African American Business Resources

Celebrating African American Business Leaders: Past, Present and Future

A list of books, journals, handouts, and web sites featured during Black History Month 2001 in an exhibit in the Business Reading Room

Prepared by Angela Wilson and Gail Austin
Business Reference Services. Science, Technology, and Business Division

Books on Display

1. African Americans in business : the path towards empowerment : essays on black entrepreneurship from the African background to the present : 73rd national celebration of Afro-American history / Larry L. Martin, editor-in-chief ... [et al.]. Washington, D.C. : Association for the Study of Afro-American Life and History, Inc., c1998. 2 v. : ill. ; 28 cm.
   LC Call Number: HD2344.5.U6A37 1998
   LC Control Number: 99209689

   This two-volume set contains essays and a learning resource package on Black entrepreneurship from slavery to present day. Volume one contains essays that highlight topics such as Black business activities, leadership, women, corporate America, and future prospects. Access is by table of contents and chapter headings. Volume two is a learning resource package designed to supplement volume one. Part one of volume two contains suggested learning activities and classroom activities accessible by subject sections. Part two of volume two contains teaching strategies and lessons for elementary through secondary levels.

   Table of Contents   |   Catalog record

2. Bocage, Aaron.
   Making money the old-fashioned way : a story of Black entrepreneurship / by Aaron Bocage and George Waters. Camden, NJ (313 Market St., Camden 08102) : EDTEC, Inc., c1997. 110 p. : ill. (some col.), map ; 28 cm
   LC Call Number: HD2344.5.U6B63 1997
   LC Control Number: 98136278

   This volume offers a historical overview of Black entrepreneurs in the United States. It relates the influence of slavery upon the history of Black entrepreneurship, lists important dates in Black business history, and provides information on contemporary Black entrepreneurs and top business firms. Access is by subject. Separate indexes are provided for information on Black youth entrepreneurship and national Black business related organizations in support of entrepreneurship.

   Table of Contents | Catalog record

3. Collins, Sharon M., 1947-
   Black corporate executives : the making and breaking of a black middle class Sharon M. Collins. Philadelphia : Temple University Press, 1997. xv, 196 p. ; 22 cm.
   ISBN 1-56639-473-2 (cloth : alk. paper)
   ISBN 1-56639-474-0 (pbk. : alk. paper)
   Series: Labor and social change
   LC Call Number: HD38.25.U6C65 1997
   LC Control Number: 96010735

   Table of Contents | Index | Catalog record

4. Dingle, Derek T.
   Black enterprise titans of the B.E. 100s : black CEOs who redefined and conquered American business / Derek T. Dingle. New York : J. Wiley, c1999. xvi, 238 p. : ill. ; 24 cm.
   ISBN 0-471-31853-1 (cloth : alk. paper)
   LC Call Number: HD38.25.U6D56 1999
   LC Control Number: 98051031

   Table of Contents   |   Publisher's Description   |   Publisher-supplied Biographical Information   |  
   Catalog record

5. Economic census. Survey of minority-owned business enterprises. Washington, D.C. : U.S. Dept. of Commerce, Bureau of the Census : For sale by Supt. of Docs., U.S. G.P.O.,
   Online edition: 1997
   See also: The State of Minority Business (1997 SMOBE) : An Initial Analysis...
   LC Call Number (1992 edition) : HD2346.U5E269 1996
   LC Call Number: (1997 edition) : HD2346.U5 E269 2001
   LC Control Number (1992 edition): 96141790
   LC Control Number (1997 edition) : 2001330031
   

   Comprehensive survey data on minority businesses. First introduced as special project in 1969 and incorporated into the 1972 Economic Census. Prior to this time, such data on Black business owners was basically nonexistent.

