In every century, succeeding in business has required courage, ideas, the willingness to take risks, and the desire to succeed. For an African American man or woman, building a business also meant struggling against prejudice and working even harder than many others. Those who succeed are not just good businessmen and -women, they are heroes and heroines.

In this vivid, inspiring collection, you will meet more than thirty fascinating African American entrepreneurs, from the eighteenth century up to the present, who overcame the odds against them. You'll discover little-known facts about their families, and the exciting times in which they lived. Along the way, you'll witness the triumph of talent, ingenuity, and perseverance.

Ranging from cattle ranching to magazine publishing and computers, these stories show you how:

• Marie-Thérèse Metoyer, born into slavery, started her own plantation.
• Pierre Toussaint, born a slave in Haiti, became rich as a hairdresser in New York.
• Granville T. Woods, an engineer, could not find work after the Civil War because he was black. So he started inventing. During his life, he registered more than sixty patents.
• Henry G. Parks, using an old Virginia sausage recipe, built a national food company.
• Alphonse "Buddy" Fletcher Jr., one of Wall Street's most successful stock traders, started his own firm before he was even thirty years old.

This outstanding collection brings to light these and dozens of other exciting and surprising tales of entrepreneurs who lived their dreams.

Meet the black stars who lived their dreamsfrom the early years to modern times

Richard Henry Boyd

Janet Harmon Bragg

Paul Cuffe

Alphonse "Buddy" Fletcher Jr.

James Forten

A. G. Gaston

Berry Gordy Jr.

Earl G. Graves

Thomas L. Jennings

John H. Johnson

Quincy Jones

Elizabeth Keckley

Shelton Jackson "Spike" Lee

William Leidesdorff

Reginald F. Lewis

"Free Frank" McWorter

Marie-Thérèse Metoyer

Oscar Micheaux

Henry G. Parks

Philip A. Payton Jr.

David Ruggles

Jake Simmons Jr.

Ada "Bricktop" Smith

Charles Clinton Spaulding

Pierre Toussaint

Dempsey J. Travis

Madame C. J. Walker

Maggie Lena Walker

Omar Wasow

Oprah Winfrey

Granville T. Woods

Featuring compelling profiles of famous and legendary figures as well as unsung heroes and heroines, "African American Entrepreneurs" brings achievement to life across the spectrum of the American experience. Photos.