Here are the pivotal stories from the last year–and a look at what’s to come
are models of business excellence in their own various industries who also uplift Black and Brown communities through their crafts and philanthropic efforts. Championing the community takes many different forms. But whether it’s being intentional about the hiring process, investment and mentorship practices, driving discussions around access or effecting change through advocacy — we all know it when we see it.
These are our stars. Our champions. They are tech innovators, social justice warriors, filmmakers, TV executives and more. While they may be in different areas of expertise, they all share the unique experience of being Black or Brown, empowered and ready to champion the narrative around the importance of creative partnerships and intentional investment strategies that can help to create long-term, generational wealth.
Too little has changed since Lewis’ passing. Black Americans are often forgotten from history. They are often overlooked and squeezed out—and thus, not granted the same opportunities. There are only five Black CEOs of S&P 500 companies, only 9% of businesses are Black owned and roughly 1% of Black-owned businesses have received venture capital funding. Lewis’ story is one of Black wealth, a history that continues to be skewed. For The Culture is on a mission to change that.
project is multifaceted: It incorporates historical research that will unveil decades of forgotten and omitted Black business successes, plus new quantitative data and original multimedia storytelling that will illustrate how Black entrepreneurship stands across industries today—as well as where it’s headed. Culture X profile on the matriarch of modern dance, Katherine Dunham.