   Catalog record (1992 edition)
   Catalog Record (1997 edition)

6. Encyclopedia of African American business history / edited by Juliet E.K. Walker. Westport, Conn. : Greenwood Press, 1999. xxxi, 721 p. ; 24 cm.
   ISBN 0-313-29549-2 (acid-free paper)
   LC Call Number: HD2344.5.U6E53 1999
   LC Control Number: 98044218

   Table of Contents | Index | Catalog record

7. Etter-Lewis, Gwendolyn.
   My soul is my own : oral narratives of African American women in the professions / Gwendolyn Etter-Lewis. New York : Routledge, 1993. xvii, 213 p. ; 24 cm.
   ISBN 0-415-90559-1 (hard : acid-free paper)
   ISBN 0-415-90560-5 (pbk. : acid-free paper)
   LC Call Number: HD6054.4.U6E88 1993
   LC Control Number: 92039044

   Table of Contents   |   Catalog record

8. Graves, Earl G., 1935-
   How to succeed in business without being white : straight talk on making it in America / Earl G. Graves. New York : HarperBusiness, c1997. xviii, 295 p., [8] p. of plates : ill. ; 24 cm.
   ISBN 0-88730-808-2
   LC Call Number: HF5386.G675 1997
   LC Control Number: 96052510

   Table of Contents   |   Catalog record

9. Haskins, James, 1941
   African American entrepreneurs / Jim Haskins. New York : J. Wiley & Sons, c1998. (Black stars) viii, 184 p. : ill. ; 25 cm.
   ISBN 0-471-14576-9 (cloth : alk. paper)
   LC Call Number: HC102.5.A2H37 1998
   LC Control Number: 97037389

   Profiles a variety of African American entrepreneurs, from the early years, through the Civil War and Reconstruction, to modern times.

   Table of Contents   |   Publisher's Description   |   Publisher-supplied Biographical Information   |  
   Catalog record

10. Hunt, Martin K.
    History of black business : the coming of America's largest black-owned businesses / by Martin K. Hunt and Jacqueline E. Hunt. Chicago, Ill. : Knowledge Express Co. c1998. 270 p. : ill. ; 24 cm.
    ISBN 0-9665221-0-9
    LC Call Number: HD2344.5.U6H86 1998
    LC Control Number: 99094225

    Table of Contents   |   Catalog record

11. Ingham, John N.
    African-American business leaders : a biographical dictionary / John N. Ingham and Lynne B. Feldman. Westport, Conn. : Greenwood Press, c1994. xiv, 806 p. ; 25 cm.
    ISBN 0-313-27253-0 (alk. paper)
    LC Call Number: HC102.5.A2I52 1994
    LC Control Number: 93020430

    This collection contains the comprehensive biographies of 123 African American business leaders in seventy-seven separate biographical entries. Focus is placed on the most historically significant Black business leaders from America's early period to present day. Each biography highlights the relevant cultural, economic, and social issues faced by each leader. Access is by alphabetical order and index. Also provided are appendixes listing place of birth, principle place of business, type of business, and women business leaders. A bibliographic essay is also provided.

    Table of Contents   |   Catalog record

12. Kranz, Rachel.
    Biographical dictionary of African Americans / Rachel Kranz and Philip J. Koslow. New York : Facts on File, c1999. x, 310 p. : ill. ; 29 cm.
    ISBN 0-8160-3903-8 (acid-free paper);
    ISBN 0-8160-3904-6 (pbk. : acid-free paper)
    LC Call Number: E185.96.K73 1998
    LC Control Number: 98012355

    Table of Contents   |   Catalog record

13. Leadership / by the editors of Time-Life Books. Alexandria, Va. : Time-Life Books, 1994. (African Americans, voices of triumph) 256 p. : ill. (some col.) ; 27 cm.
    ISBN 0-7835-2254-1 (trade);
    ISBN 0-7835-2255-X (lib. bdg.)
    Series: African Americans, voices of triumph
    LC Call Number: E185.A2585 1994
    LC Control Number: 93021147

