Explore the crucial role of unity in forging a resilient and promising future for communities worldwide.
As we approach the 2nd Annual Boosting Black Business Luncheon and Awards, sponsored by Anika Porter, Black excellence and business take center stage. Supporting and boosting Black-owned businesses is essential for the survival and prosperity of the Black community, as well as the sustainability of these enterprises themselves. Historically, Black communities like Tulsa, Oklahoma’s Black Wall Street and Wilmington, North Carolina, demonstrated the transformative power of economic self-sufficiency. These communities not only thrived economically but also fostered innovation, education, and empowerment within the Black population.
The Legacy of Black Wall Street and Wilmington
In the early 20th century, Black Wall Street in Tulsa was home to over 600 thriving businesses, including banks, schools, and hospitals. Similarly, Wilmington was a vibrant hub for Black professionals, entrepreneurs, and civic leaders in the late 19th century. These communities circulated Black dollars internally, often up to 36 times before leaving, fostering wealth and stability. However, systemic racism, white supremacist violence, and policies like urban renewal devastated these thriving ecosystems. It doesn’t have to just remain conversations of legacy, nor mere hope. St. Louis can and is currently experiencing an awakening with young African-American visionaries like Kingsway East Development’s, CEO Kevin Bryant who is reshaping Delmar at its infamous north/south divide at Delmar. People like Farrakhan Shegog and his efforts to restore our own Black Wall Street along the Wellston and Dr. King Drive corridor and so many other great committed women and men that provide every source and tool to build a legacy that our children will someday recite and Anika Porter one the quiet catalysts that’s helping to usher in a spirit of cooperation and collaboration.
The Economic Power of Black Spending
Today, Black Americans contribute over $1.6 trillion to the U.S. economy annually, yet only a fraction of that wealth circulates within Black-owned businesses. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, there are over 140,000 Black-owned businesses nationwide. However, in the St. Louis Metropolitan area, Black-owned businesses remain underrepresented, despite the city’s rich Black heritage.
Integration’s Complex Legacy
While integration brought new opportunities, it also diluted the circulation of Black dollars within Black communities, weakening the financial backbone of Black-owned businesses and institutions. This inverse relationship highlights the urgent need to support Black entrepreneurship to rebuild collective wealth and community resilience.
A Call to Action
As Malcolm X poignantly stated, “You can’t put a weak link of a chain together with a strong link and expect it to uphold the strain.” Strengthening the Black community’s social, political, and economic links is essential for achieving equity in a broader society. It begins with intentional support: shopping Black-owned, creating collaborative partnerships, and celebrating achievements like those highlighted by Anika Porter’s Boosting Blacks Business Brunch and Awards.
Building a Brighter Future
Reinvesting in Black businesses and communities isn’t just a moral imperative—it’s a practical pathway to equity. A vibrant, thriving Black community benefits everyone, creating a more dynamic and inclusive economy. While support from allies is invaluable, the responsibility to lead this movement lies within the community itself. By circulating wealth, fostering collaboration, and celebrating success, Black America can rebuild the strong, self-sufficient foundations exemplified by its historic predecessors. Do your part today, support a Black business!
#UnityForSurvival #CommunityStrength #ResilientFuture
