In 2004, there were 9,188 black self-employed in Arkansas, 4.34% of the wage and salary earners. That compares with 12.91% of whites who were self-employed. To achieve parity, Arkansas policy makers would need to encourage another 18,110 African-Americans to go into business to reach a level of 27,298 blacks in business there.
By 2006, there were 11,196 black males and 24,841 black women in managerial and professional occupations in Arkansas.
There was $5.4 billion in black aggregate income in Arkansas in 2006 with a median of $17,576 in earnings per worker.
This is the fifth annual observance of a culturally-responsive campaign to increase employment and sales among the more than 1 million African-American owned companies in the United States and to foster trade with black-owned firms throughout the Diaspora on the African continent, the Caribbean and Europe.
Based on the findings of the annual State of Black Business report, National Black Business Month events encourage policy makers to take concrete steps to make their jurisdictions more attractive to black business owners by increasing
-- access to capital
-- promotion of heritage tourism
-- public and private procurement
-- use of cutting edge technologies
-- educational and training opportunities
-- the exposure of black entrepreneurs
We suggest 31 different ways to support black business on each of the 31 days of August.
To organize events in your state, get your copy of Trouble in the Air: State of Black Business 2008 which includes organizing guides. Call for more information 415-240-3537 or email us.</FON