    Table of Contents   |   Catalog record

14. Lewis, Reginald F., 1942-1993.
    Why should white guys have all the fun? : how Reginald Lewis created a billion-dollar business empire / Reginald F. Lewis and Blair S. Walker. New York : Wiley, c1995. xvii, 318 p., [16] p. of plates : ill. ; 24 cm.
    ISBN 0-471-04227-7 (acid-free paper)
    LC Call Number: HC102.5.L493A3 1995
    LC Control Number: 94017864

    Table of Contents   |   Publisher's Description   |   Publisher-supplied Biographical Information   |  
    Catalog record

15. Oak, Vishnu Vitthal, 1900-
    The Negro's adventure in general business, by Vishnu V. Oak. Westport, Conn., Negro Universities Press [1970, c1949] 223 p. 23 cm.
    LC Call Number: E185.8.O22
    LC Control Number: 79100311

    Note: Reprint of v. 2 of the author's The Negro entrepreneur. (1949)

    Table of Contents   |   Catalog record

16. Rediger, Pat, 1966-
    Great African Americans in business / Pat Rediger. New York, N.Y., U.S.A. : Crabtree Pub. Co., c1996. 64 p. : ill. (some col.) ; 26 cm.
    ISBN 0-86505-803-2;
    ISBN 0-86505-817-2 (pbk.)
    Series: Outstanding African Americans
    LC Call Number: HC102.5.A2R35 1996
    LC Control Number: 95024879

    Examines the lives of more than ten African American men and women, including Oprah Winfrey, Don Cornelius, and Naomi Sims, with the obstacles they each overcame.

    Table of Contents   |   Catalog record

17. Rennert, Richard Scott, 1956-
    Facts and trivia : 325 questions drawn from the expertise of Harvard's Du Bois Institute / R.S. Rennert. New York : Chelsea House Publishers, c1995. 63 p. : ill. ; 21 cm.
    ISBN 0-7910-3211-6;
    ISBN 0-7910-3212-4 (pbk.)
    Series: African American answer book
    LC Call Number: E185.A252 1995
    LC Control Number: 94030203

    Table of Contents   |   Catalog record

18. RFL, Reginald F. Lewis : a tribute / edited by Elliott Wiley. New York : Bookmark Publishing Corp., 1994. ix, 210 p. : ill. (some col.) ; 24 cm.
    LC Call Number: HC102.5.L493R45 1994
    Lc Control Number: 94184058

    Table of Contents   |   Catalog record

19. Simms' blue book and national Negro business and professional directory. [Cleveland, Gordon Pub. Co.] 1977- v. ill. 25 cm.
    LC Call Number: E185.82.S592
    LC Control Number: 78643543

    Catalog record

20. Sims, Naomi, 1949-
    All about hair care for the black woman / Naomi Sims ; illustrated by Charles Bisaquino. Garden City, N.Y. : Doubleday, 1982. viii, 212 p. : ill. ; 26 cm.
    ISBN 0-385-14819-4
    LC Call Number: TT972.S53 1982
    LC Control Number: 79006654

    Entrepreneur and author Naomi Sims, one of the first black supermodels to achieve international recognition, went on to establish a major wig collection and cosmetic business focused on the black woman. She also authored several books on health and beauty, including this one on hair care for the black woman.

    Table of Contents   |   Catalog record

21. Smallwood, David.
    Profiles of great African Americans / contributing writers, David Smallwood, Stan West, Allison Keyes. Lincolnwood, IL : Publications International, c1996. 216 p. : ill. (some col.) ; 26 cm.
    ISBN 0-7853-1983-2
    LC Call Number: E185.96.S63 1996
    LC Control Number: 96069536

    Catalog record

22. Taylor, Susan L.
    In the Spirit : the inspirational writings / of Susan L. Taylor. New York : Amistad, c1993. 110 p. : ill. ; 21 cm.
    ISBN 1-56743-032-5
    LC Call Number: BL624.T395 1993
    LC Control Number: 93014450

    Table of Contents   |   Catalog record

23. Walker, Juliet E. K., 1940-
    Free Frank : a Black pioneer on the antebellum frontier / Juliet E.K. Walker. Lexington, Ky. : University Press of Kentucky, c1983. xii, 223 p. : ill. ; 24 cm.
    ISBN 0-8131-1472
    LC Call Number: F460.N4F728 1983
    LC Control Number: 82040181

    Discusses one of the earliest pioneers of Black entrepreneurship.

