Black American entrepreneurs you did not find out about in US historical past class

There’s tons of sources detailing the histories of Black entrepreneurs all through historical past. A couple of amongst them:

Paul Cuffee (1759-1817): Along with his older brother in legislation, he established a delivery enterprise within the late 1700s. Cuffee turned one of many richest folks of colour within the nation and used his earnings to assist create a smallpox hospital, an built-in faculty.

Biddy Mason (1818-1891): Mason was a former slave turned Los Angeles actual property investor who used her wealth to develop into a philanthropist. Even with out studying to learn or write, she made “sound investment decisions” and bought her first property at 48 years previous.

Isaac Myers (1835-1891): This Baltimore businessman created one of many first African American commerce unions for ship caulkers.

Madam C.J. Walker (1867-1919): After making a living doing laundry and dealing as a prepare dinner, Walker labored for Annie Malone as a gross sales agent for her hair merchandise. She then launched personal magnificence and hair line to huge success, turning into “one of many wealthiest African American girls of her time.” Walker is credited for being the primary self-made Black lady millionaire, although some disagree that financier Mary Ellen Pleasant made it to $1 million earlier than her.

Annie Malone (1869-1957): The daughter of previously enslaved dad and mom, she turned a pioneer of the Black cosmetics business, forming her personal magnificence and hair care firm. She additionally based cosmetology faculty Poro College in St. Louis, Missouri in 1902. Malone can also be one of many first Black American lady millionaires.

Frederick Douglas Patterson (1871-1932): Patterson, an Ohio businessman, was the primary Black American to create a automobile manufacturing firm.

Charles Clinton Spaulding (1874-1952): This North Carolina resident led North Carolina Mutual, one of many first Black-led US mutual funds and largest Black-owned insurance coverage firm on the time.

Marie Van Brittan Brown (1922-1999): This New Yorker was the inventor of the primary residence safety system and closed-circuit tv.

Others embrace the aforementioned Mary Ellen Nice, businessman Jeremiah Hamilton, writer John Johnson, philanthropist Reginald Lewis — the record goes on.