Library Spotlight: Posts

Black Excellence and Entrepreneurship

In celebration of Black Heritage Month 365 and in support of The BASE's upcoming Black Excellence and Entrepreneurship Conference taking place on Friday February 12^th, Humber Libraries has prepared a list of selected resources to highlight Black excellence in business and leadership in North America and beyond.  

Books on Black Excellence in Business

• In the black: My life: [eBook] An autobiographical account of B. Denham Jolly, a man of Jamaican descent, who became a successful teacher, entrepreneur, publisher, broadcaster, philanthropist, civil rights activist, and community leader, while living in Toronto.
• African Canadian leadership: Continuity, transition, and transformation: [eBook] This book explores the dynamism of leadership practices in Black Canadian communities.
• Black women as leaders: Challenging and transforming society: [eBook] This book analyzes the commitment of contemporary Black women to social justice issues from the perspective of adaptive leadership.  
• Viola Desmond: Her life and times: [Print] A biography that explores Viola Desmond’s life, as a Black beauty entrepreneur in Nova Scotia, who became a national civil rights activist and icon.
• Lead from the outside: How to build your future and make real change: [Print] Stacey Abrams writes a personal and empowering blueprint on leadership and creating change. 
• It’s about damn time: [Print] Arlan Hamilton shares the hard-won wisdom she’s picked up on her remarkable journey from food-stamp recipient to venture capitalist.

Websites Supporting Black Canadian Businesses and Entrepreneurs

• Afrobiz: A Canadian directory of black-owned businesses across the country. The platform is self-funded and currently lists more than 1500 Black-owned businesses, Black entrepreneurs, and Black organizations across Canada.
• Black Business and Professional Association: BBPA is a non-profit, charitable organization that addresses equity and opportunity for the Black Canadian community in business, employment, education and economic development.
• Black Entrepreneurship Program: The Black Entrepreneurship Program (BEP) is a partnership between the Government of Canada, Black-led business organizations, and financial institutions.
• Black North Initiative: Led by The Canadian Council of Business Leaders Against Anti-Black Systemic Racism, The Black North Initiative is working to end anti-black systemic racism in the business world and re-shape corporate structure.  

Featured Videos and Playlists

• Black communities in Canada: A rich history: [Streaming video] The National Film Board (NFB) has put together a playlist of 29 films exploring a wealth of topics related to Black culture, leadership and experience in Canada.
• Celebrating Black History Month: CBC Curio Collection: [Streaming video] This collection includes streaming videos on Black history in Canada, the Black Lives Matter movement, the “business” of slavery, racial profiling and more.  
• Launching and supporting Black-owned businesses | Mandy Bowman | TEDxDover: [YouTube] Watch and listen to Mandy Bowman, creator and CEO of Official Black Wall Street.
• Surge: [Streaming video] The film follows three candidates who were running in uphill battles to flip their deep red districts to blue, including Lauren Underwood, the youngest Black woman to ever be elected to Congress.