Black-Owned Businesses Concentrated in Southern US Cities, Census Shows

Black Americans, while representing about 12% of the U.S. population, owned only 2.4% of small businesses in 2020, though Southern cities like Hinesville, Georgia, and Atlanta show higher concentrations of Black-owned enterprises. Historical policies such as redlining and urban development projects, notably the construction of California Highway 17 (now Interstate 880) in Oakland, severely disrupted Black communities by severing economic ties and fostering segregation. Oakland became a center for civil rights activism, with groups like the Black Panther Party emerging to protect citizens from police abuse and provide essential community services. Photographer Stephen Shames documented the Black Panthers’ rise and their impact on social justice efforts through powerful imagery. Meanwhile, individual stories of resistance and pursuit of social justice, such as Catherine Pope’s challenge to the Miss America pageant’s racial barriers, highlight ongoing struggles for recognition and equality. Efforts to preserve African American history continue, as communities in places like South Florida fight to save their heritage and educate future generations.