Being homeless is not the end of the world, as this man can attest. Jimelle Levon of Columbus, Ohio, has built his own fashion firm from the ground up. “Me and my mother lived in a shelter before, when I was in fifth grade. From there on, once I hit sixth grade, I was always […] More
Pop Pop was aware of the task! A grandfather lent his whole support to his granddaughter’s fledgling hair salon. A’lea Lynn, 21, with the social media handle @Aleaweea, recently took to her pages to share the progress she’s been making with her growing hair company. She routinely produces video content to showcase her hair skills, […] More
The tale of Rev. William Washington Browne, a former Georgia slave who formed the first-ever Black-owned bank in America, is told in the history of The Savings Bank of the Grand Fountain United Order of True Reformers. The bank, which was founded in 1888, opened with more than $1,269 in deposits on the first day. […] More
Some people are extraordinary, demonstrating that they are not ordinary. One of these persons is Thomas A. Moorehead. He was the first African-American to own an ultra-luxury Rolls-Royce dealership in America as of 2018. This is a remarkable achievement because a Rolls-Royce may cost anywhere from $250,000 to $550,000, depending on the model and features, […] More
Mr. Fatburger started in 1952 by Lovie Yancey and a co-investor on Western Avenue in South Central, Los Angeles, near Exposition Park. Yancey had previously owned and run a business in Tucson and wanted to broaden her horizons. In 1947, Yancey and her daughter had moved to Los Angeles for the first time. Despite apparent discrimination and segregation, Lovie Yancey founded one of the most successful African-American burger franchises and represented the true entrepreneurial spirit that many Blacks at the time possessed. The first Fatburger stand was described as a post-World War II diner with three bar stools in front. Her business partner is believed to have worked in construction and built the Fatburger stand out of scrap metal. Years later, Yancey divorced her partner and wanted to drop the label. As a result, Fatburger was born. Yancey was a frequent presence at the burger stand, working 16-hour hours on occasion to ensure that everything went smoothly and that the burgers were cooked properly. Eventually, Yancey opened a second site on La Cienega Boulevard in Beverly Hills. Red Foxx and Ray Charles were among the celebrities who frequented the venue. The Texas native sold Fatburger’s rights to a group of investors in 1990, but kept control of the original Western site. In 2007, she eventually sold the house. One of the terms of the initial Fatburger property purchase was that it could never be demolished. More
Roots Hair & Beauty has made history by becoming Nashville’s first Black-owned beauty supply store. Until recently, this area lacked a Black-owned beauty supply store, despite the fact that these stores cater mostly to African American women. “We are proud to be the first, and hopefully we will not be the last,” says Sam Tisdale, […] More
After being diagnosed with breast cancer in 2015, Dianne Austin, the CEO, and co-founder of Coils to Locs had the idea to launch her own wig brand. “The journey started with me trying to find a wig that looked like my tightly coiled curly kinky hair and using my health insurance to get reimbursed for […] More
A Black-owned coffee shop in Pennsylvania is seeking new ways to manage its business after gaining community support to keep the unique, community-minded facility open despite the coronavirus pandemic’s ongoing hurdles. Blew Kind, the shop’s owner, first launched Franny Lou’s Porch in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in April 2005, with a “radical purpose” of community love and […] More
Another tiny investment by LeBron James and his business associates has turned into a fortune. According to ESPN, a $1 million investment made by James, his business partner Maverick Carter, and financial consultant Paul Wachter of Main Street Advisors in upstart fast-casual restaurant Blaze Pizza in 2012 has grown to $25 million. Blaze Pizza verified […] More
Netflix has recently found success in the docusoap genre, with successes like Selling Sunset and Bling Empire, and it doesn’t appear that they plan to stop anytime soon. According to a recent statement, Selling Sunset creator Adam DiVello is working on a real estate series set in the Tampa Bay area with an all-Black cast. […] More
At Chicago’s first Black-owned urgent care center, the pandemic is keeping doctors busy. Doctors are already discussing expanding a year and a half after the clinic first opened. Premier Urgent Care in Chicago’s Hyde Park neighborhood isn’t just surviving; it’s prospering, as doctors continue to fill the South Side’s healthcare deficit. They’ve had some success, […] More
