Juneteenth marks a critical chapter in American history, the moment when freedom was finally realized for the last enslaved people in the United States. But the pursuit of freedom didn’t stop in 1865. For generations since, Black Americans have continued to fight for equity, justice, and the right to build lasting legacies. Today, that fight lives on through entrepreneurship.
At RMMFI, nearly one-third of the entrepreneurs in our community identify as Black, and 25% are Black women. These entrepreneurs are doing more than launching businesses, they’re rewriting futures. Whether building storefronts, creating jobs, or mentoring others, Black business owners are driving transformation from within their communities.
Entrepreneurship offers the kind of freedom Juneteenth symbolizes. As LaShawn Dixon, founder of S & L New & Used Accessories, shared:
“Juneteenth is a celebration of freedom—and for me, my business is freedom. It represents ownership, autonomy, and the power to build on my own terms.”
Economic freedom shows up in many forms. For some, like attorney and business owner Rachel W. Robinson, it means setting your own ethical standards. For others, like Briana Butler, it’s about having a seat at the table and making sure others do too. As she puts it:
“Economic freedom means more than just income—it means access, equity, and the ability to build generational wealth in communities that have long been overlooked.”
Black-owned businesses in the U.S. generate over $207 billion for the economy and employ more than 1.3 million workers. These numbers reflect power, but they don’t fully capture the heart. At RMMFI, we’ve seen how Black entrepreneurs lead with purpose. 81% of Black-owned businesses in our network give back to their communities, whether through donated services, leadership, or participation in local events.
This Juneteenth, we reflect on that legacy of leadership and the road still ahead. Black entrepreneurs continue to face barriers from systemic discrimination, but even in the face of these challenges, they are pushing forward for something better.
Juneteenth isn’t just a celebration. It’s a call to action. To invest in Black-owned businesses. To create space for equity. And to recognize that building economic freedom is essential to building justice.
Let’s honor Juneteenth by recognizing the builders creating change, claiming freedom, and fueling Black futures.
Read the entrepreneurs’ full reflections on what Juneteenth means to them and how entrepreneurship shapes their vision of freedom, resistance, and legacy below.
Rachel W. Robinson, Esquire
As an entrepreneur, I am contributing to the prosperity of Black America. Immediately after slavery, and again during segregation, Black American communities thrived. They had all of the expertise and ingenuity and leadership skills needed to develop prosperous neighborhoods and towns. This makes sense, since they had created everything for free for hundreds of years.
I am an immigrant from the Caribbean, so I come from several generations of uninterrupted racial progress, at least at the national level. However, at the international level, Black countries are oppressed through Trade and Finance policies handed down by their former colonists and enforced by the International Bank and International Monetary Fund, among other international finance organizations.
So, for me, I am doubly proud to be free to build my own wealth and to do it ethically with Justice at the heart of all that I do.
Has your journey in business felt like a form of freedom or resistance?
Definitely Freedom. I started my business out of the necessity to escape the corruption of my former employer. I promised myself that I would never work for any organization that would force me to choose between my ethics and my livelihood (I chose my ethics). After contemplating that for several months, I realized the only way I could guarantee that would be to work for myself. And then, of course, financially, there is no limit for an entrepreneur. So in both ways, I am free.
What does “economic freedom” mean to you, and how are you building it?
Economic Freedom is being able to pay for anything that could go wrong in life and to go anywhere you want without feeling a financial hit. In other words, being able to cover any unexpected expense without worrying that I will have to sacrifice something else is economic freedom. Being able to point to a map and say, “I want to go there” and, within a couple weeks I’m on a flight headed to that location; that is economic freedom.
Another indicator – and this is my favorite – is being able to take a nap every day and sleep for 8 hours every night.
When I started delegating – and getting more rest – I realized that I was buying back my time and attracting more money.
Briana Butler
As a 100% minority-owned micro-small business in Colorado, finding and reaching my ideal clientele has been a difficult journey over the last 10 years—one shaped by systemic barriers that still exist today. Juneteenth symbolizes freedom, but even in 2025, many of us in the Black community continue to feel the lasting economic impacts of slavery.
My path as an entrepreneur has been both a fight to create a space for these issues and economic struggle to ever get there. Economic freedom means more than just income—it means access, equity, and the ability to build generational wealth in communities that have long been overlooked. There is a deep and urgent need for non-BIPOC allies to help dismantle these barriers and actively invest in creating real, lasting pathways for Black, Brown, and immigrant communities to thrive. This is why I continue to support organizations like RMMFI since 2017 because they have always supported and uplifted these communities.
LaShawn Dixon
Founder, S & L New & Used Accessories
As an entrepreneur, Juneteenth holds a powerful meaning for me. It’s more than a holiday—it’s the one time of year where our culture gathers in unity, and you can truly see the talent, versatility, and creativity that exists within our community.
Juneteenth is a celebration of freedom—and for me, my business is freedom. It represents ownership, autonomy, and the power to build on my own terms. I set the standards. I create a vision, and whether I succeed or stumble, the responsibility—and the pride—rests with me.
Entrepreneurship, at its core, is a vehicle for economic liberation. It’s not just about profit—it’s about purpose. It’s about building community wealth, creating opportunities, and leaving a legacy for the next generation. That legacy becomes the foundation of generational wealth—something we’ve long been denied, but are reclaiming, one business at a time.
To me, true freedom is sitting at your own table—not waiting for an invitation to someone else’s.
This Juneteenth, I celebrate our progress, our brilliance, and our boundless potential.
Let’s continue to build, uplift, and honor the journey—together.
