As a worker at My Blue Heaven, I am often aware of the pride we take in being a soul-food restaurant. Many of the customers come from Enon Tabernacle Church on Cheltenham Avenue where other blacks support us. But how can you win as a black business when Chipotle, ChicFilA, and Panda Express are up the street? The Washington Monthly has addressed the role of market concentration in oppressing local economies in depth where John Sibley Butler expresses that “small enterprises,could not compete with the expansion of larger retail chains, shopping malls, and franchises which developed.”  I live in Philadelphia where blacks are constantly taking advantage of the opportunity of becoming an entrepreneurship.  Since 2015, there has been reported to be 2.6 million black owned businesses just within the U.S. But this means that only 2.5% of Philadelphia's businesses are black owned. An astounding population of these entrepreneurs were surveyed where 80% said “lack of capital” was the most challenging aspect of running their business.

 As a result, many black owners are forced to support their own businesses using any source of income they can to keep it as successful as possible. How is it maintained? Is it affected because of the lack of support, government, or both? For a fact, there has been oppression of local economies and suppression of opportunities. As we take an approach to the success of blacks within America, we should also begin to take action on what is necessary for change. As African-Americans often face everyday struggles, one begins with their business.

 A black-owned firm should be treated as any other firm would be treated. 

It’s called racism. It’s called white supremacy. The moment that we are forced to believe that we were incapable to do the impossible, is the moment that society did too. It forecloses every opportunity that could potentially encourage success. 

Specifically, while white and Asian Americans hold one third of their assets in business and financial assets, Hispanics and blacks hold only 15 percent and 8 percent, respectively, of their wealth in these forms. According to the Aspen Institute, one of the reasons that African-American firms seem to decline is because it has been “historically limited by industry sectors and the type of markets in which they operated”. That pattern remains in place, but industry concentrations relate firm growth with white industries. 

Black business continuously helps celebrate black culture and serve the community to a great extent. Black businesses are known to be extremely versatile stretching from skin care, hair care, and makeup, to bars, galleries, and financial firms . On the contrary, It is extremely important to be aware of these different entrepreneurships because it maintains and inclines our knowledge in our own communities!

We rarely hear about the success of blacks unless it is on our own! 

Visit this website to read about 18 inspiring owners!

https://self-made.io/18-of-the-most-awe-inspiring-black-entrepreneurs/9960/2/

Listed below are a few suggestions to some black businesses that are known to supply great service: