Breaking into America’s influencer economy is no small feat for Black creators. The system was never designed with us in mind, and the industry’s bias often limits brand deals and opportunities, especially for those without large followings. But these barriers haven’t stopped Black innovators from flipping the script and turning cultural influence into economic power.

Through creativity, resilience and strategic entrepreneurship, these business owners built ventures that generate revenue and uplift their communities. They’re living proof that even in a social framework built to exclude them, they create spaces where they set the rules on their own terms. Here are five that are moving the needle forward and getting the bag to prove it.

AFROPOP, founded by Jamel Stephens

AFROPOP began as

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