From Then to Now: 28 Black Trailblazers and the Modern Money Moves They Inspire
February isn't just about remembering history: it's about using it as a blueprint for our future. Every trailblazer who broke barriers in business, finance, and entrepreneurship left us more than a legacy. They left us a playbook. And in 2026, when we talk about economic empowerment and the Buyblack movement, we're literally standing on their shoulders.
So let's break down 28 Black trailblazers whose money moves back then are still teaching us how to build wealth, support our community, and create generational change right now.
The Banking Pioneers: Building Financial Foundations
1. Maggie Lena Walker (1864-1934)
First woman to charter a bank in the U.S., founding St. Luke Penny Savings Bank in 1903. Born to formerly enslaved parents, she understood that economic freedom meant financial independence.
Modern Money Move: Start where you are. Walker began with penny savings, literally. Today, that's your automated savings app or rounding up spare change. Small, consistent moves build empires.
2. Arthur George Gaston (1892-1996)
Built a business empire starting with burial insurance for Black families in Alabama, eventually founding the state's only Black-owned savings and loan.
Modern Money Move: Find the gaps in your community and fill them. What does your neighborhood need that you could provide? That's your business opportunity right there.
3. Jesse Binga (1865-1950)
Founded Binga State Bank in Chicago, becoming one of the first Black-owned banks in the North. Lost everything in the Great Depression but never stopped advocating for Black economic power.
Modern Money Move: Diversify and protect your assets. Don't put all your eggs in one basket: spread your investments and always have an emergency fund.
The Wall Street Breakers: Finance Game Changers
4. Travers J. Bell Jr. (1941-1988)
Co-founded Daniels & Bell in 1971, the first Black-owned investment banking firm on the NYSE.
Modern Money Move: Access matters. Open that investment account. Learn about stocks, bonds, and ETFs. The market isn't just for "them": it's for us too.
5. Mellody Hobson (1969-present)
Co-CEO of Ariel Investments, chair of Starbucks, and a fierce advocate for financial literacy in Black communities.
Modern Money Move: Get comfortable being uncomfortable talking about money. Have those conversations about investing, retirement, and building wealth. Knowledge is power, but shared knowledge is community power.
6. John W. Rogers Jr. (1958-present)
Founder of Ariel Investments, proving that Black-owned investment firms can compete and thrive on Wall Street.
Modern Money Move: Think long-term. Rogers is famous for his patient investing approach. Stop chasing quick wins and build sustainable wealth strategies.
The Billion-Dollar Builders: Scaling Up
7. Reginald F. Lewis (1942-1993)
First African American to build a billion-dollar company with TLC Beatrice International.
Modern Money Move: Think bigger than your current circumstances. Lewis didn't just want a job: he wanted to own the company. What's your billion-dollar vision?
8. Robert F. Smith (1962-present)
Private equity billionaire who famously paid off the student loan debt for an entire graduating class at Morehouse College.
Modern Money Move: Build wealth to bless others. Your financial success should create opportunities for your community. That's the Buyblack mentality.
9. Sheila Johnson (1949-present)
Co-founder of BET and America's first Black female billionaire.
Modern Money Move: Own equity. Johnson didn't just work in media: she owned it. Seek ownership opportunities in your career and investments.
The Retail Revolution: From Streets to Stores
10. Madam C.J. Walker (1867-1919)
America's first female self-made millionaire, building a beauty empire that employed thousands of Black women.
Modern Money Move: Your passion can be your profit. Walker turned hair care into an empire. What's your skill that could become a business? And when you shop, check out Blackwallstreets.store to support modern-day entrepreneurs doing the same thing.
11. Annie Malone (1869-1957)
Built a multimillion-dollar beauty empire and employed more people than anyone else in St. Louis at her peak.
Modern Money Move: Train and elevate others. Malone created opportunities for thousands of Black women. Your success should lift others up too.
12. John H. Johnson (1918-2005)
Founded Ebony and Jet magazines with a $500 loan, building a publishing empire worth hundreds of millions.
Modern Money Move: Control your narrative. Whether it's your personal brand or your business, own your story. In 2026, that means building your platform, your content, your community.
The Tech and Innovation Trailblazers
13. Mark Dean (1957-present)
IBM engineer who holds three of the original nine patents for the personal computer.
Modern Money Move: Get in tech. Period. Whether you're learning to code, investing in tech companies, or buying from Black-owned tech startups, this is where wealth is being built.
14. Kimberly Bryant (1967-present)
Founder of Black Girls CODE, teaching young Black girls computer programming and technology skills.
