Janice Bryant Howroyd is the first black woman to build a billion-dollar company.

Oprah Winfrey may be the first Black woman self-made billionaire, but Janice Bryant Howroyd, CEO of Act•1 Group, is the first Black woman to own a billion-dollar company. In 2011 Act•1, the nation’s largest Black female-owned business, held the No. 3 spot on the BE Industrial/Service list of the national’s largest Black-owned companies, with $1.4 billion in revenues for 2010. Over the last 30 years Bryant Howroyd has steered her Torrence, Calif., based-company through turbulent economic climates to emerge as a leader in the $120 billion staffing industry. The business titan and BE 100s CEO will share her keys to success as a featured keynote speaker at the 2012 Black Enterprise Entrepreneurs Conference + Expo (BEEC2012) in Chicago (May 23-26).

In 1978, Bryant Howroyd started Act•1 Personnel Services as a single-office operation that evolved into the ACT•1 Group, an expansive global operation that today employs more than 1,300 people in 240 satellite offices in the U.S. and eight other countries, offering a range of services from employee background checks to executive travel management. This growth has earned ACT•1 the distinction of being the largest woman minority-owned employment agency in the United States.

Covering an array of industries and serving corporate giants such as Merck, Sempra Energy, and AT&T, Bryant Howroyd has mapped out an expansion strategy based on understanding the demands of a changing work environment, anticipating client needs and providing customized services that deliver maximum results. The recent economy has wrecked many companies, large and small, yet, Bryant Howroyd continues to grow her business, increasing its international presence. Act•1 is well on its way to becoming a $2 billion by year-end 2012.

Bryant Howroyd represents the enterprising spirit of African American entrepreneurs—men and women—that remains unwavering. She says now is the best time to start a business because opportunities are ripe. “Whenever you have an economic situation that is weakened a bit, whenever you find societies are having challenges, you also have the opportunity to bring solutions people may not have thought about before and you can deliver in ways they’ve never been open to receive it,” she explains.

“You have to ask the right questions and listen for the right answers,” she advises, “Be where you say you’re going to be and how you say you’re going to be there; communicate with clarity and make sure you have full circle communication. Those are the simple ABC’s of business and I think they also serve very well in life as well,” adds Bryant Howroyd who believes vagueness is what causes business failure.

You also have to think and act globally. “No matter what the size of your business, no matter what the generation or iteration of your business, you are in a global business,” she says. “We all compete globally – no matter what we manufacture, no matter what we deliver as a service or a solution, there is someone else in the world also doing that–and technology has brought us together into a single community.”

Bryant Howroyd will share with new and established entrepreneurs her seven ingredients in creating success: competitive edge, dedication, dynamic foresight, resilience, focus and clarity, employee appreciation and, her biggest asset, faith.

Janice Bryant Howroyd is among the accomplished entrepreneurs who will share their success secrets at the 2012 Black Enterprise Entrepreneurs Conference + Expo hosted by Nationwide, May 23-26, at the Hilton Chicago Hotel in Chicago, IL. Search and follow the hashtag #BEEC2012 on Twitter for the latest updates on conference speakers and sessions. Expect innovative sessions, high-powered speakers, and an early peek at the products, trends, and services you’ll need to stay ahead of the curve. To register and find out more, visit www.blackenterprise.com/ec/

Tiffany Smith-Anoa’i, CBS Entertainment

Making power moves that celebrate and bring together multiple ethnic cultures has long been a top priority for Tiffany Smith-Anoa’i, who joined CBS Entertainment as a publicist in 2000. After spending nearly a decade overseeing publicity strategies for primetime series, movies and specials, the Howard University graduate was appointed to her a newly created executive position as vice president of entertainment diversity and communications on the West Coast to build diversity efforts across the company.

