How to inspire social change with entrepreneurship #BlackHistoryMonth

Hi there! 👋 I'm your friendly neighborhood entrepreneur, Eunique Jones Gibson!

I like to describe myself as a creative powerhouse for good. I'm proud to have launched multiple businesses inspired by my drive to honor the culture. 😊

Let's explore how you can also be inspired by your values to enact social change as a creator!

If you're going to turn your desire for social change into action, a good place to start is by honoring the beautiful truth that you're not the first to enact change.

The backbone of my mission:

When I had children, I realized I wanted to see a fresh narrative for Black history that would help them feel inspired and seen. I also knew I wasn't the first creator with a mission to draw attention to Black history in new ways.

The father of Black History Month became my guide.

Thanks to Carter G. Woodson, we have an opportunity every year to reignite what I hoped to become a year-round dialogue about Black history.

Carter G. Woodson became important to my mission because:

• he's the founder of Black History Month, a successful celebration to promote the culture

• his approach inspired me to show the complexity and vibrancy of our stories through media

• his vision has helped Black children and youth see themselves as doctors, lawyers, engineers, creatives, artists, and trailblazers

Without the groundbreaking films of Spike Lee, the campaign I created that launched my entrepreneurial path may not have been possible.

Spike Lee disrupted the film industry with his original and highly entertaining movies about the Black experience.

For example, Spike Lee's film Do The Right Thing takes place one day in Brooklyn, New York with racial tensions over whether the pizzeria's Wall of Fame should include Black actors. His movie depicted the nuances of an urban multicultural setting and is widely considered one of the best American films of the 20th Century.

Spike Lee's movies helped me learn:

• the critical importance of visual and narrative storytelling

• how to leverage the present and future relevance of Black history in a contemporary context

• that I am driven by the motivation to inspire Black and African American children — and the children in all of us — to reach our full potential

Whose cultural innovations inspire you?

Write down three ways your favorite creator helped you think differently about how you relate to the world.

I had a great career in marketing before my entrepreneurial journey began, but I was also a photographer! I pledged to find creative ways to show my children the strength and wisdom of historical Black leaders.

Thus, the Because of Them We Can™ campaign was born!

During Black History Month in 2013, I launched a 28-day photo campaign where children appeared dressed as iconic Black history figures of the past and present.

The initiative eventually expanded to video content and a good news platform that reaches millions of users a month! 🙌

Check it out!:

The campaign was picked up in mainstream media and I felt some clarity in my guiding principles. From then on, I pledged to:

• Pursue my dreams

• Honor the sacrifices of my ancestors

• Believe in myself

• Help others along the way

Who do you want your campaign, project, or business to serve?

What larger purpose drives you to set these bigger goals? 

Who can you collaborate with and reach out to for support with your mission?

When I went to create the Because of Them We Can™ campaign, I considered what audiences had in common across race and ethnicity that would bring attention to Black history.

The great equalizer: we were all children once!

Have you heard of Dr. Alexa Canady?

Dr. Canady overcame a crisis of confidence to become the first African American (and the first female) neurosurgeon.

When Dr. Canady started to treat sick children, she was overwhelmed by the number of children sharing how encouraged they are to see a Black woman in neurology.

Your strengths are your impact.

Simply by following her passion with the rigorous pursuit to become a neurosurgeon, Dr. Canady was widening children's perception of what's possible. I was so inspired by the fact that, without realizing her impact, she began to inspire Black children — especially girls — to pursue medicine.

Stories like Dr. Canady's challenge our perception that Black history is only relevant to the past. That's why the creative decision to have children pose as historical and cultural figures made such a splash!

Did you know you can start with one campaign and pursue your mission in different contexts?

Over the years, I've uncovered even more opportunities across industries and built Black-centred businesses for good:

• Good news platform called Because of Them We Can™ showcases good news in Black excellence

• Card game named CultureTags to honor the influence of Black culture on popular hashtags

• Coworking space, Dream Village, welcomes entrepreneurs to create businesses for good

• Inclusive diaper brand with diverse character designs so babies can see themselves reflected in the world around them (Happy Hues)

Pretty diverse products, right?

Well to me, creating culturally relevant brands that celebrate Blackness is the fuel that drives my ambition across these businesses.

Are you ready to change your status to "entrepreneur for good"?