Remembering Black Enterprise Founder Earl Graves, Sr.
I was heartbroken to learn of the April 6 passing of Black Enterprise founder Earl Graves, Sr. Over the years I had numerous articles published in the glossy pages of the magazines or posted to its website. This post is dedicated to Mr. Graves and the lessons I learned from working at Black Enterprise.
(photo from Black Enterprise.com)
Mr. Graves was a titan and inspiration in the world of publishing, especially to Black journalists. He started Black Enterprise in 1970, when the climate for Black businesses wasn’t so strong. The country was still navigating life after the turbulent ’60s of desegregation. Besides, there was already Ebony magazine, established by John H. Johnson in 1945, that focused on Black life. Was it possible for two African-American magazines to survive? These doubts were put to rest as Graves, staying true to his mission, made the magazine a success.
Black Enterprise highlights Black business owners and entrepreneurs, provides best practices and guides the next generation. It grew from being a magazine to a far-reaching enterprise. Some of its ventures include the
television series, Our World With Black Enterprise and Women In Power, multiple networking conferences and other publications such as Teenprenuer.
My first articles appeared in the magazine in the late 1990’s, and I was so proud to see them in the glossy, business magazine and later online. I also had the privilege of working in its beautiful office in New York City. The staff was primarily African-American, and the office was glamorous.
Working there made me realize what is possible for an African-American. I took such pride working for a Black-owned and operated successful company. Mr. Graves broke down barriers and proved there was a need to focus on Black people in business. He wrote about the lessons in his book, How To Succeed In Business Without Being White: Straight Talk o Making It in America.
These opportunities wouldn’t be possible without the help of Rutgers alumni Alfred Edmond, Jr. Edmond graduated from Rutgers in 1981, but he never forgot his roots and encouraged alumni, especially those who wrote or edited for the Black Voice. I interviewed Edmond for the Black Voice and kept in touch with him. I will be forever grateful for his giving me a start in magazine publishing.
Edmond is a great mentor to many writers and others in business. When I started this blog, I interviewed him about the book he wrote with his wife Zara Green on love. (You can click on 6 Simple Truths I Learned About Healthy Relationships From My Mentor, to read the article.)
Please check out the lessons I learned from working for Black Enterprise.
Lesson #1: African-Americans Can Succeed in Business
There were very few examples in my personal life or what I saw in mainstream media that showcased the excellence of Black businesses. The one standout is Boomerang a movie starring Eddie Murphy who portrays a playboy Black Executive who gets his comeuppance. There just weren’t a lot of role models to show African-Americans succeeding in business. Black Enterprise provided numerous articles about African-American entrepreneurs.
Lesson #2: African-Americans Can Work Together Without Outside Help
When we see Black people doing well, there is always a white benefactor somewhere who is integral in making this happen. A most recent example is the movie Black Panther when CIA Agent Ross helps T’Challa get back the throne. Working with Black Enterprise taught me that African-American people can make it without the help of a white benefactor that we as a people are more than capable of making things happen with our own ingenuity and merit.
Lesson#3: Professionalism in Attire, Work Ethic, and Product is Important
When I was interning at the magazine, I wore a suit every day. I was on time and prepared. This was noticed by staff, and a two-day assignment stretched to three weeks and also gave the opportunity to have articles The articles and research appeared in the Black physicians issue.
Lesson #4: Don’t Forget to Give Back to Others
Mr. Graves was a wonderful philanthropist. He gave back in money and in time to his alma mater Morgan State and other HBCU (Historical Black Colleges and Universities). Black Enterprise has become a multi-million dollar operation but Mr. Graves, who came from West Indian immigrants, always tried to help others. This was part of who he was and what he expected of staff. Edmond was always coming back to his alma mater to help students such as me get experience in journalism.
I hope you have learned something about Mr. Earl Graves, Sr. You can read more about him at Black Enterprise.com.
Candace Waller is a Christian fiction author. Her novel What Goes Around Comes Around can be purchased on Amazon.