Date: February 16th Time: 7:00pm - 8:30pm
Black Fortunes: The Story of the First Six African Americans Who Survived Slavery and Became Millionaires by Shomari Wills
Tells 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.
Date: March 16th Time: 7:00pm - 8:30pm
A vibrant and empowering history that emphasizes the perspectives and stories of African American women to show how they are and have always been instrumental in shaping our country.
In centering Black women’s stories, two award-winning historians seek both to empower African American women and to show their allies that Black women’s unique ability to make their own communities while combatting centuries of oppression is an essential component in our continued resistance to systemic racism and sexism.
Daina Ramey Berry and Kali Nicole Gross offer an examination and celebration of Black womanhood, beginning with the first African women who arrived in what became the United States to African American women of today.
A Black Women’s History of the United States reaches far beyond a single narrative to showcase Black women’s lives in all their fraught complexities.
Berry and Gross prioritize many voices: enslaved women, freedwomen, religious leaders, artists, queer women, activists, and women who lived outside the law.
The result is a starting point for exploring Black women’s history and a testament to the beauty, richness, rhythm, tragedy, heartbreak, rage, and enduring love that abounds in the spirit of Black women in communities throughout the nation.
Date: April 20th Time: 7:00pm - 8:30pm
by Rochelle Graham-Campbell
Like so many of us, Rochelle Graham-Campbell was a broke college student working multiple jobs to make ends meet.
From working at a local nursing home and delivering newspapers to waitressing at Olive Garden by night, her entrepreneurial spirit was alive and well.
After Rochelle's "big chop" in 2008, it was this same spirit that led her to make and sell her own natural hair care products when the market let her down.
From a tiny bathroom in her college apartment, Rochelle began filming her haircare journey, soon becoming one of the pioneers of natural hair vlogging on YouTube.
Prompted by dozens of women inspired by her hair growth, Rochelle realized her calling. With just $100 in tips from a night of waitressing, she bought the first set of bottles and ingredients to formulate her own products.
These kitchen concoctions soon became Alikay Naturals, Rochelle's solution to beauty without compromise.
From humble beginnings, Alikay has blossomed into a wildly successful bootstrapped business now sold in Target, CVS, Rite Aid, Kroger, Walmart, Bed Bath & Beyond, and top beauty supply stores and salons across twenty-two countries.
Now in her tenth year of business, Rochelle shares her journey from server to beauty founder and breaks down the mindset behind her success.
Covering the hustle, self-care, and purpose beyond profit, 90 Days to C.E.O is a comprehensive no-BS guide to starting and running a successful business.
Date: May 18th Time: 7:00pm - 8:30pm
by Minda Harts
Most business books provide a one-size-fits-all approach to career advice that overlooks the unique barriers that women of color face. In The Memo, Minda Harts offers a much-needed career guide tailored specifically for women of color.
Drawing on knowledge gained from her past career as a fundraising consultant to top colleges across the country, Harts now brings her powerhouse entrepreneurial experience as CEO of The Memo to the page. With wit and candor, she acknowledges "ugly truths" that keep women of color from having a seat at the table in corporate America. Providing straight talk on how to navigate networking, office politics, and money, while showing how to make real change to the system, The Memo offers support and long-overdue advice on how women of color can succeed in their careers.
Date: June 15th Time: 7:00pm - 8:30pm
by Shonda Rhimes
In this poignant, hilarious and deeply intimate call to arms, Hollywood's most powerful woman…
The mega-talented creator of Grey's Anatomy, Scandal and exec producer of How to Get Away with Murder and Catch, reveals how saying YES changed her life - and how it can change yours too.
With three hit shows on television and three children at home, Shonda Rhimes had lots of good reasons to say no when invitations arrived. Hollywood party? No. Speaking engagement? No. Media appearances? No.
And to an introvert like Shonda, who describes herself as 'hugging the walls' at social events and experiencing panic attacks before press interviews, there was a particular benefit to saying no: nothing new to fear.
Then came Thanksgiving 2013, when Shonda's sister Delorse muttered six little words at her: You never say yes to anything.
Profound, impassioned and laugh-out-loud funny, in Year of Yes Shonda Rhimes reveals how saying YES changed - and saved - her life. And inspires readers everywhere to change their own lives with one little word: Yes.
Date: July 19th Time: 7:00pm - 8:30pm
Laws of Leadership for Black Women by Elaine Meryl Brown, Marsha Haygood and Rhonda Joy McLean
This invaluable “mentor in your pocket” by three dynamic and successful black female executives will help all black women, at any level of their careers, play the power game and win.
