Black History Month: African Americans in the business community
DELMARVA – We’re looking at the business world for Black History Month, what it means to be a black owned business and how much that’s changed over the years. “So we just have to continue to highlight it and just break those barriers because that’s why black business owners have had challenges, not for a lack of persistence, resilience, or hard work, it’s just these barriers that have been in place,” says Ayanna Khan, Founder, President and CEO of the Delaware Black Chamber of Commerce.
The American dream is a tenet derived from the Declaration of Independence for Americans to have the inalienable right to “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.” A pathway to happiness that we’re told can often be found in the robust business community. “Well, as a former business owner and being the first African-American female in the paper flower shop in the United States and for our state of Delaware, that was a historic moment for me,” says Anastasia Jackson, Regional Business Manager for Delaware Division of Small Business.
Jackson has experienced and seen first-hand how much a strong business and community support can aid in efforts, especially in the African American community. “We offer supports for business owners that are electricians or trash companies or, you know, beauty shops. So there’s also the awareness for business owners to understand that it’s open for everybody. We have opportunities for everyone here at our office.”
Several communities throughout the country were progressive in the aspect of diversity in the community. Kahn with DEBCC hails from New York, which she said provided that for her growing up. However, moving to Delaware showed her other places didn’t have that and she wanted to see more representation. “So moving to Delaware, it looks like that now, where I have kids now and their teachers are predominantly white teachers and their doctors and things like that. Unless we intentionally seek out people of color, you don’t see that diversity like that.”
The chamber is a fairly new organization, designed to address economic disparities, and provide opportunities, resources, and education. We’re told it’s not created to give advantages, but equal opportunity for minorities. “The main objective, you know, from day one, just ensuring that these businesses get what they need to survive because there’s a lot of challenges and misinformation, especially when it comes to economic growth,” says Khan.
Meanwhile, Dea Coleman is one of the many small business owners that is now seeing the fruits of not only her labor but the growing community here to support one another. “I’ll say it again, what help? Unity. We’re strong and it’s not just unity from our community, it’s unity from every American,” explains Coleman.
Coleman tells WMDT, she created a medical staffing agency to address the health care worker shortage, and most recently expanded to a nursing academy. It’s an affordable and hands-on way for Delawareans to get into the nursing field quicker. With the help of the Delaware State Housing authority, and a multitude of other organizations, she says it’s all coming to fruition. “I don’t look at myself as a role model, I’m not a role model. I am a woman who was very determined, very eager to make sure she provided for her children in the best way that she could.”
Whether starting a staffing agency, making paper floral arrangements, or helping businesses, it’s clear the African American community has grown leaps and bounds in business to find their American dream with hopes it’ll only grow from here. Khan adds, “So I think, you know, it’s going to get better, you know, here for us as long as we continue with our collaboration efforts, the contracting opportunities and with organizations like the Delaware Black Chamber of Commerce looking to create inclusive environments, I think it’s going to get better.”
The Delaware Division of Small Business and Delaware Black Chamber of Commerce hosts a multitude of events to support business and provide resources.
