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.
Virginia black entrepreneurship
Virginia had 38,570 black self-employed in 2004, according to Social Security Administration estimates, 4.59% of the black labor force. That compares with a ratio of 11.11% among whites. Achieving parity would require creating another 54,857 black firms.
Among managerial and professional occupations, there were 69,319 black men and 124,118 black women, reports the 2006 American Community Survey.
Black aggregate income was $29.8 billion with a median income of $24,809.