I found out last month that we lost an African American
pioneer who changed the business of entrepreneurship, when I heard about it. It
took a minute to process what just happened because I was in a state of shock
from all the souls we have been losing due to the pandemic. So when I heard
that the founder of Black Enterprise Magazine, Earl “Butch” Graves, Sr. passed
away it was a bittersweet feeling because although he doesn’t have to be in
pain or suffer the symptoms and condition of Alzheimer’s disease. He is in a
better place but it was bittersweet for the magazine, media, business,
financial, and publishing industries.
I was hired
by Black Enterprise Magazine to work as an intern in the spring of 2011. I left
my job as an administrative assistant for a real estate legal firm the year
prior. I knew I had to follow my heart and go . I had just completed my second
internship, and graduated from Hunter the year before. My mother, a family friend, Genevieve helped
me to work as a television production assistant and the timing was great. I
learned so much from the broadcast team when I worked their for two years and
it was life changing, opened huge doors for me. I treasure those two years
because it was definitely a defining moment for me. I remember seeing Mr.
Graves with his famous sideburns at their annual Christmas party in 2011. It
was a funny moment I look back on the memory of meeting him. I laugh because
here I am twirling literally in my dress dancing around with my co-workers and
the owner of Black Enterprise is standing 2 feet away from me just laughing,
having a good drink, and enjoying all of his staff. I never had a chance to
meet him one on one. I will say though that he was a sweet, cool man and
everyone loved working with him. You felt nothing but the respect, the
admiration, and love of him from anyone who worked with him in the company.
He changed
the financial and entrepreneurship industry the magazine debuted in August of 1970
the first issue was released and would hit newsstands worldwide under Earl
Gilbert Graves Limited. A little about his life though he was born January 9,
1935 in Brooklyn, New York. He was born in the Bedford-Stuyvesant section of
New York with two sisters. As a little
boy when he was seven years old he would help his uncle sell Christmas cards
and give them to people in his neighborhood. That sparked his interest in
becoming a businessman
He always had a drive and passion for it. It even came in
handy his knowledge and experience when he attended Erasmus High School and
went on to college Graves attended HBCU Morgan State University located in
Baltimore, Maryland where he first started writing his newsletter initially
before discovering he wanted to publish a magazine next. He majored and earned his Bachelor’s degree in
Business. He also pledged Omega Psi Phi fraternity. He was also part of the
ROTC and attended Airborne and Ranger schools. Graves was definitely considered
a Renaissance man of many talents and experience. He joined the military prior
to starting his new found company. He volunteered for the Democratic National
Committee and became a volunteer during the Lyndon B. Johnson administration.
He also became an administrative assistant to Senator Robert F. Kennedy in 1965
when he was 30.
His experience being
apart of the small business administration he took that knowledge and used it
to his benefit to create a magazine that would become a household staple, a
beacon of hope for African Americans and all minorities, and a bible for
entrepreneurs who were new to starting their own business. This magazine and his entire publishing and
production company inspired millions of people, vendors, small business, and
large conglomerates which were featured in Forbes or Fortune magazines. He opened the doors with his business
expanding in different states Black Enterprise has other offices outside of his
home office in New York City.
The editorial and
publishing team found the annual Black Enterprise convention and retreat
bringing millions of small business owners and entrepreneurs together. In 1995
he published his book, “How to Succeed in Business without being white:
Straight Talk on making it in America”. This book gave sound advice on how to
achieve and make it in the business and people were able to take his cues,
pointers, and find a way to start their companies without feeling any
intimidation, fear, or mediocrity. He wanted African Americans and minorities
to feel a sense of excitement about starting a new business and company.
Ultimately it is exciting for a person to have a goal and vision to have a
simple idea I want to start a business selling funny hats for people, faux fur
coats, vegan clothing, name brand shoes, cooking utensils, etc. These ideas are
words on paper but when you bring them to life and expand your vision. It
becomes something amazing. It becomes reality and people are excited to try
something new and that can make them smarter, healthier, and more business
oriented.
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