How Black entrepreneurs are turning side hustles into careers

08/17/22 • 16 min

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Nearly one third of all Americans have a side hustle. But data shows Black communities are more likely to have a side hustle when compared to other races. Considering the pay gap, side jobs are a way for some families to increase their incomes. But after the pandemic caused many people to reevaluate their lives, many began working towards making their side hustles their careers. In this episode of Beyond Black History Month, we meet some entrepreneurs who are doing just that and learn more about the unique challenges they face.

Previous Episode

Should Harriet Tubman Day be the next federal holiday?

There are currently no federal holidays named after - or even dedicated to women. But one local activist aims to change that.

Jeannine Cook is the shopkeeper at both Harriet and Ida’s bookshops, located in Pennsylvania and New Jersey respectively. If the names of those stores don’t make it inherently obvious, she looks up to the female faces of the civil rights movement. So much so, that she's begun her own movement to get one of her own idols a federal holiday.

On this latest episode of Beyond Black History Month, listen as we sit down with Jeannine to discuss the origins of her idea, as well as what’s next on its pathway to potentially being the country’s next nationally-recognized holiday.

Next Episode

Black workers, unions, and the fight for equality

This year, there has been a 56% increase in petitions asking for union representation across the nation.

You've seen the news. Employees at companies such as Amazon and Starbucks are making headlines because they demand better working conditions. If successful, Black employees stand to benefit the most.

Research shows that Black union members have better health insurance, higher pay, and a heftier retirement fund compared to Black workers who aren't a part of a union.

In this episode of Beyond Black History Month, listen as we revisit the role that Black workers have played in the history of unionizing and explore how the modern labor movement is changing their lives for the better.

Produced by Femi Redwood, Jill Webb, Anddy Egan-Thorpe, and Dempsey Pillot