Dear Howard University Community,

It is with a saddened heart that I write to inform you that Trustee Emeritus Earl G. Graves Sr., founder, CEO and publisher of Black Enterprise, has died. 

The business pioneer and incomparable entrepreneur inspired four generations of African Americans to build wealth through entrepreneurship, career advancement and money management. In 1970, he launched Black Enterprise to chronicle the rise of African American entrepreneurs and provide the tools for African Americans to succeed in the business mainstream and “achieve their measure of the American dream.”

Trustee Graves wrote the classic business bestselling book, “How to Succeed in Business Without Being White,” in which he stated, “The time was ripe for a magazine devoted to economic development in the African American community. My goal was to show them how to thrive professionally, economically and as proactive, empowered citizens.”

Trustee Graves made this mission his life’s work, becoming a trailblazing entrepreneur in his own right. He built Black Enterprise from a single-magazine publishing company that has stood the test of time for 50 years, into a diversified multimedia business spreading the message of financial empowerment to more than 6 million African Americans through print, digital, broadcast and live-event platforms.  

Born in 1935, Graves ascended from humble beginnings in the Bedford-Stuyvesant section of Brooklyn, New York. After graduating from Morgan State University with a B.A. in economics, he served two years as an officer in the Army and held jobs in law enforcement and real estate. In 1965, he joined the staff of U.S. Senator Robert F. Kennedy as his administrative assistant. When Kennedy was assassinated in 1968, he decided to start a publication that would provide blacks with the pathway to go into entrepreneurship.

From 1989 to 2013, Trustee Graves proudly served on the Howard University Board of Trustees. The leadership and business acumen that he brought to the board was unparalleled. As I joined the central administration I came to know Mr. Graves and his family very well. He was the epitome of sartorial splendor. A true gentle giant of a man.

In 1999, he was awarded the 84th NAACP Spingarn Medal. In 2006, ExxonMobil commissioned a likeness of him for exhibition at the National Great Blacks in Wax Museum in Baltimore. Later that year, he received a lifetime achievement award from the National Association of Black Journalists. In October 2006, he was interviewed by Julian Bond for “An Evening with Earl Graves,” produced for The HistoryMakers, which aired on PBS. In April 2007, he was inducted into the U.S. Business Hall of Fame. In 2011, his name was added to the American Advertising Federation Hall of Fame for exceptional contributions to advertising and society.

Trustee Graves’ influence and reach also extended into the mainstream of corporate America. He was a staunch advocate for African American inclusion in the C-Suite and corporate governance. He became one of the few African Americans to serve on the boards of major corporations such as American Airlines, Daimler Chrysler, Rohm & Hass and Federated Department Stores (Macy’s). Additionally, he was a tireless champion of major corporations doing business with black-owned companies.

Graves was also known for his dedication to family, and especially to his wife Barbara Kydd Graves, who passed away in 2012. Together, they raised three sons, Earl Jr., Johnny and Michael, and were blessed with eight grandchildren.

Trustee Graves inspired generations of young, talented Black men and women to embrace finance, business and the entrepreneurial spirit. Thanks to his vision to spotlight the architects of business success within the Black community, millions were inspired to pursue financial wellness with the knowledge that within the pages of one business magazine, Black financial excellence would be celebrated and held in high esteem. Our thoughts and prayers are with the Graves family during this difficult time. 

Excellence in Truth and Service,

Wayne A. I. Frederick, M.D., MBA
President

(Photo credit: Black Enterprise Magazine)