It was in September of 1989 when I finally decided to follow up on a question posed to my engineering co-workers at Duke Power Company in Charlotte, NC. That question was, "Where are all of the Black-owned businesses in Charlotte." One by one I queried the Blacks working there to include Hosie Caldwell and Mary Kay -- both engineers. Mr. Caldwell was not a Charlotte native but had lived here since the 1970’s; Ms. Kay was indeed a Charlotte native. I myself had only been living in Charlotte for just shy of five years at that time and remember being directed by Hosie to the northwest side of town off Beatties Ford Road to get a haircut at Edward's Barbershop. I was quite surprised when my list topped over 50 confirmed local Black-owned businesses which included some now very prominent African-American entrepreneurs such as Dr. Paula Newsome (Optometrist) of Apogee Vision Care, Harold Greene of the Greene Insurance Agency, Mr. Calvin E. Murphy (Attorney), Eugene and Yvonne Pettis of Pettis Realty and Von's Home Video, and Dr. Michael L. Stout (DDS), to name a few.
Some of these folks were nice enough to refer other businesses to my questionnaire/feasibility study that next year in 1990. Although I cannot recall the exact favorable response rate of my mailed survey, I can tell you that it was high enough to pursue the possibility of a circulated Black business directory for the city of Charlotte, NC. That means it was time to put up or shut up. I was so passionate about exposing these businesses to newcomers that I decided to take this opportunity to the next phase which was to research what it would take to bring my idea to market. At the time I had absolutely no business experience except riding along with my grandmother Meddie P. Bannister (May she rest in peace) as she went to the farmer's market in downtown Miami to purchase items to sell from home. I did not know back then but she has been my inspiration to true freedom by becoming self-employed.
Some of these folks were nice enough to refer other businesses to my questionnaire/feasibility study that next year in 1990. Although I cannot recall the exact favorable response rate of my mailed survey, I can tell you that it was high enough to pursue the possibility of a circulated Black business directory for the city of Charlotte, NC. That means it was time to put up or shut up. I was so passionate about exposing these businesses to newcomers that I decided to take this opportunity to the next phase which was to research what it would take to bring my idea to market. At the time I had absolutely no business experience except riding along with my grandmother Meddie P. Bannister (May she rest in peace) as she went to the farmer's market in downtown Miami to purchase items to sell from home. I did not know back then but she has been my inspiration to true freedom by becoming self-employed.