THE GIG: Widely respected throughout the industry for her assiduous work ethic and winning personality, Smith-Anoa’i is deeply committed to identifying solutions that address the state of diversity within the industry.  She is the force behind the network’s highly-lauded diversity workshop, CBS Diversity Discussion, which each year brings together the industry’s multicultural leadership under one roof for frank dialogue on inclusion and diversity with CBS executive producers/showrunners and CBS executives.

THE WORKPLACE:

BlackEnterprise.com: Why is diversity important?

Smith-Anoa’i: As it relates to television, we are broadcasters and strive to reflect diversity on a whole: ethnic, gender, sexual orientation, age, physical ability and other ideologies which all exist in society for our viewers, both in front of the camera as well as behind.  Diversity is not just the right thing to do— it is an important and integral part of the business model that should be respected as such.  Diversity makes dollars and sense. One of my favorite motto’s is “Everything is better with Diversity sprinkled on top!”

Despite the best efforts of many, why has diversity remained such a problem in Hollywood?

Diversity on a whole is a global issue that will continuously be a work in progress. It takes one person in a decision-making position to say, ‘Make it happen,’ whether that be within the realms of casting, writing, directing, development, etc. I challenge myself and others on a daily basis to find obvious and practical solutions to this specific problem. There has been progress, however, much more needs to be done and is being done day in and day out.

How important are African American executives in “curing” the diversity problem in film and TV?

I change the dynamic of a room just by being there and not even saying a word. Having more diverse perspectives is always a combination for success. When you know better, you do better and it is important and invaluable to have a voice that can ultimately bring change and raise a level of awareness that was not there before.  It is pertinent to incorporate people of color at every phase of the process to insure a clear picture of Diversity is being painted.”

What are your long term goals?

To continue walking the walk, talking the talk and providing a voice for progress, inclusion and change… When diversity becomes the norm and is no longer viewed as a thorn in the side, I will rest. Bottom line, everyone wants to feel acknowledged, included, respected and not invisible.

Angela Dean of DeanZign Designer Collections (Image: Courtesy of Subject)

This week on The Urban Business Roundtable, UBR contributor Samantha Pass speaks with Angela Dean, founder and owner of DeanZign Designer Collections in Los Angeles. Launched in the 1980s as a small boutique, DeanZign became so popular that Dean ended up closing her store to provide full, custom service to a burgeoning roster of celebrity clients.

Dean’s designs have been worn by high-profile clients including Patti LaBelle, Natalie Cole, Chaka Khan, Gladys Knight and Halle Berry. Her work has also been featured in music videos, commercials, television shows and magazine’s including Ebony. Dean’s designs were featured on the cover of Essence‘s 30th Anniversary Issue, then the highest-selling issue in the history of the magazine. The fashionista joins the Roundtable to share how her passion and dedication helped her to become a go-to designers for the Hollywood elite.

Also, UBR contributor Renita D. Young speaks with Deborah Owens, president of Owens Media Group, a company that delivers financial literacy content for companies and organizations. Author of A Purse of Your Own: An Easy Guide to Financial Security (Touchstone), Owens has more than 20 years of experience in the financial services industry and is a former financial adviser and vice president at Fidelity Investments. She joins the Roundtable to share wealth building and investment advice for business owners.

Wealth expert and Owens Media Group President Deborah Owens (Image: Courtesy of Subject)

And speaking of financial advice for entrepreneurs, in my “Alfred’s Notepad” segment, I remind entrepreneurs that classes are still in session at Small Business University (SBU), a free online video course at BlackEnterprise.com offering expert advice to entrepreneurs looking to start and grow profitable small businesses. This week’s session is “Financing and Investing,” taught by The Money Coach, personal expert Lynnette Khalfani-Cox, who covers raising capital for your venture, perfecting your elevator pitch and managing the budget for your business. Coming up next week: “Technology,” which will focus how technology can make all the difference with your small business, with a guide software and hardware tools to maximize efficiency and profitability. SBU, powered by Dell, also includes custom gamification features that allow registrants to compete for more than $50,000 in cash and prizes, including a grand prize package that includes $5,000 in cash, a $10,000 Dell Office Setup, a free one-on-one consultation with a small business expert, and a profile in Black Enterprise magazine. Go to http://www.BlackEnterprise.com/sbu to register and learn more.

