Black Business Month: Remembering to honor historic Black business districts

National Black Business Month, observed in August, was established in 2004 to recognize the lasting impact of Black-owned businesses throughout history and today.

The first wave of Black-owned businesses began shortly after the Civil War, when freed Black people turned to entrepreneurship out of necessity. In the following decades, the original historic Black business districts popped up across the country, creating a pathway to economic liberation for their communities. Supporting Black entrepreneurs in the childcare and early education sectors expands access to trusted, culturally responsive environments that promote healthy childhood development.