Market Women: Black Women Entrepreneurs: Past, Present, and Future (Kindle Edition)

by Cheryl A. Smith (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Review

“Smith has produced an invaluable study of black women entrepreneurs....Smith contends that black women have historically possessed certain qualities of leadership, rooted in their personal life experiences, which make them ideally suited for business success while they nonetheless remain challenged by structural racism and sexism. Smith also discusses the impact of education for those who have succeeded in the business world. Part spiritual memoir, part sociological study, this book is written by an author who is an entrepreneur herself. She argues for a reconsideration of the way in which this society defines success in business as it rethinks business education and attempts to expand opportunities for all. Highly recommended. All collections.”–Choice

“Cheryl-Smith's work fills a void by documenting the history of black women entrepreneurs over centuries. Her publication is a good source in Women's Studies....The title is suitable in academic libraries for undergraduate students enrolled in Women's Studies as well as in public libraries for general understanding of the black business history.”–Journal of Business & Finance Librarianship

“[F]ascinating stories of individual experiences that Smith spins into life about business....Smith's focus on community networks rather than individualism as the basis for business is a useful critique of the boot-strap notion of entreneurship. The book is written with energy and spirit, and one can only applaud Smith's notion that the things that matter in life--community, family, social betterment--should be part of how we understand the history of business....Smith's claim that African American businesswomen do business differently from other women remains intriguing.”–Business History

“Smith uses the term "market women" to evoke images of women selling their wares in a public marketplace, a group that can be thought of as the most basic set of women entrepreneurs....The vignettes on each of the entrpreneurial women are made even more interesting due to the wide range of businesses they are involved in - from bankers to publishers to shopkeepers. Smith is able to infuse the entrepreneurs' stories with a vibrant existence that allows us to follow their day-to-day reality by drawing on her own experiences as an entrepreneur.”–MultiCultural Review

“Smith presents a history of black women entrepreneurs, from Africa's traditional "market women" to today's American CEOs. Drawing upon interviews with 19 contemporary entrepreneurs (in ventures as diverse as catering, bookselling, and manufacturing), Smith reveals a community-minded approach to business that is based on personal relationships. She also shows how the pooling of resources, strong family bonds, and a sense of humor have helped these women to succeed against the odds.”–Reference & Research Book News

Book Description

Explores the African roots of entrepreneurship among black women, and demonstrates their unique approaches to achieving business success.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Format: Kindle Edition
• Print Length: 296 pages
• Publisher: Praeger Publishers (June 30, 2005)
• Sold by: Amazon Digital Services
• Language: English
• ASIN: B000W0QNFE
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Insightful Study, January 16, 2006

By	sandy g (Massachusetts) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Market Women: Black Women Entrepreneurs: Past, Present, and Future (Hardcover)

Smith has written an easily accessible study of Black women entrepreneurs. The historical discussion is illuminating, but the most valuable parts of the book describe the ways that social networks and social capital intersect to support and nurture the success of these determined African- American women.
Intelligence and business acumen are dimensions of success that cannot be discounted, but the importance of this engaging analysis is in the theoretical framework that the author provides and the stories of women who helped to shape it. Valuable book for students and teachers of gender studies, African -American economic history, and management process.