And finally, every week on UBR, you’ll get motivation and inspiration from author and entrepreneurial icon Farrah Gray, a weekly wrap-up of business news from USA Today business correspondent Charisse Jones, our Patient Investor Report from Ariel Investments and key economic intelligence for small business owners from our UBR economists Derrick Collins and Rasheed Carter.

If you have a question you want answered or a topic you want addressed on The Urban Business Roundtable, connect with me at BE Insider, the social media network for people who are serious about Black Enterprise. You can also find me on Twitter and Facebook.

Alfred Edmond Jr. is the senior VP/editor-at-large of Black Enterprise and the host of the Urban Business Roundtable, a weekly radio show, sponsored by Ariel Investments, airing CST Wednesdays at 8:30 a.m., Thursdays at 6:30 p.m. and Saturdays at 9:30 a.m. on WVON-AM 1690, the Talk of Chicago. You can also listen live online at WVON.com. Check back each week for UBR Spotlight, which features additional resources, advice and information from and about the topics, entrepreneurs and experts featured on the show.

Small business is BIG BUSINESS at the 2012 Black Enterprise Entrepreneurs Conference + Expo hosted by Nationwide, May 23-26, at the Hilton Chicago Hotel in Chicago, IL. Expect innovative sessions, high-powered speakers, and an early peek at the products, trends, and services you’ll need to stay ahead of the curve. To register and find out more, visit www.blackenterprise.com/ec/

Supermodel-turned-entrepreneur Beverly Johnson will share how reality TV fits into her branding strategy at the Black Enterprise Entrepreneurs Conference. (Image: Rob Kim/FilmMagic)

Beverly Johnson is highly regarded as the premier African-American supermodel. She was the first black woman to appear on the magazine covers of Vogue and Elle. She was named one of the 20th Century’s most influential people in fashion by the New York Times. Johnson is parlaying her famous name into a line of products and also a reality TV series appearing on OWN (Oprah Winfrey Network), Beverly’s Full House. Johnson will be on hand to talk about the show during the session “Building Your Brand Through Reality TV” at the 2012 Black Enterprise Entrepreneurs Conference + Expo (BEEC2012) in Chicago (May 23-26).

Throughout here career Johnson has understood the power of branding. In 1978, Harper’s Bazaar asked what she wanted out of her modeling career, she replied “to be a brand.”  She honed in on this marketing concept long before celebrities were considered viable brands. The right opportunity came along with the Beverly Johnson Signature Eyewear Line which was in Sears stores nationally. The next brand was The Beverly Johnson Hair Collection, which included wigs, hair extensions and other hair products for Amekor Industries. And now there is The Beverly Johnson Lifestyle Brand, a multicultural beauty line of hair care products and drawstring ponytails available at Target stores. Johnson also offers skincare, bath, and body products that are available via her website www.beverlyjohnson.com.

Johnson points to how she had always been the girl on the box, but now she owns the box and what’s in it. “I had the opportunity for the last 14 years of being the face and name of Amekor Industries. I decided it was time for me to create by own destiny. So, I made the leap of faith and decided to create, manufacture, and distribute my own line of products and to own the box my face was on,” she says, coming to the realization that there was a hole in the market for a hair and skincare line for women of color owned by a woman of color.

It was Johnson who pitched a reality TV show concept to longtime friend and branding dynamo mogul Oprah Winfrey. Beverly’s Full House explores the complex relationship between Johnson and her plus-size model daughter, Anansa Sims Patterson, her son-in-law, and her granddaughter as they all live under the one roof. “It’s a constructive show about mother and daughter relationships. I knew that if I wanted my daughter to talk to a therapist or a life coach she would have said ‘no, you may need it but I don’t.’ But she is a big fan of reality TV,” she says.

