blend of elite training and a positive, family-focused culture is making waves in the $30 billion youth sports industry.
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Business

Black Chamber Profile: Dallas Black Chamber of Commerce (DBCC)

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3 weeks ago

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August 8, 2025

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“Constructive Leadership Since 1926”
The Oldest Black Chamber in America. Period.

(DALLAS, TX – August 8, 2025) – When we talk about legacy, we start in Dallas.

Founded in 1926, the Dallas Black Chamber of Commerce (DBCC) stands as the first Black chamber of commerce in the United States. Nearly a century later, it remains a pillar of power, progress, and purpose—leading the charge for economic equity across North Texas.

With nearly 100 years of constructive leadership, the DBCC has been more than just an organization—it has been a movement. A movement rooted in advocacy, access, and accountability. Whether pushing policy, elevating Black entrepreneurs, or creating pipelines to capital and contracts, DBCC has consistently shown the nation what real Black business leadership looks like.

Mission in Motion

The Chamber’s mission is clear: To advocate for the creation, growth, and general welfare of Black-owned businesses and organizations across North Texas. Through strategic referrals, public-private partnerships, educational seminars, technical assistance, and marketing, the DBCC is building a thriving ecosystem for Black excellence.

Its core areas of impact include:

  • Economic Development

  • Education

  • Convention/Tourism

  • Special Projects & Initiatives

A Legacy of Leadership

At the helm is President & CEO Harrison Blair, a third-generation community advocate whose leadership is deeply rooted in Dallas soil. The grandson of the legendary Bill Blair and son of Jordan Blair, Harrison continues the family’s commitment to uplifting the city through economic development, civic engagement, and business empowerment.

Under his leadership—and with Chairwoman Shenna Thomas and the Chamber’s dedicated board—DBCC continues to evolve as a force in local and statewide business circles. Blair also represents the Chamber on the North Texas Commission and the Texas Association of African American Chambers of Commerce, ensuring Black business has a seat at every major table.

Why DBCC Still Leads

What started in 1926 has now expanded into a robust engine for Black business across Dallas and beyond. Whether you’re an emerging entrepreneur or an established executive, DBCC offers the access, advocacy, and allyship needed to grow and thrive.

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Because when Dallas moves, Black business moves.
And when Black business wins, Dallas wins.

🖥️ Learn more or become a member at dallasblackchamber.org
📍 North Texas and nationwide influence
📞 Contact: (214) 421-5200

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