For the last 16 years, states, cities, and counties all over the nation have been celebrating and recognizing black-owned businesses and organizations in the month of August. Originally founded in 2004 by Frederick E. Jordan and John William Templeton, National Black Business Month is an annual 31-day observance that was initiated to “to drive the policy agenda affecting the 2.6 million African American businesses.”
According to a number of news outlets, the Washington D.C. — Baltimore region is frequently ranked as one of the top ten states and/or cities to own a black business. This great distinction for our community is based on a number of factors such as the number of black-owned businesses per capita and the number of people they employ.
Statistically speaking, in Maryland, there are currently close to 7,000 black-owned businesses that employ nearly 65,000 people. In Virginia, there are currently close to 6,000 black-owned businesses that employ nearly 60,000 people. These numbers are a great encouragement to the future of black-owned businesses in the DC Metro region contributing to the roughly $150 billion in gross income generated by the 2.6 million black-owned businesses nationwide.
By supporting these businesses, we recognize the importance of their impact on the local economy. From patronizing a local coffee shop to mentoring up-and-coming business owners and entrepreneurs, there are countless ways you can celebrate the accomplishments of these businesses in your community. To learn more about the 31 ways you can celebrate, visit the official Black Business Month website at http://blackbusinessmonth.com/ and use the handle #NationalBlackBusinessMonth on your social networks to help spread the word.
You can also visit the following sites to businesses you can support within your local community.