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African American Chamber of Commerce Screens Business in the
Black
Sojourner’s Truth Staff
The Toledo African
American Chamber of Commerce (TAACC) invited Detroit’s
Anthony Brogdon to town last week to screen his film,
Business in the Black, for the local audience. Dozens of
Chamber members and guests gathered at the Radisson Hotel on
Thursday, March 7, to view the film which chronicles the
black business experience from the early 19th
century to the mid – 1950’s.
Brogdon, founder of Strong
Productions, has produced a number of films, including Play
Foot Soldiers (2012) and The Great Detroit (2014). His films
have been screened in a number of cities, including New York
and Los Angeles.
Business in the Black is a
documentary about the history of black-owned businesses with
three segments. “How did slaves go to college?” is the first
segment in which the film explores the ways in which African
Americans have historically sought to attain education –
what the qualifications were and which colleges allowed
black students to attend.
Secondly, the film looks
at those black-owned businesses that racists tried to
destroy around the nation through race riots, bombings and
government action.
Thirdly, the film explores
the rise of successful entrepreneurs – millionaires – in the
1800s and the growth of black business districts using
interviews with family members, descendants, of the business
owners.
The screening was part of
TAACC’s new outreach movement designed to re-engage members
– local black-owned businesses – and enhance community
awareness of the opportunities black-owned businesses
present. Roy Hodge, REH Systems Solutions, is the president
of TAACC.
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