Furthermore, the television series documents Johnson’s journey in building her new company, Beverly Johnson Enterprises. At age 60 the ‘modelprenuer’ has courageously made the shift from endorsing a beauty brand to owning her self-titled beauty brand. “The series also highlights and shows women that it is never too late to empower yourself to achieve whatever goals and dreams you have inside of you,” says Johnson. “That is how Beverly’s Full House came to be.”

At the Entrepreneurs Conference, not only will Johnson provide tips on how to calculate the risks vs. the benefits of reality TV exposure, she will share some insights on building a personal and professional brand including:

Value Proposition: What do you stand for?

Differentiation: What makes you stand out?

Marketability: What makes you salable?

Johnson is among the accomplished entrepreneurs who will share their success secrets at the 2012 Black Enterprise Entrepreneurs Conference + Expo hosted by Nationwide, May 23-26, at the Hilton Chicago Hotel in Chicago, IL. Search and follow the hashtag #BEEC2012 on Twitter for the latest updates on conference speakers and sessions. Expect innovative sessions, high-powered speakers, and an early peek at the products, trends, and services you’ll need to stay ahead of the curve. To register and find out more, visit www.blackenterprise.com/ec/

Soul Purpose CEO Nadine Thompson (Image: Courtesy of Subject)

When it comes to staging a comeback after a setback Nadine A. Thompson understands all too well. Thompson is the founder and CEO of the Soul Purpose Lifestyle Company, a unique direct sales company that produces natural personal care products. Soul Purpose comes on the heels of Thompson’s first venture, Warm Spirit, which she founded in 1999 but experienced a hostile takeover in 2007.

Thompson is one of the featured panelists on the session, “Sisters Inc.: Bouncing Back,” at the 2012 Black Enterprise Entrepreneurs Conference + Expo (BEEC2012) in Chicago (May 23-26). The Sisters Inc. session, one of the most popular and enduring features of the conference is designed specifically as a forum for women business owners to discuss the trials and triumphs of their entrepreneurial journeys. Thompson will be joined on the session by Brenda Braxton, owner of BBraxton, Exceptional Grooming  for Exceptional Men in Harlem, N.Y. Braxton will share how she rebounded after being forced to shut down her business in 2009 due to mismanagement, and the valuable lessons she gained from the experience that has made her a better, stronger entrepreneur today.

Thompson will provide insights to other entrepreneurs on the resilience it takes to overcome perceived failures based on her own personal challenges. Thompson had it all at the time as Warm Spirit’s herbal beauty care product line had gained national recognition including Oprah’s O magazine and celebrity endorsers including Diane Keaton. With a nationwide network of more than 30,000 consultants and annual sales of over $16 million, Warm Spirit transformed the face of the direct sales and network marketing industry by providing an opportunity to achieve wealth and financial freedom that had not always been accessible for women—and even less so for the African-American community.

Brenda Braxton of BBraxton for Men

But then the unthinkable happened. Thompson lost the company to her financial investor and his new business partner after she disagreed with a business plan that they had created. Thompson says that her belief she was an equal partner, and therefore a shareholder in the company that she had created and nurtured was shattered.  “I owned nothing, not even a single share of the company that I built.” She attempted to raise the capital needed to purchase Warm Spirit but her offer was refused. She was forced out of the company. “I was devastated, crushed, and depressed. The beautiful company that I created and built over the last 10 years was stripped away,” she recalls. Even more disturbing, Warm Spirit filed for bankruptcy twelve months after Thompson left the company.

But an important message that gave her strength and helped her move forward during this trying time came from the Bible scripture: “Be Still and Know That I am God.” Committed to her goal to build a global network marketing and direct sales company that would empower women, Thompson decided to start over in 2008. Her rebirth was Soul Purpose.

