black-owned

UK: blæk-əʊnd | US: blæk-oʊnd

Definition

  1. adj. owned by Black individuals or a Black community

  2. adj. relating to businesses or enterprises controlled by Black people

Structure
black <dark color; also referring to Black people>owned <possessed or controlled>
Etymology

The term combines "black," originally from Old English blæc (dark, ink), which later became associated with racial identity, and "owned," the past participle of "own" (Old English āgan, meaning to possess). The compound emerged in the 20th century, particularly in socio-economic contexts, to highlight businesses or properties under Black ownership as a marker of empowerment and community resilience.

Examples

  1. The city promotes black-owned businesses through its annual directory.

  2. She prefers to support black-owned bookstores to amplify diverse voices.

  3. This black-owned coffee shop has become a cultural hub in the neighborhood.

  4. Investors are increasingly funding black-owned startups to address economic disparities.

  5. The festival featured vendors exclusively from black-owned farms.