New Books in History Kendra D. Boyd, "Freedom Enterprise: Black Entrepreneurship and Racial Capitalism in Detroit" (U Pennsylvania Press, 2025)
Jan 22, 2026
Kendra D. Boyd, an assistant professor at Rutgers University–Camden, dives into the world of Black entrepreneurship in Detroit, a pivotal yet often overlooked aspect of the Great Migration. She explores how migrant entrepreneurs viewed business as essential to Black liberation, revealing stories of resilience against racial violence, the role of women in business, and community-centered strategies exemplified by figures like Ruth Ellis. Boyd also critiques urban renewal policies, urging a focus on ethical development that respects marginalized voices.
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Origins Of The Project
- Kendra D. Boyd began researching Black business history after archival work as an undergraduate revealed repeated claims that Detroit's Black business community was "paved over for the highway."
- She followed migrants' letters and community memory to trace how entrepreneurs arrived, built businesses, and later lost them to redevelopment.
Migrant Entrepreneurship As A Framework
- Boyd centers "migrant entrepreneurship" to show Southern migrants carried distinct experiences that shaped Black business in Detroit.
- She argues you must connect Jim Crow origins and later urban attacks to fully understand Black entrepreneurship.
Small Businesses Matter
- Boyd critiques business historiography's focus on large firms and life insurance companies, urging attention to aggregated small enterprises.
- She shows mom-and-pop businesses comprise the majority of Black enterprise and shape community economic life.
