If you grew up in Columbus, Ohio fifty-plus years ago you probably remember what was the popular nickname for the City, right?
It was “Cow-Town USA” Wow, how times have changed. Today Columbus, Ohio reminds me of when I first relocated to Atlanta, Georgia in 1986. There were cranes up all over the City. People were relocating from all over the country.
The joke was are there any native folks who actually were born in Atlanta, because everyone you met was from someplace else!
Atlanta, Georgia is where I began my publishing career. I was stunned at the amount of prosperity and success in Atlanta African American community.
There were (4) four Black-owned banks, over (13) thirteen new car Black-owned dealerships, there were multimillion homes in upscale subdivisions built by Black builders, and over 150 streets named after local and prominent African Americans.
In 1948, Forbes magazine claimed that Auburn Avenue near downtown Atlanta was “the richest Negro Street in America.”
It was in 1989 I decided to return to my journalistic roots and publish my first book titled, “Who’s Who in Black Atlanta.” Stunned that 42-established publishing companies turned down my manuscript for that first book! It was such a inspiring journey to have personally interviewed over 300 high achieving and successful African Americans from various career backgrounds and occupations I knew their stories and achievements needed to be showcased and told.
It became a huge success when I decided to self-publish my own manuscript and book. We updated the book every year and released a new edition annually to a huge book release reception.
In 2000, I returned to Columbus, Ohio my hometown with requests to publish the same publishing product here. Honestly, I was beyond skeptical about the success of the same book titled, “Who’s Who in Black Columbus.”
My first edition of the Columbus book sold more copies than I ever sold in Atlanta. Mystified, I couldn’t get my head around the reason why the book was so popular! But you know what they say about Columbus, “If it’s successful here it would be successful in any other city or market! So by 2008, I scaled the book to 27-different cities coast-to-coast with great success. In 2009, I decided to sell my publishing firm to an out of state entity.
Now fast forward to today, I’m about to release my 66th self-publishing title with the release of “The MAHOGANY POWER 100” I’m immensely proud of my hometown and especially proud of the fact that the African American community represents 30% of Central Ohio’s population, and that in every career sector in the city African Americans hold key executive positions. Whether it’s in the C-Suites, government, nonprofit leadership or Black-owned businesses, they have contributed much to the growth and development of the city!
Hence, I’m releasing a historical keepsake book titled, “The MAHOGANY POWER 100” which identifies the African American Movers and Shakers you should know. #Cheers
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