In 1976, Gerald Ford proclaimed Black History Month would be recognized throughout the United States. During that announcement, he stated, "In celebrating Black History Month, we can seize the opportunity to honor the too-often neglected accomplishments of black Americans in every area of endeavor throughout our history."
In order to commit to the future of inclusion, we must also look at the past. In honor of Black History Month, we want to shed light on some of the exceptional black leaders in business and entrepreneurship that came before us.
1. William Liedesdorff: Liedesdorff, born in 1810, was known for his business in trade and real estate. He is said to have built the first hotel in San Francisco and is also considered a founder of the infamous city. He is said to be the first millionaire of black descent in America.
2. Madam C.J. Walker: Born in Louisiana in 1967, Madam C.J. Walker was able to build a hair-care empire. She developed the "Walker System"- which centered around the health of the individual rather than just their hair. The Walker system allowed her to stand out from her competition to accomplish her success. Walker was well known for donating her fortune to charity. She founded scholarships through the Tuskegee Institute, contributed to the NAACP, and encouraged those around her to give back themselves.
3. Annie Malone: Annie Malone, born in 1869, was a chemist and entrepreneur who created hair care and cosmetics for black women in St. Louis. This business would eventually make her a millionaire. This success would not come without hardships. Because Malone was black, she was unable to distribute her products like most other cosmetic companies. She instead sold her products door to-door. Malone would go on to give most of her money to charity. She established Poor College, which was a cosmetology school to help the advancement of black women. She also donated a great deal of her fortune to The St. Louis Orphans Home. The orphanage would later be re-named the Annie Malone Children and Family Services Center.
4. Oprah Winfrey: Born in 1954, Oprah was able to call herself a millionaire by the age of 32 after the success of "The Oprah Winfrey Show". She was able to purchase her own production company and continue to build her empire. By 2003, Oprah became the first black woman billionaire, an accomplishment that would contribute to the development of OWN, the Oprah Winfrey Network. Winfrey created the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy in South American- an organization that helps disadvantaged, young women to lead successful lives.
5. Dr. Carter G. Woodson: The last notable individual, but certainly not the least, was not a businessman or entrepreneur. However, he played an incredible role in Black History Month. While attending Harvard, Woodson discovered how under-represented black history was. So, he set himself on a course to change that. In doing so, he would inevitably be responsible for the creation of Black History Month.
Promo Key's Commitment:
“Now, more than ever, organizations have been asked to take a stand against intolerance and injustice. Promo key is committed to long-lasting education for its employees and dedicated to providing an inclusive environment for all."
Promo Key LLC. wants to work with you to create the right products for your brand. Whatever message you want to send - we want to work with you to deliver it to your customers."