Rich with wisdom, this practical gem focuses on the building blocks of true leadership, self-confidence, effective communication, collaboration, and courage while dealing specifically with stereotypes (avoid the Mammy Trap, and don’t become the Angry Black Woman) and the perils of self-victimization (don’t assume that every challenge occurs because you are black or female).
Some leaders are born, but most leaders are made and The Little Black Book of Success will show you how to make it to the top, one step at a time.
Date: August 17th Time: 7:00pm - 8:30pm
The New Way to Start Out, Step Up, or Start Over in Your Career by Carla A. Harris
The Wall Street powerhouse and author of Expect to Win offers a new way to conceptualize career strategies and gives us proven tools for successful change
Whether we’re starting out, striving toward a promotion, or looking for a new opportunity, the working world isn’t what it used to be.
Wall Street veteran Carla Harris knows this, and in Strategize to Win she gives readers the tools they need to get started; get “unstuck” from bad situations; redirect momentum; and position themselves to manage their careers no matter the environment.
With her trademark galvanizing advice, Harris identifies and clarifies issues that are often murky, offering lessons on:
Identifying and making the most of your work profile (are you a Good Soldier? a Leader? an Arguer?); preparing for a career change without going back to school or taking a step down: honing three essential skills industry leaders possess (and how to get them); tuning into unspoken cues; and thriving through change. Introducing a new way of planning one’s career in five-year units,
Strategize to Win distills battle-tested and step-by-step tools that Carla has used to launch and sustain her own successful career and help others move forward, recover from setbacks, and position themselves for success.
Date: September 21st Time: 7:00pm - 8:30pm
7 Rules of Power, Confidence, and Opportunity for Black Women in America by Karen Arrington
Leave a legacy of black excellence: With the seven simple rules, you'll learn how to bring your career, income, and lifestyle to that next level.
Don't settle for a life of invisibility and mediocrity. Set ambitious goals, reach for bigger opportunities, and know that you are brave enough to get what you deserve.
How Big Do You Want to Live? Channel your black girl magic:
If you’re feeling stuck or trapped by other people’s expectations of what you can achieve, it’s time to stop playing small and start redefining what success can mean for you. It’s time to get that upgrade.
See October below…
Date: October 19th Time: 7:00pm - 8:30pm
by Felecia Hatcher
You don't need millions of dollars to get your business idea off the ground, but you do need to START, with what you have and where you probably are financially-on a Ramen Noodle budget!
Think about it: Ramen Noodles are one of the cheapest meals on the planet, but when you get creative and add ingredients you have at your fingertips, you can transform it from an inexpensive meal from your college "glory days" into a "grown-up" gourmet meal.
So, if you can get creative with Ramen Noodles, you can get creative with limited resources and overcome any roadblocks to starting your own business.
You know you have what it takes to launch a startup. It's time to harness that gritty scrappiness, tap into your network to gather the resources you need to launch your business, and stand out-even with limited funds.
Start Your Business on a Ramen Noodle Budget will show you how to: Leverage your limited resources and create your own opportunities Set unrealistic goals, with 5 key strategies-including when and why your goals should self-destruct!
“Steal from celebrities" and become a media darling-and get tons of free press and social media mentions Dig deep, create a unique niche, and become a major disruptor Start the business you've been dreaming about!
Nothing in this book is dry and boring because the secret is in the sauce!
Date: November 16th Time: 7:00pm - 8:30pm
Notes from the Women That a Movement Forgot by Mikki Kendall
'It is absolutely brilliant, I think every woman should read it' PANDORA SYKES, THE HIGH LOW
'My wish is that every white woman who calls herself a feminist will read this book in a state of hushed and humble respect... Essential reading' ELIZABETH GILBERT
I'm a feminist. Mostly.
I'm an asshole. Mostly.
All too often the focus of mainstream feminism is not on basic survival for the many, but on increasing privilege for the few.
Meeting basic needs is a feminist issue. Food insecurity, the living wage and access to education are feminist issues.
The fight against racism, ableism and transmisogyny are all feminist issues.
White feminists often fail to see how race, class, sexual orientation and disability intersect with gender.
How can feminists stand in solidarity as a movement when there is a distinct likelihood that some women are oppressing others?
Insightful, incendiary and ultimately hopeful, Hood Feminism is both an irrefutable indictment of a movement in flux and also clear-eyed assessment of how to save it.
Date: December 21st Time: 7:00pm - 8:30pm
Inspiration and Advice from over 100 Makers, Artists, and Entrepreneurs by Grace Bonney
This unprecedented collection of empowering advice and inspiration features over 100 interviews and portraits of exceptional leaders across a diverse range of races, ages, backgrounds, and industries.
In the Company of Women features young media titans and mother-daughter fashion houses, hoteliers and ceramicists, tattoo artists and architects.