“I believe more than ever that the entrepreneurial experience is a journey; the key is understanding that there will be challenges disguised as failures,” she says. “Successful entrepreneurs are those who are able to learn from the challenges and bounce back resiliently from perceived failures.”

Thompson reveals eight lessons that she has learned from her experience:

Resilience is essential! Read as much as you can about resilience and if you don’t have those skills acquire them.

Entrepreneurialism by definition includes risk. Accept that.

Challenges and opportunities for growth are often disguised as failures.

Intuition is a gift; do not ignore it!

Learn from your mistakes and do not repeat them because that it involves insanity.

When criticized hear it “with a grain of salt” but always ask yourself what the possible truth or opportunity for learning is embedded in that criticism.

Strong faith, belief in a power higher than oneself and good friends will sustain you.

Work hard every day and honor your Sabbath.

Thompson will join fellow Sister Inc. panelists to share their personal stories as well as strategies on how other women can come back and overcome challenges in life and business, whether it is a failed marriage, bad business partnership, or a major financial loss.

Thompson is among the accomplished entrepreneurs who will share their success secrets at the 2012 Black Enterprise Entrepreneurs Conference + Expo hosted by Nationwide, May 23-26, at the Hilton Chicago Hotel in Chicago, IL. Search and follow the hashtag #BEEC2012 on Twitter for the latest updates on conference speakers and sessions. Expect innovative sessions, high-powered speakers, and an early peek at the products, trends, and services you’ll need to stay ahead of the curve. To register and find out more, visit www.blackenterprise.com/ec/

Catch attorney, author and academic Anita Hill on this weekend's edition of Our World with Black Enterprise

In 1991, Anita Hill was swept into the national spotlight for her role in the confirmation hearings of then Supreme Court nominee Clarence Thomas. Her controversial testimony brought the topic of sexual harassment in the workplace to the forefront of American consciousness and ignited a fierce debate, which still rages today.  This weekend on an all-new Our World with Black Enterprise, host Marc Lamont Hill caught up with the attorney, author and academic on location at the Black Enterprise Women of Power Summit hosted by State Farm to talk race, gender equality, and how she’s stepping back into the spotlight with her new book, Reimagining Equality.

On the Clarence Thomas testimony that propelled her into the national spotlight:

“I stand by that testimony. It was the right thing to do.  I’ll tell you why. People say it was a sexual harassment claim, but really it was testimony about the individual who was going to be appointed for a lifetime position.”

Concerning the sexual misconduct allegations leveled toward presidential candidate Herman Cain:

“70% of people [after I had testified] rejected my testimony. I don’t think those numbers were the same in the situation involving Mr. Cain. I think that many, many people believe the allegations of those women who came forward. I think it is evidence that the public has learned.”

On her unwavering optimism:

“In two generations, my family moved from being property to owning property. It’s inspiring. [I’ve] seen so much positive change just in my lifetime and in the lives of people I love.  If you can’t be optimistic, you’ve already lost.”

Our World also goes On The Record with three industry leaders committed to achieving corporate diversity and inclusion: Pamela Culpepper, Senior Vice President, Global Diversity and Inclusion, PepsiCo.; Gayle King, Executive Vice President, Chief Administrative Officer, Nationwide; and Jackie Wynn, Vice President, Global Residency Practice, EMC

Plus, we catch up with the legendary philanthropist Rachel Robinson for an intimate visit. At 90 years-old, this female phenomenon is still going strong with her governance of the Jackie Robinson Foundation, which has assisted over 1,400 college scholars with over $30 million in financial support since 1973. Never satisfied to sit on the bench in the dugout, she continues to honor her legendary husband with plans to open The Jackie Robinson Museum in New York City.

Our World with Black Enterprise airs this Sunday at 10:00 a.m. on TV One and on local stations across the country.  Check your local listings and visit www.blackenterprise.com/ourworld for additional time and station information.

