Breaking The ‘Concrete’ Ceiling: The S&P 500’s (Soon-To-Be) Only Black Female CEO | Forbes Moves Black History Month To June

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Sometimes, history “rights” itself. 

Case in point, during his first year in office, former President Donald Trump issued a ban on transgender military service members. Yesterday, less than a week into his presidency, President Joe Biden lifted that ban. "Allowing all qualified Americans to serve their country in uniform is better for the military and better for the country because an inclusive force is a more effective force," said Biden.

Yet another example of history being righted: Last week, we reported that there were still no Black women leading S&P 500 companies—but that is about to change. On March 15, Rosalind 'Roz' Brewer will become the CEO of Walgreens Boots Alliance.

But history doesn’t usually right itself without movers and shakers leading the way—and Forbes is poised to do just that. 

In 1994, one year after his death, our nation’s first Black billionaire, Reginald F. Lewis, released his biography Why Should White Guys Have All The Fun?, a chronicle of his experience feeling virtually invisible in the business world. Never heard of him? You’re not alone. Reginald’s name and face were, and continue to be, largely unknown. 

But that’s about to change, too. 

Today, For(bes) the Culture, our hub for Black and Brown professionals, announced the launch of The State of Black Entrepreneurship, a yearlong, multi-platform project that will accurately define, rectify and create Black history. Historical research will unveil decades of forgotten and omitted Black business successes, while quantitative data and original multimedia storytelling will illustrate how Black entrepreneurship stands across industries today—as well as where it’s headed.

The initiative also includes a bold campaign to move the observance of Black History Month from the coldest, shortest, bleakest month of the year to June—a time when communities can better come together to celebrate, and upon which Black businesses can better capitalize. 

Watch as we turn the page on revisionist history and Black history is remade.

Quiz Yourself

Before Trump’s ban in 2016, how many active service members were transgender? 

A) Less than 1,000

B) 2,450

C) 3,900

D) More than 6,000

(Answer located at the bottom of this newsletter.)

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(B) In 2016, about 2,450 active service members were transgender, according to the Rand Corporation, a U.S. policy research institute.