Sistas are doing it for themselves
By Ronda Watson Barber
Publisher
March is Women’s History Month! Women are making monumental strides in entrepreneurship and it is something to be celebrated. Thirty percent of all American businesses are owned by women.
Recent reports indicate that Black women are starting busi-nesses six times faster than the national average. Over 1 mil-lion strong, Black women are owning businesses and hiring employees. Between 1997 and 2013, businesses owned by Black women earned $226.8 billion in revenue and hired over 1.4 million employees. Still facing many barriers, Black women are opting to take charge and be the boss. How important is this? Black women business owners can have both financial and time freedom. As the primary care givers for most of our families, business ownership affords “The Boss”, the opportunity to work on the schedule of our families. It is easier to volunteer at your kids school or attend an afternoon class play when you are in charge.
As business owners, Black women can create change. We can use business ownership to improve our community. We can implement work policies that are family and neighborhood friendly. We can encourage girls. We can use interns in our businesses to teach a skill or trade to our youth. Business ownership is important. Black women owning businesses can be a key component to economic development in our community. Black business owners are role-models. Black children need to see Black adults owning businesses, being self-sufficient and creating wealth.
As a community, let’s continue to support the growth and de-velopment of businesses owned by Black women. The sky’s the limit!
Just my thoughts…rwb
