How Systemic Barriers, Not Creativity, Impact Black Business Growth
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| (C) Copyright nZinga E. Austin |
By Kamau Austin
I sometimes hear people — sometimes even Black people — complain that there is a lack of creativity in Black businesses. This is shocking, given that so many creative cultural achievements in the U.S., like jazz and hip hop, are artistic innovations that sprang from Black communities.
However, some claim that the lack of successful Black businesses is due to a lack of creativity. I’m a contrarian in this regard.
As the owner of a media company that has covered and written about over 5,350 Black businesses, cultural institutions, community organizations, and events in Southeast Queens and globally through my news blogs, I can say without hesitation: there is plenty of creativity, brilliance, and determination among Black businesses.
I’ve seen Black entrepreneurs create more innovative tech platforms than many mainstream legacy sites (for example: Fanbase, B1, and BlaqSBI). I've seen all kinds of Black-owned apps and amazing educational technology developed for our children.
The real problem is that owning businesses, real estate, and making investments are the primary ways to create multigenerational wealth — and unfortunately, Black entrepreneurs are systemically marginalized from accessing capital, securing large contracts with governments or corporations, and, as Dr. Claude Anderson states, are "boycotted by white people and companies" far too often.
