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.

Rhode Island black entrepreneurship

There were 1,710 black self-employed in Rhode Island in 2004, according to the Social Security Administration, 4.88% of the black labor force. That compares to 11% among whites. An additional 2,152 black firms would need to be created to reach parity.
Among managerial and professional occupations, there were 3,780 black men and 2,574 black women, reports the 2006 American Community Survey.
Black aggregate income was $844 million with a median income of $21,677.