African American Firsts – Business and Labor
Camp Atwater (1921- )
Camp Atwater is a cultural, educational, and recreational camp designed for the children of African American professionals. The camp, founded...
Highland Beach, Maryland (1893- )
Highland Beach, Maryland, the oldest of the major black resort towns, was founded along the western shore of Chesapeake Bay...
American League of Colored Laborers (1850-?)
The American League of Colored Laborers (ALCL) was the first black American labor union. It was formed in New York...
The African Insurance Company (1810-1813)
In 1810 The African Insurance Company was created with offices located at 159 Lombard Street in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It was...
The True Reformers Bank (1888-1910)
The Savings Bank of the Grand Fountain United Order of True Reformers in Richmond, Virginia was the first bank owned...
Anthony Johnson (?-1670)
Anthony Johnson was the first prominent black landholder in the English colonies. Johnson arrived in Virginia in 1621 aboard the...
Robert Louis Johnson (1946- )
Robert Louis Johnson, founder, chairman, and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Black Entertainment Television (BET), is also the majority owner...
C.R. Patterson & Sons Company (1893-1939)
The C.R. Patterson & Sons Company was a carriage building firm, and the first African American-owned automobile manufacturer. The company...
Black Swan Records (1921-1923)
Black Swan Records was the first black-owned recording company that sold popular music to black audiences. Black Swan Records specialized...
