The National Business League (NBL) is the nation’s first and largest independent not-for-profit trade association dedicated to building, scaling and sustaining Black Business Enterprises (BBEs) and professional networks in the United States and across the global African Diaspora. Founded in 1900 by Dr. Booker T. Washington in Tuskegee, Alabama, the NBL was established on the principle that economic independence, enterprise ownership and institutional strength are the foundations of lasting freedom and community stability.

For more than 125 years, the NBL has served as a national platform for business development, capital access, workforce training, policy engagement and international trade—connecting entrepreneurs, professionals, students, small and medium-sized enterprises, corporations and strategic partners into a unified economic ecosystem.

Today, the NBL is leading a comprehensive modernization effort designed to position BBEs as competitive, data-enabled and investment-ready participants in the global economy. This work extends beyond basic connectivity and focuses on building permanent institutional capacity through:

Through these initiatives, the NBL is equipping entrepreneurs with the tools necessary not only to survive in the digital economy but to own, govern and shape it.

A central pillar of the NBL’s work is the Economic Sovereignty Movement—a national campaign dedicated to advancing enterprise ownership, digital inclusion and wealth creation. A core objective of this movement is the Digitize 1 Million Black Businesses Initiative, which aims to ensure that BBEs are fully integrated into modern digital, financial and commercial systems by 2028. Rather than viewing technology as a support function, the NBL positions digital infrastructure as a strategic asset for economic independence, competitiveness and long-term institutional strength.

Ken L. Harris, Ph.D., 16th president and chief executive officer of the National Business League, emphasizes that digital access must translate into ownership and scalability:

“The National Business League is building a national and global infrastructure for economic sovereignty through enterprise development, digital transformation and institutional capacity. Closing the digital divide is not simply about access—it is about ownership, competitiveness and long-term wealth creation. By equipping Black Business Enterprises with advanced technology, data tools and market access, we are positioning them to scale, innovate and lead in the 21st-century economy.”

This approach reflects the NBL’s broader mission to move BBEs from participation to leadership in emerging markets and industries.

As part of its digital transformation strategy, the NBL supports innovative connectivity solutions, including next-generation broadband technologies and Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite systems. These platforms are particularly critical for rural and underserved communities that lack reliable access to traditional infrastructure.

“Modernized resources like LEO satellites are essential for businesses to reach their full potential while accessing fast, affordable and reliable broadband. In doing so, businesses are better positioned to establish their digital presence,” says Connect Everyone Coalition’s Executive Director Richard Cullen. “Empowering individuals to access digital technologies and close the digital divide like the National Business League does every day is essential for securing economic freedom, technological advancement and digital equity.”

DID YOU KNOW?

Since the COVID-19 pandemic, industry research indicates that the digital divide has disproportionately impacted BBEs. These enterprises are more likely to face limited access to capital, technology and infrastructure, contributing to a nearly 41 percent decline in business ownership during this period.

Rural BBEs are especially affected, as many communities lack high-speed broadband and modern digital services. Without adequate technological resources, entrepreneurs are often unable to digitize their operations, access new markets or compete effectively.

This is where next-generation technologies like LEO satellites can play a role. LEO satellites provide fast, reliable broadband that empowers those who were previously unserved or underserved by internet services to participate in American innovation and the digital economy.

From digitization and workforce development to international trade and institutional governance, the National Business League continues to advance Dr. Booker T. Washington’s original vision: economic empowerment through ownership, self-determination and collective organization. By combining historic leadership with modern technology, data systems and global partnerships, the NBL is building a durable economic infrastructure designed to serve Black entrepreneurs for generations to come.