Earl G. Graves Sr., founder, chairman, and publisher of BLACK ENTERPRISE magazine, recently took his place among other business luminaries inducted into the U.S. Business Hall of Fame by Junior Achievement Worldwide. He joins a prestigious group of corporate executives, entrepreneurs, and inventors, including Thomas A. Edison, J.D. Rockefeller Sr., Henry Ford, and Walter E. Disney.
Graves was chosen not only for launching BLACK ENTERPRISE–a multimedia company that boasts annual sales of nearly $60 million–but also for changing the landscape of the African American business community. “It is awe-inspiring to be included with other successful businessmen and -women,” says Graves. “It challenges me to do even more in the betterment of all Americans and, in particular, African Americans.”
Graves is only the sixth African American to be inducted into the Hall. The others include: Kenneth Chenault (American Express chairman and CEO), Berry Gordy (Motown Records founder), John Johnson (Johnson Publishing Co. founder), Charles Spaulding (founder of North Carolina Mutual Life Insurance), and Madam C.J. Walker (cosmetics).
“Inducting a laureate with Mr. Graves’ extraordinary reputation and stature in the African American community demonstrates JA Worldwide’s sincere commitment to providing youth with strong role models representing our nation’s diversity ,” says David S. Chernow, president and CEO of JA Worldwide. JA Worldwide is a not-for-profit organization whose goal is inspiring and preparing young people to succeed in a global economy.