Published: October 21, 2015
From the Inkwell of: Bartholomew J. Worthington III
As the 2016 Presidential campaign season slowly ramps up, its necessary to take a look at the current State of the Black economy (Blackonomics).

Today we spend some time looking at the overall position of the Black businesses. As the overall economy continues to improve, there are several bright spots as well as a few challenges with regards to the state of Black owned businesses.
64% of the employees hired by Black businesses are also Black. Source 1
While Black people account for around 14% of the population, Black businesses are only 7.1% of all businesses nationwide. Source 1
Between 2002 - 2007 Black business ownership rates increased at 3X the national rate of all businesses (60.5% to 18%). Source 1
Out of 1.9 million Black owned businesses, only 107,000 of them report any employees other than the owner/operator. Source 1
The District of Columbia has the highest rate of Black owned businesses at 28.2%, followed by Georgia (20.4%) and Baltimore (19.3%). Source 1
Black owned businesses make up LESS than a half percent (>.5%) of all US business receipts. Source 1
In 2013, Black owned businesses only received a measly 1.7% of all SBA loans. Source 2
80% of loans made to Black owned businesses are for $150,000 or less. Source 4
Black women have increased their rate of business ownership at 6 times the national rate. Source 6
Black women own 14% of all women owned businesses nationwide. Source 10
While Black athletes comprise 65% of NFL rosters and 80% of NBA rosters, between the 62 teams in 2 leagues, there is only 1 majority Black owner. Source 3
Half of business owners had a self employed family member prior to starting their own business. Source 5
Carver Bancorp, based in New York, is the nation's largest Black owned bank. Source 7
World Wide Technology, a tech consulting firm based in St. Louis, is the largest Black owned business with annual revenues of more than $6.7 Billion. Source 8
Business equity accounts for only 4% of Black assets (18% of white assets). Source 9
Source 1 - Survey of Business Owners (SBO)
Source 2 -Loan Rebound Misses Black Businesses
Source 3 -Three Leagues, 92 Teams And One Black Principal Owner
Source 4 -Black Small Business Owners Get Left Out Of Loans
Source 5 - Race and Entrepreneurial Success
Source 6 - The State of Women of Color in the United States
Source 7 - Carver Federal Savings Bank
Source 8 - World Wide Technology
Source 9 -Black incomes are up, but wealth isn’t
Source 10 -The fastest-growing group of entrepreneurs in America
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