Modern Money Move: Invest in education: yours and others. Skills are currency. Certifications, courses, and continuous learning keep you competitive and valuable.
15. Tristan Walker (1981-present)
Founder of Walker & Company Brands (acquired by Procter & Gamble), creating grooming products specifically for people of color.
Modern Money Move: Serve your community first. Walker saw a need in the Black community and filled it. That's sustainable business: solving real problems for real people.
The Entertainment Entrepreneurs
16. Berry Gordy (1929-present)
Founded Motown Records with an $800 loan, creating the soundtrack of a generation and launching countless careers.
Modern Money Move: Build systems, not just products. Gordy created an entire production system. Whatever you do, think about scaling and systematizing it.
17. Oprah Winfrey (1954-present)
Media mogul who turned her talk show into a billion-dollar empire spanning TV, film, publishing, and wellness.
Modern Money Move: Your brand is your asset. Oprah monetized trust and authenticity. In the creator economy, your reputation and relationship with your audience is everything.
18. Tyler Perry (1969-present)
Built Tyler Perry Studios, one of the largest film production studios in the country, owning his content and his platform.
Modern Money Move: Own your means of production. Whether you're a content creator or running a side hustle, control your distribution and keep your equity.
The Sports Business Moguls
19. Magic Johnson (1959-present)
Turned his NBA fame into a business empire including real estate, restaurants, and movie theaters in underserved communities.
Modern Money Move: Reinvest in your community. Johnson specifically targeted Black neighborhoods for development. Your dollars should circulate in your community: that's the Buyblack principle in action.
20. Michael Jordan (1963-present)
First athlete billionaire, proving that endorsement deals and ownership stakes could create generational wealth.
Modern Money Move: Negotiate for equity. Don't just take the salary: ask for ownership. Whether it's stock options or profit-sharing, get a piece of the pie.
The Real Estate Royalty
21. Don Peebles (1960-present)
Real estate developer who built a billion-dollar portfolio and became one of the largest Black property owners in America.
Modern Money Move: Real estate builds wealth. Start somewhere: house hacking, rental properties, REITs. Get your money working in real estate somehow.
22. Cathy Hughes (1947-present)
Founded Radio One (now Urban One), the largest Black-owned broadcasting company in the country.
Modern Money Move: Leverage debt wisely. Hughes mortgaged her house to buy her first radio station. Strategic debt can build wealth: just make sure the numbers make sense.
The Fashion Forward Thinkers
23. Daymond John (1969-present)
Founder of FUBU and Shark Tank investor, building a fashion empire from his mother's house in Queens.
Modern Money Move: Start with what you have. John sewed FUBU hats in his house. Your side hustle doesn't need a huge investment: it needs hustle and consistency.
24. Tracy Reese (1964-present)
Fashion designer whose work has been worn by Michelle Obama and who's now focused on sustainable, ethical fashion in Detroit.
Modern Money Move: Align your values with your business. Reese proves you can make money AND make a difference. Choose brands that reflect your values when you shop.
The Modern Day Disruptors
25. Katrina Lake (1982-present)
Founder of Stitch Fix, the first Black woman to take a tech company public.
Modern Money Move: Use technology to solve problems at scale. Whatever your business idea, think about how tech can amplify it.
26. Lauren Simmons (1994-present)
Became the youngest female equities trader on the NYSE floor at just 22 years old.
Modern Money Move: Age is just a number. Don't wait until you're "ready": start investing, start building, start learning now.
27. Richelieu Dennis (1969-present)
Founder of SheaMoisture and founder of Essence Ventures, taking ownership of iconic Black media properties.
Modern Money Move: Buy back what's ours. Dennis acquired Essence magazine, bringing it back under Black ownership. Support businesses that are community-owned and operated.
28. Arian Simone (1976-present)
Co-founder of Fearless Fund, a venture capital firm investing specifically in women of color-led businesses.
Modern Money Move: Change the funding game. If traditional systems don't support us, we build our own. Whether you're an investor or entrepreneur, seek out and support alternative funding sources.
Your Move
These 28 trailblazers didn't wait for permission, perfect conditions, or the "right time." They saw opportunities, took calculated risks, and built wealth that changed their families and communities forever.
In 2026, the Buyblack movement isn't just about nostalgia: it's about continuation. Every time you shop at Blackwallstreets.store, invest in a Black-owned business, or teach someone in your community about building wealth, you're honoring their legacy and creating your own.
The money moves are clear: invest in yourself, invest in your community, own assets, build equity, and lift as you climb. These trailblazers proved it's possible. Now it's our turn to prove it's sustainable.
What's your next money move?
