For #blackhistorymonth I want to provide a positive and inclusive message that thanks and pay tribute to three Atlanta-based Black men who helped make Atlanta more welcoming for businessman and women of all races.
This short video features Lonnie Johnson, an engineering pioneer who you may know as the inventor of the Super Soaker Water Gun, Ambassador Andrew Young, and Alonzo Herndon, born a slave, but founded Atlanta Life Insurance Company.
The Entrepreneur Nexxt Door Series
Honoring the Diversity of Multicultural Entrepreneurs
The Alonzo Herndon Story
As seen on WABE and screened at Tyler Perry Studios, and as part of the Entrepreneur Next Door series, Slavery to Legacy: The Alonzo Herndon Story is an inspiring account of how Alonzo rose from slavery to become Atlanta’s first Black Millionaire. The film does not ignore the cruel environment that a successful Black man navigated during that era of American History yet leaves us with the hope that we can accomplish the improbable.
Born a slave in 1858 to a father who was his enslaver, Alonzo, his mother, and brother found themselves freed but homeless at the end of the Civil War. To take care of his family, Alonzo left Social Circle, GA with $11 in his pocket, ultimately settling in Atlanta.
Alonzo’s journey included owning 3 barbershops that served white men and becoming the largest black real estate investor of his time, before pivoting to insurance for Black customers when Jim Crow Laws made segregation and violence a way of life. He is best known for starting Atlanta Life Insurance Company in 1905 that was acquired in 2023 by a Magic Johnson-led insurance group, thus extending Alonzo’s legacy.
Our documentary is about perseverance, overcoming extreme adversity, and giving back. We educate on Black History, entrepreneurship, and legacy-building. The video below is an except from our full length film. Click here for the film’s website: https://www.slaverytolegacy.com.
The Entrepreneur Nexxt Door on Georgia Public Broadcasting - Click Here
Show Description
‘The Entrepreneur Nexxt Door’ empowers our viewers by taking them into the behind-the-scenes worlds of multi-cultural Georgia-based entrepreneurs who bust conventional myths that stifle others from pursuing their passions.
America was built on the backs of hard-working resilient people with the entrepreneurial spirit. Entrepreneurs frequently find business opportunities when others don't – even during economic downturns. Microsoft, Uber, AIRBNB, and even Disney are examples of ventures whose founders bucked conventional wisdom to pursue their dreams during recessions. While we anxiously wait for the next Bill Gates and Steve Jobs from the COVID-19 induced economic downturn, we expect that women and people of color will emerge to seize their own opportunities. Importantly, many who rise up as The Nexxt Entrepreneurs will be distinctive from the first Bill Gates.
‘The Entrepreneur Nexxt Door’ is about people, places, and personalities. The people are diverse entrepreneurs in terms of race, gender, and type of business, that will include corporate entrepreneurs, those with a side hustle, social entrepreneurs, creatives, etc.
What do the stealth bomber, the Galileo spacecraft, and the Super Soaker water gun have in common? That would be Dr. Lonnie Johnson, a real-life rocket scientist who has been a prolific inventor with over 130 patents in a wide range of fields since his humble beginnings in Mobile, Alabama. Click here to learn more about DR. JOHNSON.
Sara Keith is a creative who is living her dream after seizing the opportunity of a lifetime to purchase the Atlanta School of Photography that reflects her passion and skill set. Like our other entrepreneurs, Sara began her journey very early in life with an assist from her grandfather. It is accurate to say the rest is history. Click here to read more about Sara and the ATLANTA SCHOOL OF PHOTOGRAPHY.
Dr. Robert Joseph is an MIT-trained engineer with a Ph.D. in computer science from Carnegie Mellon. He is a serial entrepreneur whose interest in making things and starting businesses began early in life. Like many people, he works full time, but Robert has perfected the art of launching multiple ventures while also holding down a full-time job. Click here to read more about Robert and his latest venture TEAM MINDSHIFT