Moments in history - accomplishments made by African American businesses in 1991 - Column

Black Enterprise, August, 1992 by Earl G. Graves

What makes a moment in history special? In the most literal sense, nothing. Every moment, however routine or mundane, becomes a moment in history once it passes. However, certain moments stand out from the infiniteness of time and memory because they challenge our perception of the world and the people around us and help us define new goals and shoulder new responsibilities. As we publish the 22nd anniversary issue of BLACK ENTERPRISE, I am reminded of the truly historic moments of the past year.

Among the most significant of these was the establishment of the South African-American Business Council by the African National Congress (ANC), led by Nelson Mandela and TransAfrica, the Washington, D.C.-based lobbying group led by Randall Robinson. Robinson, this month's cover subject, has played a crucial role in influencing U.S. foreign policy in Africa and the Caribbean during the past 15 years. TransAfrica's demonstrations against apartheid at the South African Embassy in 1984 was an important turning point in the effort to free Mandela after 26 years of imprisonment. It is a cruel injustice that our nation's foreign-policy makers seem more concerned with the development of nations that have only recently renounced communism, than that of African and Caribbean states, including Haiti, which are committed to democracy. The importance of TransAfrica's role in foreign-policy making is why I've become a member of its board.

Black entrepreneurial history was made in May when more than 130 CEOs of the nation's largest black-owned businesses, including BE Entrepreneur of the Century Arthur G. Gaston, gathered in Atlanta to celebrate the 20th Anniversary of the BE 100s. Later the same week, more than 600 established and aspiring entrepreneurs attended the BE National Entrepreneurial Conference.

We at BE remain dedicated to providing the best in business information and services for African-Americans. That commitment has resulted in yet another moment in history for the magazine: In June, BE was honored with a prestigious Magazine Week Editorial Excellence Awards. The award recognizes magazines that maintain "the highest standards in the definition, recognition and achievement of its editorial mission." The editorial staff of BE see it as just that - a mission. We remain committed to making every moment count.