Robin Wilson of Robin Wilson Home (Image: Vanessa Lenz)

This week on The Urban Business Roundtable, UBR contributor Samantha Pass speaks with Robin Wilson, the founder and CEO of Robin Wilson Home, a New York-based interior design firm. Wilson has established a unique brand presence as a leading eco-friendly designer and promoter of healthy spaces since launching her firm in 2000. Wilson has shared her expertise and passion via outlets ranging from the Architectural Digest Home Show to Conservation International.

In 2011, Wilson appeared on HGTV’s Selling New York and became an ambassador for the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America. Her advocacy of clean construction methods has garnered assignments including the Harlem office of former President Bill Clinton, the office of the White House Fellows, as well as private homes. Kennedy  chronicled the gut renovation and redesign of the home of Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. in the her book, “Kennedy Green House: Designing an Eco-Healthy Home From the Foundation to the Furniture” (Greenleaf Book Group Press). Wilson joins the Roundtable to share how she runs her business with a sense of both style and purpose.

Grant shares wealth-building tips. (Image: Courtesy of Subject)

Also, UBR contributor Renita D. Young speaks with wealth expert and financial planner Gerald Grant, Jr., director of financial planning for the South Florida Branch of AXA Advisors and the author of Bold Moves for Creating Financial Wealth (G & G Enterprise of Miami Inc.). Grant joins the Roundtable to share wealth-building strategies for entrepreneurs.

My “Alfred’s Notepad” segment focuses on the all-new Small Business University (SBU), a free, eight-week online video course at BlackEnterprise.com offering expert advice to entrepreneurs looking to start and grow profitable small businesses. Black Enterprise SBU, powered by Dell, also includes custom gamification features that allow registrants to compete for more than $50,000 in cash and prizes, including a grand prize package that includes $5,000 in cash, a $10,000 Dell Office Setup, a free one-on-one consultation with a small business expert, and a profile in Black Enterprise magazine. SBU free enrollment period is now open. Go to http://www.BlackEnterprise.com/sbu to register and learn more.

And finally, every week on UBR, you’ll get motivation and inspiration from author and entrepreneurial icon Farrah Gray, a weekly wrap-up of business news from USA Today business correspondent Charisse Jones, our Patient Investor Report from Ariel Investments and key economic intelligence for small business owners from our UBR economists Derrick Collins and Rasheed Carter.

If you have a question you want answered or a topic you want addressed on The Urban Business Roundtable, connect with me at BE Insider, the social media network for people who are serious about Black Enterprise. You can also find me on Twitter and Facebook.

Alfred Edmond Jr. is the senior VP/editor-at-large of Black Enterprise and the host of the Urban Business Roundtable, a weekly radio show, sponsored by Ariel Investments, airing CST Wednesdays at 8:30 a.m., Thursdays at 6:30 p.m. and Saturdays at 9:30 a.m. on WVON-AM 1690, the Talk of Chicago. You can also listen live online at WVON.com. Check back each week for UBR Spotlight, which features additional resources, advice and information from and about the topics, entrepreneurs and experts featured on the show.

Small business is BIG BUSINESS at the 2012 Black Enterprise Entrepreneurs Conference + Expo hosted by Nationwide, May 23-26, at the Hilton Chicago Hotel in Chicago, IL. Expect innovative sessions, high-powered speakers, and an early peek at the products, trends, and services you’ll need to stay ahead of the curve. To register and find out more, visit www.blackenterprise.com/ec/

This ultimate career development event took place at The Ritz-Carlton in Orlando, Florida, and brought together hundreds of trailblazers across various industries. The lineup also included a pampering experience and fashion show hosted by Macy’s, motivational keynotes, riveting one-on-ones, the phenomenal 2012 Legacy Awards honoring Amsale Aberra, co-founder, co-CEO and Creative Director, Amsale Design Group; Anita Hill, Professor of Social Policy, Law, and Women’s Studies, Brandeis University; Rachel Robinson, Founder, Jackie Robinson Foundation; Carole Simpson, veteran broadcast journalist; and Dionne Warwick, singer and activist, and concluded with a soulful performance by R&B crooner Eric Benét.

