African-American Business Leaders and Entrepreneurs (A to Z of African Americans)

For as long as there have been blacks in the Americas, there have been African-American entrepreneurs. African-American Business Leaders and Entrepreneurs is a concise reference work that documents the extraordinary achievements of African Americans in this field. Some African Americans covered include: Don Barden: Real estate speculator, automotive dealer, cable executive, and casino owner; William Washington Browne: Founder of a fraternal organization and banker; Emma Chappell: Banker and executive director of RAINBOW/PUSH's Wall Street Project; Andrew Durnford: sugar planter and land speculator; Mel Farr: Professional football player and automotive entrepreneur; Elizabeth Keckley: Seamstress and dressmaker to Mary Todd Lincoln; Thomy Lafon: Businessman, philanthropist, real estate broker, and store owner; Vera Moore: Cosmetics manufacturer; Russell Simmons: Music and media executive; Madame C.J. Walker: Hair-care products manufacturer; Oprah Winfrey: Talk show host, actress, television and film producer and publisher; and many others.

Offering a wealth of useful information, this book profiles more than 155 business leaders and entrepreneurs. Each biographical entry concentrates on the events in that person's life related to his or her accomplishments as a business leader or entrepreneur and includes a list of further reading on that person. An introduction, bibliography, subject indexes, general index, and 51 photographs round out the resource.

This text offers both a wide range of individual "snapshots" and a diverse collective portrait of African Americans who have succeeded in business. Each A-Z entry provides basic bibliographical data as well as a further reading list, including Internet sources where appropriate. Profiles more than 155 African American business leaders and entrepreneurs, including Don Barden, Emma Chappell, Mel Farr, Vera Moore, and Oprah Winfrey. Provides short biographies of 150 African American business leaders, including birth and death dates, major accomplishments, and historical influence