Ok y'all. Once again, it’s Black History Month, which is a time to celebrate the achievements of African Americans throughout history. But before I get more into the astounding achievements of my people, I just have to say this first: Black History is American History. There is no point in American History without us, so the ongoing segregation of our history pisses me off. The history of my people should be taught and celebrated 365 days a year, as we are the ones whose wealth was extracted to build the foundations of this nation, and we are the ones who have relentlessly pushed to expand democracy for all. So if you haven’t had the chance to read, listen, or watch The 1619 Project by Nikole Hannah-Jones yet - ya betta!
And yet here we are in 2025, still in the white supremacist lie of a constructed society, just as we were in 1926 when National Negro History Week was established, and in 1969 and 1970 when Black History Month was first proposed and practiced. Without the determination of leaders like Carter G. Woodson and the Black United Students of Kent State University, I am certain that the web of status quo holding educational and media institutions of this nation would either never or seldom teach the true history of African Americans, nor of our individual or collective impacts in the creation of the largest, most inclusive democracy in recorded history.
Nevertheless, this Black History Month, as a Black woman and socially responsible small business owner, I have decided to uplift a couple of BAD ASS African American women entrepreneurs who broke oppressive barriers and boundaries! Let’s get into it.
First - let’s talk about Mary Ellen Pleasant. Ok??!? Now she was a true baddie even though you may not have heard her name before. Born in 1814, in the thick of the American slave economy and culture, she became known as the “Mother of Civil Rights of California.” How? She had the vision, audacity, strategy, and cunning to become a businesswoman and philanthropist against all odds. She was instrumental in expanding the Underground Railroad out west, made her way to California during the Gold Rush, supported other women and fugitive slaves by teaching them how to become self-sufficient and set up businesses. She even funded John Brown’s famous revolt in Harper’s Ferry. She dropped $30K on revolution in 1859, YO! I wish I could donate $30K to a cause I truly believed in NOW. Don’t you? She’s one of the very first self-made millionaires of California and of this country! BOSS ASS BABE. IN. TOTAL. CONTROL. of HERSELF. Every resource mobilizer for the racial justice movement needs to know her story. Put. Some. Respect. On. Her. Name!
Second, I want to lift up the legacy of Maggie L. Walker. Born in 1864, she broke barriers upon barriers while living a life of service and organizing with a painful disability. She was a boss B.I.T.C.H. Period. Through organizations like the Order of St. Luke, the National Negro Business League, the NAACP, The Urban League, The National Association of Colored Women, the United Order of the Tents, and more - she had many meaningful and powerful relationships. What I find the most inspiring about her life and legacy though, was her charter of the first Black woman owned bank in the U.S – the St. Luke Penny Savings Bank, AND her creation of the St. Luke’s Herald newspaper. Money + Information Systems = Power! She was a titan in her own right. Imagine what greater impact she could have had without all the systemic racism, sexism, and ableism in her way! I highly recommend reading this Forbes research article for more details about her tremendous life and journey. But from 1903 UNTIL 2005 Y'ALL, the St. Luke Penny Savings Bank - later merged and renamed the Consolidated Bank and Trust Company - served generations of Black folks in the Richmond, VA area. Black Excellence to the Max! Speaking of banks, did you know that these 10 banks are Black owned? Not only are they hugely successful, but they also all have social and racial justice missions of course. Put. Some. Respect. On. Their. Names!
These are just a couple of the many African American women entrepreneurs who have made their mark in business and in history. Their stories are a testament to the ingenuity, resilience, determination, and cooperative values of African Americans! We run this motha, yeah!
All that being shared, I invite you to be intentional about supporting socially responsible, Black-owned businesses this month, and every month. It’s just one small tool in the transformative toolbox towards dismantling racialized capitalism - the horrible, ongoing legacy of American chattel slavery.
Of course, I have a socially responsible, Black woman-owned business, and when you’re ready, I invite you or your organization’s leaders to get on my calendar to consider working with me for strategic planning, executive or sabbatical coaching. My genius zone is in democratically developing strategy and systems with organizations committed to racial, environmental, and democracy justice. Work with me and we gon’ build some power for real. So.....Put. Some. Respect. On. My. Name. Too!
Another tool in the “Black Toolbox of Transformation” is committing to wellness practices. In racialized capitalism, in super capitalism, on the spectrum of our limited to inclusive democracy - the act of oppressed peoples making time to honor our bodies, emotions, thoughts, and spirit is truly revolutionary. It’s everything we’re not supposed to make time to feel, see, or do within and for ourselves and each other. And yet somehow we have always found a way.
With that, I am excited to inform you of a wellness offering designed to build our resilience through these troubling times, and it's an offering brought to you by another socially responsible, Black woman-owned business of course! I invite you to explore Pour into You - a healing, yoga-based retreat specifically for Black Folks, hosted by my friend, comrade, and business partner - Biola Jeje of Mercurial Flow. Not only is Biola a BAD ASS communications and digital strategist, she is also deeply passionate about helping folks shed the trauma and conditioning that comes with dealing with racism and oppression in the United States. We all need some of that support, no?
Put. Some. Respect. On. Her. Name. Once. Again!
I hope by this point, you’ve learned something new and been inspired by all of these examples of Black Business Baddies Breaking Boundaries! I wish you a continued Resilient and Intentional Black History Month …. and Future! Thanks for reading and following our journeys toward liberation.
Your Black Business Baddie Breaking Boundaries,
Nikki M.G. The Power Expert
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