The Final Call

Business titan and founder of Black Enterprise magazine, Earl G. Graves Sr., has passed away. It is said that business is the activity of life, and for half a century the world of Black business was featured, unmasked, and celebrated by Mr. Graves through his publication.

Earl G. Graves, Sr. Photos: blackenterprise.com

Mr. Graves told the largely untold saga of Black business and provided the first magazine exclusively devoted to the advancement of Blacks through entrepreneurship, financial literacy, and career development. Mr. Graves died April 6 at 85-years-old, leaving an undeniable mark and contribution to the wider narrative of Black people and America.

“It is with profound sadness that we share news of the passing of Black Enterprise Founder Earl G. Graves Sr. earlier this evening, April 6,” announced a tweet from Black Enterprise. “We will evermore celebrate his life and legacy, in this, our 50th Anniversary Year, and beyond.”

Mr. Graves transitioned quietly after a long battle with Alzheimer’s disease, according to his son and namesake Earl “Butch” Graves Jr., the president and CEO of Black Enterprise. He lauded his father in an April 6 tweet as his “hero” and “giant of a man” who he admired and loved.

For Black entrepreneurs moving toward empowerment and economic independence, Black Enterprise was the “go to” bible for information. Mr. Graves started the magazine to provide a “how to” space for Black business. In his 1997 best-selling book “How to Succeed in Business Without Being White,” Mr. Graves explained: “My goal was to show them how to thrive professionally, economically and as proactive, empowered citizens.”

Many expressed gratitude and recognized Mr. Graves as a visionary voice for the community and a leader who showed how empowerment and self-sufficiency was done and achievable.

“Mr. Graves was a giant in the communication arena and a great example of tenacity and dedication to his craft,” said James Clingman, economics empowerment activist and author, in a statement to The Final Call.

“His chosen genre, within communication, Black business … entrepreneurship, has provided a pathway to Black economic empowerment,” Mr. Clingman added.

In a statement, business mogul, and founder of the Black Entertainment Television Network, Bob Johnson expressed “deep sadness” to say goodbye to his “friend and mentor,” Earl Graves Sr. “Every Black entrepreneur and every Black corporate executive who reached the pinnacles of leadership in corporate America owe a salute and tribute to Earl,” he said.

Mr. Johnson credited Mr. Graves’ “tireless advocacy” of Black business with moving both the White and Black business community to accept that “Black enterprise deserves to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with American enterprise.”

Mr. Graves began Black Enterprise in 1970 at a time of two Americas—one Black, one White—separate and unequal and the need to build Black wealth and self-determination was a necessity.

“You always admire people like Graves who did things at a time that people said, that’s impossible (and) it’s not going to succeed,” said Dr. Ray Winbush, director of the Institute for Urban Research at Morgan State University. He recalled Mr. Graves launched Black Enterprise magazine when there were many small Black businesses, but no Black billionaires in the country.

“He wasn’t afraid of controversy; he gave back to the community. He helped people, he mentored people and (was) I guess what they call in the old days … a race man,” Dr. Winbush added.

Mr. Graves expressed principled positions and approaches to business life. “Selfishness doesn’t last. Uncle Toms don’t last. Fearful people don’t last. It is rare for the individual who only cares about himself or herself to get very far in business,” Mr. Graves once said.

National Urban League President and CEO Marc Morial said in a statement, the world of Black-owned businesses and entrepreneurs has lost its greatest champion with the passing of Mr. Graves.

“Black Enterprise has helped to launch and nurture the careers of two generations of African American professionals and innovators,” Mr. Morial said. “Earl Graves was not just a chronicler of Black businesses and entrepreneurs, but a leader, and a role model for excellence in his own right.”

As an advocate for equality and prosperity, Mr. Graves became a trusted resource to leaders in different walks of life, both business and political, making moves and harnessing relationships. For example, outside of publishing, from 1990-98 he was chairman and CEO of Pepsi-Cola of Washington, D.C.—the largest minority-controlled Pepsi-Cola franchise in the United States.

Before placing his stamp on business and building the multimillion-dollar media empire, an obituary published by Black Enterprise said, Mr. Graves was an assistant to the late Senator Robert F. Kennedy.

However, Earl Jr. described his father as a man, who regardless of how busy a schedule, from establishing his business to sitting on the boards of major corporations like American Airlines, Daimler Chrysler, and Rohm & Hass, family was his priority.

“The most important lessons I learned from my father is that he never put his family second, said the younger Graves in a Black Enterprise video feature on Mr. Graves Sr. “Because in his mind, success without his family would not be success at all.”

Mr. Graves was also on the boards of leading institutions like The Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center and a trustee at Howard University to name a few.

“He advocated for increased diversity in the c-suite. He uplifted the work of other African American entrepreneurs,” said Congresswoman Maxine Waters (D-Calif.) in a statement.

“He was always willing to shine a light on the leadership of African American elected officials whose legislative work would otherwise have gone unrecognized,” said Rep. Waters of her longtime friend.

Along with business success and his journey from Brooklyn, New York, where he was born and raised to what Mr. Graves ultimately became, he believed in giving back. As a graduate of economics from Morgan State University in Maryland, the historically Black college has been a major recipient of Mr. Graves’ generous philanthropy.

Morgan has honored Mr. Graves’ legacy of work by naming its School of Business after him.

“This son of Morgan was a legend in his own right and a great individual whose loss we mourn tremendously,” said David Wilson, president of Morgan State in an official letter about his passing. “At Morgan, his legacy will forever live on,” he added.

Other condolences and recognition were sent from several organizations and renown figures.

Reverend Al Sharpton tweeted Mr. Graves was a “huge Black influencer” and “true trailblazer: who “made a real, measurable difference.”

“Thank you Earl for opening so many doors for young men like myself and teaching us business,” tweeted basketball legend and business great Earvin “Magic” Johnson. “Cookie and I send our love and prayers to his sons Butch, Johnny, and Michael and the entire Graves family.”

Mr. Graves is survived by three sons and eight grandchildren. His wife, Barbara Kydd Graves died in 2012.