Customers say
Customers find the book well written and consider it a must-read. Moreover, they appreciate its educational value, describing it as an important part of American history.
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“By telling the little-known stories of six pioneering African American entrepreneurs, Black Fortunes makes a worthy contribution to black history, to business history, and to American history.”—Margot Lee Shetterly, New York Times Bestselling author of Hidden Figures
Between the years of 1830 and 1927, as the last generation of blacks born into slavery was reaching maturity, a small group of industrious, tenacious, and daring men and women broke new ground to attain the highest levels of financial success.
Mary Ellen Pleasant, used her Gold Rush wealth to further the cause of abolitionist John Brown. Robert Reed Church, became the largest landowner in Tennessee. Hannah Elias, the mistress of a New York City millionaire, used the land her lover gave her to build an empire in Harlem. Orphan and self-taught chemist Annie Turnbo-Malone, developed the first national brand of hair care products. Mississippi school teacher O. W. Gurley, developed a piece of Tulsa, Oklahoma, into a “town” for wealthy black professionals and craftsmen that would become known as “the Black Wall Street.” Although Madam C. J Walker was given the title of America’s first female black millionaire, she was not. She was the first, however, to flaunt and openly claim her wealth—a dangerous and revolutionary act.
Nearly all the unforgettable personalities in this amazing collection were often attacked, demonized, or swindled out of their wealth. Black Fortunes illuminates as never before the birth of the black business titan.
Our Top Reviews
Reviewer: Mashayla Kennedy-Campbell
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title: Great read
Review: Really enjoyed reading this book. It was interesting to learn about this kind of history.
Reviewer: Isaiah Edwards
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title: Where did we go wrong?
Review: The stories in this book are as relevant today as they were 100+ years ago. This book is real black history and a blueprint of what black people need to get back to in order to make it in this world. The source of wealth for the tycoons in this book were mainly 2 avenues, Entrepreneurship and Real Estate. Ownership is how you gain wealth, not Employment. Check this book out, it’s filled with laughter, tears and life lessons.
Reviewer: Kindle Customer
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title: Black History is American History this book entertains as well as educate, motivate, and inspire.
Review: This book has so much info, my notes I wrote down in the back of the book as a quick reference point to show my kids, is basically another chapter. This book is useful in classrooms and in business schools. It is very entertaining also. Good job bro. Take a bow and pat yourself on the back. Black history is American history.
Reviewer: Amazon Customer
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title: very well written.
Review: very well written.
Reviewer: Ronald W Holman
Rating: 4.0 out of 5 stars
Title: Another slice of Black History Revealed
Review: This is a book about black wealth and the struggle to achieve and maintain it. This is one aspect of black history which I know very little about. The author does a good job of bringing these six entrepreneurs out of obscurity and highlighting their struggles and adversity and finally their attaining black economic power. He includes many of the black leadership including W. E. B. Dubois and Booker T. Washington but surprisingly leaves out Marcus Garvey. This short book is a good investment of your time.
Reviewer: Cyndy
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title: Little Known Black Wealth History
Review: First this book provide the reader with several accounts of black men and women who became financially wealthy in spite of their circumstance beginning in the 1800s. Their stories of how they became wealthy, he struggle to remain so and their interactions with noted black historical figures. This is a must read for anyone wanting to understand the struggle to be black and wealthy during and after slavery.
Reviewer: LoraJ
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title: History Lessons we should have been taught in elementary school !
Review: It breaks my heart to know there is so much about our black ancestors that we are not aware of. I’m 64 years old and pride myself on my reading abilities but this is the first time I’ve heard of some of the people in this book. When I saw the movie Rosewood years ago it broke my heart but I became interested in the lives of our people after slavery. I began to hear more verbal accounts of towns in the South where former slaves had banded together to form safe enclaves in order to raise families in peace and achieve some semblance of prosperity. Then I heard about Greenwood and all I could think about is how envy, jealousy and the ignorance of a group of people who would rather take and destroy a persons livelihood because they needed to be superior. Here we are 200 years later and we’re still fighting to be recognized and acknowledged for the achievements we have made. It’s not enough that we enriched white people economically by working as slaves and raising their children, serving as their concubines, while having our families torn apart, children and loved ones sold to the highest bidder. Here we are in 2021 still fighting for equality. We should have been taught these lessons in school. Maybe the pride that I feel inside knowing of the struggles out people have endured would enlighten more of our young and give them a reason to strive to do better. But if a person doesn’t know his or her history how can they began to write their own story. Not everyone has the ability of even the knowledge to go searching for the truth. So we need writers and journalists like you to keep telling the stories. We need you to do what we can’t, won’t, or don’t know how to do. We need you to keep researching and giving us the knowledge, so that I can pass it on to my children and they can get curious and their thirst for the truth may galvanize and motivate them to do better. My momma always told me when I was growing up when you know better you do better. I truly believe this. Thank you for enriching my life. I look forward to reading more from authors like yourself. God Bless !I
Reviewer: Teresa Williams
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title: Black Fortunes
Review: This book is revealing the trails and tribulations that the early black millionaires struggled with. I would recommend this book for others to read, especially the young people of all creeds and races .
Reviewer: patricia white
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title:
Review: Fantastic book, a great read with lots of good information. A must have book
Reviewer: Adekemi Alliu
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title:
Review: There are so many names lost on history and this book the perfect reference if you are into content creation.
Reviewer: Cliente Kindle
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title:
Review: Good book
Reviewer: Lydie Parmas
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title:
Review: Il est réconfortant de voir que malgré les obstacles et préjugés rencontrés, certains ont fait face à l’adversité et sont devenus entrepreneurs, inventeurs etc. Le fruit de leur dur labeur a bien été récompensé.
Reviewer: Sabrina Nelson
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title:
Review: Very good book , more books like this is needed, the details were amazing it was like I was there.
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