Black in Business

The lives we lead today would be considerably different without the contributions made by Black entrepreneurs, inventors, and creators. In recent years, the number of Black-owned businesses has risen dramatically, with Black women fueling much of that growth! Our world wouldn't function the same without Black engineering, philosophy, and discovery.

As we continue to battle the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and the significant effects of racism, it's imperative to recognize the tremendous impact Black innovators, creators, and entrepreneurs have across all different industries. This includes restaurant and small business owners, designers, photographers––you name it.

Let's continue to honor and acknowledge Black stories by shining a spotlight on influential Black entrepreneurs and creatives. Enter the Black in Business Challenge and highlight a Black creator or innovator, online or offline, that you admire and tell us why. This person who inspires you could be someone you know personally, the owner of your favorite local café, or even someone famous or historical that you admire. We can't wait to read your inspiring stories all month long.

"I am a woman who came from the cotton fields of the South. From there, I was promoted to the washtub. From there, I was promoted to the cook kitchen. And from there, I promoted myself into the business of manufacturing hair goods and preparations. I have built my own factory on my own ground." – Madam C.J. Walker, founder of the Madam C.J. Walker Manufacturing Company

For your story to be eligible, it must be between 600 and 5,000 words and adhere to our Community Guidelines. Stories published on Vocal and entered into the contest up until March 11, 2021, at 11:59 PM EST will be entered for consideration. Official Rules for the Challenge can be found here.

To be eligible to win the grand prize, second place, or third place prizes, you must be over the age of 13 and residing in a country where Stripe is available at the time of entry. A complete list of countries where Stripe is available can be found here—winners will need to have a Stripe account created and connected in order to receive the prizes. For this reason, entrants located outside of any of these 35 countries will not be eligible to win.