BE would like to especially thank this year’s generous sponsors for their support, which included host sponsor State Farm; presenting sponsors EMC, Walmart, and PepsiCo; platinum sponsors Abbott Vascular Laboratories, AT&T, FedEx, Intel, Macy’s, Microsoft, NBC Universal, Wells Fargo; and corporate sponsors Belvedere, Dell, Google, and Visit Orlando. Couldn’t make it to this year’s conference? Don’t sweat it. Visit www.blackenterprise.com/wps for a full overview of the Summit’s activities.­

Zenobia Dewely, owner of Zenobia's Sweet Tooth

We all want to make money doing the things we love, and enjoy the perks of having a job that might be hard work but doesn’t feel like work. By following your passion, you can have a career that not only brings in enough to sustain your lifestyle, but leads to life fulfillment and career advancement.

Meet Zenobia Dewely, founder and owner of Zenobia’s Sweet Tooth, a Brooklyn, N.Y. baking company that specializes in cookies, breads, and muffins. Her dessert shop boasts a menu that includes unique flavor combos such as peanut butter and Jelly, chocolate chip Twix, Red Velvet and oatmeal raisin coconut treats, and also includes gluten- and sugar-free banana nut breads — with or without nuts and coconut.

Describe the absolute coolest part of your workday.

I really enjoy attending daytime TV shows.  Sharing my cookies with the hosts, their audiences, and their staff really makes me smile. It gives me an opportunity to meet new people regularly and it thrills me to watch strangers enjoying my treats! Social media allows me to meet and chat with new people and I love when they respond to how my cookies affect them.  I would have never had the opportunity to meet and greet so many people, had it not been for my cookies, so I feel really blessed and grateful. Sherri Shepherd absolutely raves about my gluten and sugar-free banana bread.  Martha Stewart has enjoyed my treats as well, Rachel Ray says they’re delicious, and I have had the pleasure of baking for seven-time, Grammy award-winning singer, Al Jarreau.  I would have never thought my dreams would take me here, so this journey has been extremely exciting!

Read more at Ebony. com …

Actress Teyonah Parris plays Dawn Chambers, the first black character on TV's Mad Men. (Photo: File)

After a 17-month hiatus, Mad Men returned for it’s fifth season with a refreshing addition to the cast and plot, Teyonah Parris, who plays the show’s first black character, Dawn Chambers. Of course, as was prominent during the 1960s, Dawn is a secretary in the ad office in which the show is set, reflecting a realistic lack of diversity in the industry during the time.

The Los Angeles Times talked with Parris about how she got the role, why she thought it was a boss move and the question of being the “token black actor” on a critically acclaimed show criticized for lack of diversity in actors and characters.

Los Angeles Times: A lot of people were concerned that Dawn was simply window dressing, like, ‘look, the token black character that will signal the changing times.’ And we sort of got to know a little bit more about her in last week’s episode, but it was mostly through the eyes of Peggy. What are your thoughts on that?

Parris: Um, I think Peggy is the perfect person for us to learn about Dawn. She’s the woman on the show who is more open-minded, feminist — she doesn’t even know she’s a feminist, but that kind of air about herself. I thought it was pretty cool to see her mind-set and her beliefs and these things that she stands for sort of tested and see how that plays out for Peggy — because, you know, we hear her talk about how her boyfriend is covering the riots in Chicago and all kinds of things. And then we have this heart-to-heart and at the end there’s the purse thing. The subconscious judgments that her character harbors and probably didn’t even realize it.

I realize a lot of responsibility comes with this role. it’s the first time the show has had an African American in the office, but I try not to let it overwhelm me.

Read more at the Los Angeles Times …