From Vision to Legacy: 125 Years of the NBL
- Veronica Carr
- Aug 23
- 2 min read
#OTD On this day, the #NationalNegroBusinessLeague was founded August 23, 1900 in #BostonMA by #BookerTWashington, who served as the organization’s first president. The League was renamed the National Business League in 1966, which remains in operation today. The NBL is currently celebrating its quasquicentennial (125th) anniversary in 2025.
The organization’s goal was to promote African American businesses, which included doctors, farmers, craftsmen, bankers, retail merchants, and many other occupations. The League helped Black businesses thrive by placing ads in Black owned newspapers, networking with other Black businesses, connecting them with wealthy white philanthropists and financial backers, and encouraging Black entrepreneurship.
By 1905, 320 individual chapters were established across the country and by 1915, there were more than 600 chapters in 34 states.
Many prominent African American business and civic leaders were connected to the League over the years, including #GilesBJackson of #RichmondVA; Charles Henry Moore of #GreensboroNC (pictured below); John Merrick of #DurhamNC (pictured below) and #HarryTPratt of #BaltimoreMD. These men served either as vice presidents, committee members or national organizers of the League and often traveled to promote the organization.
Although Booker T. Washington died in 1915, he made a tremendous impact during his time as the League’s president. The organization published its own newspaper, The Negro Business League Herald. Although it was short-lived, it provided valuable insight into the activities of the Business League chapters. Booker T. Washington’s 1906 book, The Negro in Business, which documented the success stories of numerous African American businesses, is an invaluable resource and will have you constantly saying, “Wow! I didn’t know that.”
Instead of taking sides in the Booker T Washington vs. W.E.B. DuBois debate, let’s thank Booker T. for his vision. Many Black businesses exist because of his dedication to uplifting the Black community in every way he could. He was more than just #TuskegeeUniversity.
It would be nice if you went out and spent some money at a Black owned business during #NationalBlackBusinessMonth
Courtesy of Nanny Jack & Co Archives
Comments