Fayetteville Black businesses thrive despite DEI shifts

March 3, 2025, 5:13 a.m. ET

Fayetteville, North Carolina, is recognized as a success story for Black-owned businesses, with a high percentage of such enterprises in the area. Despite progress in some areas, systemic barriers continue to hinder full economic equality for Black Americans.

Fayetteville’s Business Success

Fayetteville stands out as both a national and regional success story when it comes to Black-owned businesses. There are 480 Black-owned businesses in Fayetteville, representing 10% of the total businesses in the area. This places the city among the top in the nation, with only the Atlanta area ranking higher regarding the percentage of Black-owned enterprises. Certain cities, including the Oxnard area near Los Angeles, St. Louis, and Fayetteville, also stand out when considering the proportion of Black residents to Black businesses.

SCORE and Small Business Mentorship

The author, a volunteer mentor with SCORE, a national non-profit organization that coordinates with the U.S. Small Business Administration, has mentored hundreds of Black-owned businesses over the past 15 years. The author notes the high motivation of these entrepreneurs and reflects on a past experience as a community organizer, recalling a statement from a former Black Panther: “Black power is just fine … but what my community really needs is more green power.”

Attacks on DEI and the Importance of Black History Education

Diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives are currently facing criticism. The author suggests this is linked to a lack of comprehensive Black history education, leading to misunderstandings. Historically, African Americans have been denied opportunities afforded to white citizens, resulting in significant disparities in wealth accumulation. The median net worth of Black households ($27,100) is only 11% of that of white households ($250,400).

Economic Participation and Systemic Racism

According to the Brookings Institution, the ability for Black people to participate in local, regional, and global markets has been hindered by systemic racism and discrimination. The author concludes by advocating for support of Black entrepreneurs to achieve economic equality and create “green power” for the community.