Join author Anthony Brogdon for a compelling presentation on the first Black business owners in America, dating back to the 1800s. Discover how some enslaved individuals built businesses, used their profits to buy freedom, and in some cases, the freedom of many others. Learn about their journeys to wealth and what happened after gaining freedom. Brogdon will also explore the history of the first African American college graduates, including how they obtained education, the colleges that accepted Black students, and their groundbreaking achievements. As the author of America’s #1 Black business history book, Black Business Book, Brogdon offers a powerful and inspiring look at these pioneering stories.

Anthony Brogdon, historian and author of Black Business Book, is the producer of the documentary Business in the Black, which toured over 40 U.S. cities as well as Toronto and London. He also hosts the internationally acclaimed podcast Strong Inspirations and is a nationally sought-after speaker.