Encyclopedia of African American Business

The first edition of this work was published in 2006 and offered a broad but comprehensive overview on the topic of African American business from the last quarter of the 18th century to the early 21st century. This revised edition does likewise, with added information on many of the earlier subjects and about 100 more pages of contemporary entries. Whereas the introduction to the first edition emphasized historical works about African American business and the importance of its study, Smith's (humanities, library dean, Fisk Univ.) overview opening this new work focuses on how businesses have developed and the areas in which they have expanded over the last decade. This edition improves on the earlier material, featuring, for instance, more photographs and an extensive appendix of tables on employment, income, and poverty levels that serious researchers will value. It also skillfully explores the role of women as well as the emergence of African American businesses in global markets.