    Table of Contents    |    Index    |    Catalog record

Journals on display

• Black Enterprise

  January 2001 - On the cover are Johnnie Cochran, Vanessa L. Williams, Star Jones. Article by Monique Brown and Mark Wright on the rich and famous and their investment secrets pages 86-93.

  December 2000 - Featured on the cover is Antonio 'L.A.' Reid, CEO of Arista Records, the music industry's highest ranking Black executive. Article "The New King of Pop" by Sakina Spruell on pages 94-104.

  September 2000 -On cover E. Stanley O'Neal of Merrill Lynch, BE's Corporate Executive of the Year is one of the highest paid and most powerful Blacks in corporate America. Article "Running With the Bulls" by Robin D. Clarke on pages 83-90.

  August 2000 - On cover "Fast Forward - 30 Leaders For the Future" . Article "30 for the next 30" by Sonja Brown Stokely on pages 179- 188 and features rising newcomers like James Winters, age 39, CEO of United Energy Inc., and Mellody Hobson, age 31, President, Ariel Capital Management.

• Ebony

  May 2000 - Article on Cathy Hughes entitled "Ms. Radio, most powerful woman in the industry" by Lynn Norment begins on pages 100-108.

  January 2000 - "New Faces in Executive Suites" by Lynn Norment begins on page 42- 48 and profiles 28 African American business leaders such as A. Barry Rand , Chairman/CEO Avis Rent A Car; Franklin Raines, Chairman/CEO Fannie Mae; and Brend J. Gaines, President of Citicorp Diner Club North America, a division of Citigroup.

  January 1998 - Article "Twelve Most Powerful Blacks in Corporate America" by Lynn Norment, pages 36-44 includes Lloyd G. Trotter, President/CEO General Electric's Electrical Distribution and Control; Carl Ware, President Coca-Cola Company's Africa Group; and Michele Hooper, President International Business Group of Caremark International.

• Fortune

  January 22, 2001 - Featured on the cover is Ken Chenault "New Man In Charge" at American Express. Article "What's in the Cards for Amex" by Nelson Schwartz on pages 58-70.

• Inc.

  May 2000 - On cover are brothers Vincent and Vernon Austin whose VA Construction is #25 on the "Inner City 100" list of growing companies. Snapshot profile of them done by Karen Dillon is on page 130.

• Newsweek

  January 8, 2001 - Featured on the cover is Oprah Winfrey. "Special Report: Women of the New Century, Oprah on Oprah" by Lynette Clemetson on pages 38-48.

Handouts

• Celebrating African American Business Leaders [Items on Display]

  A listing of the books, journals, and other items on the display. [i.e., this guide]

• Celebrating African American Business Leaders: Selected Titles

  A selected list of pertinent books on African Americans in business.

• Entrepreneurial Web Resources

  An annotated list of selected web resources for African American business.

• Statistical Resources on African Americans

  A listing of statistical compendia on African Americans.

Selected Websites

• Printout of the Census Bureau's "Black Population in the U.S." web page.
  http://www.census.gov/population/www/socdemo/race/black.html

  Provides links to the Current Population Surveys, statistical briefs, the 1990 Census, race and ethnicity classifications, and related topics.

• Printout of the Census Bureau's "Minority Links" web page. http://www.census.gov/pubinfo/www/NEWafamML1.html

  Provides links to facts on the Black/African American Population on Census 2000, social and economic characteristics, news releases, and other Minority links.

• 20th Century Great American Business Leaders Database

  Select "Ethnicity" to locate black or African-American business leaders

• Photocopy of Black Enterprise article "Virtual Communities", October 2000, pp. 157-164. http://www.blackenterprise.com (Search under Archives)

  Discusses the top African American web sites covering business, politics, culture, etc.