Lessons from Yesterday’s Self-Made Black Business Pioneers Provides Guidance for Reducing Violence and Unemployment

CHICAGO—Author Toure Muhammad is set to release, in four-weeks, a much-anticipated book that profiles several Chicago-based entrepreneurs, some known and some unknown or rarely talked about, that created both economic and social change in Chicago and the entire country. At a time in Chicago with high unemployment and high murder rate, the author felt it was time to highlight valuable lessons from the past that can help reduce the social problems plaguing the Black community.

“I am excited to share this book with my community that features a small portion of the self-made, savvy Black entrepreneurs from Chicago whom reveal things that we can do today to reduce crime and violence and create jobs,” said former educator and publisher of BeanSoupTimes.com.

“One thing that will reduce this social problem is the creation of jobs and opportunity and these Black business pioneers did not wait for government handouts or for some major corporation to save the day. They created enterprises that were bold, ingenious and game changing,” said Muhammad.

Some of the Black business pioneers highlighted include some well-known Black people such as Jean Baptist Pointe DuSable. “Many people do not discuss DuSable as a business man, but that’s what he was. He set up a trading post at a perfect spot. He knew all about location, location, location.”

Others profiled include John H. Johnson, Edward and Betti Ann Gardner, and Dr. Daniel Hale Williams who performed the world’s first successful open-heart surgery on James Cornish. Lucky for Cornish he wasn’t welcome in a white-owned hospital because he may not have survived the night but because Dr. Williams has the vision and ability to establish a Black-owned hospital, Cornish lived for roughly 40 years after the operation. Profiled is the Nation of Islam’s patriarch, Elijah Muhammad who built an $80 million dollar enterprise that included farms, real estate, newspaper and publishing and much more.

The author also highlights some less remembered and known giants such as Herman Roberts, S.B. Fuller, Theodore Roosevelt Mason Howard, and Edward H. Morris, a successful attorney and real estate owner of the late 1800s. “These stories of excellence, determination and self-sufficiency are the types of stories we need to hear about today,” said Muhammad. “That’s why every household needs to have this book.”

About Toure Muhammad

Toure Muhammad is a former educator both in the public and private elementary school sector and author of two other books. The Morehouse College graduate earned a BA in History in 1993 and has also worked as a print journalist for The Final Call newspaper and has contributed to publications such as Chicago Defender, N’Digo, Rolling Out, New York Amsterdam News and others. Since 1989 he’s been an advocate for supporting Black businesses and has been actively involved in marketing and promoting and selling for Black businesses.

To order an advance, signed copy along with an accompanying parent/teacher resource guide for $9.99 plus shipping and handling, go to www.beansouptimes.com/blackbusinespioneers