Know your ‘Black History’: Mary Ellen Pleasant

We’ve all heard of Madame CJ Walker, who is famously thought to be the first Black female millionaire, but have you ever heard of Mary Ellen Pleasant? Her story is quite extraordinary and illustrates how a savvy Black cook, who was deemed “invisible” by whites, used financial tips she picked up while eavesdropping on wealthy White businessmen she served, lead her to become a multimillionaire.
Wells Fargo Commitment Could Potentially Result in Billions for Small Businesses

NNPA NEWSWIRE — “We also noticed that diverse individuals were having a very negative impact, and with the data, it was coming to 41 percent or 450,000 Black-owned businesses closed when COVID hit. That is a disproportionate impact not only to the entrepreneurs but also to the employees they have and the pocketbook,” said Jenny Flores, Wells Fargo’s head of small business growth philanthropy.