PORTLAND, Ore. - Marylandian -- Portland State University has created an exciting course combining it's Black Studies and School of Business entitled, "Black Business Experience" (BST 399 - CRN 64988). This fully online course follows the stories of African Americans who became wealthy in the face of impossible odds in the United States. This 4 credit hour class also covers local Portland businesses in addition to providing a context for modern Black wealth. The new reality of college athletes being paid using their name, image, and likeness is also covered in this Spring 2022 Quarter course.

The Black Press is studied as one of the most important tools to Black business success in the United States. This course starts on March 28, 2022. Topics to be covered in the course include doing business in the Jim Crow era and Black businesses as tools against oppression.

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This Black Business Experience course also takes a look at business and wealth of African countries as well as diaspora countries with high populations of Black people. The main book used for the course is, "Black Fortunes: The Story of the First Six African Americans Who Escaped Slavery and Became Millionaires." In this book, we see the unbelievable lives of pioneer entrepreneurs.

"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." - Black Fortunes

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This undergraduate course also includes interesting videos of a variety of informative and historical events. For instance, students learn about the Green Book that was used by Black travelers in the United States. This pamphlet was used to avoid racialized trouble while also showing friendly hotels and restaurants deserving of the Black dollar.

The Resource Scholars Show's business segment videos place students directly in the middle of local Portland business issues while familiarizing viewers with old and new Black-owned businesses - from Geneva's to Raimore Construction Company. Professor Opio Sokoni says it's the most important class he has ever taught.

https://www.pdx.edu/business/featured-courses