The Ultimate Champion of Black Business & Founder of Black Enterprise, Earl Graves Sr. Passes Away At Age 85

Black Enterprise founder, Earl Graves Sr. has passed away at age 85, after a long battle with Alzheimer’s disease.

A product of an HBCU (Bowie State University), Graves was an entrepreneur who inspired generations of African Americans to build wealth through money management, entrepreneurship, and career advancement and was considered to be the ultimate champion of black business.

In 1970 he launched Black Enterprise to shed light on the rise of African American entrepreneurs and provide the community with tools to succeed in the business world, living out their own “measure of the American dream.”

 

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FOUNDER OF BLACK ENTERPRISE AND ULTIMATE CHAMPION OF BLACK BUSINESS.

A post shared by Black Enterprise (@blackenterprise) on Apr 7, 2020 at 7:45am PDT

Outside of being a businessman, Graves was also loved his family deeply and was dedicated to his wife, Barbara Kydd Graves, who passed away in 2012. Together they raised three sons, Earl Jr. (now CEO of Black Enterprise), Michael and Johnny. He leaves behind not only his children but eight grandchildren as well.

Thanks to Graves we are fortunate to know many Black entrepreneurs today- we send our thoughts and prayers to his family during this time.