The Missing Piece: Black Ownership in Everyday Business
Drive through any predominantly Black neighborhood in America, and you’ll pass a dozen gas stations and convenience stores. These businesses operate in our communities, profit from our communities, but far too often, they are not owned by anyone from our communities.
In fact, there are reportedly fewer than 30 Black-owned gas stations in the entire country—out of more than 145,000. That number speaks volumes.
Despite making up about 13% of the U.S. population, Black Americans own just ~3.3% of all U.S. businesses. Among companies that have employees, only 2.7% are Black-owned. These disparities are even more glaring in the gas station industry, where ownership is incredibly rare. While roughly 9.6% of gas station operators are Black, most do not own the businesses they run.
Historically, immigrant families—many from Indian, Korean, or Middle Eastern backgrounds—have dominated ownership of small businesses like gas stations, liquor stores, and convenience stores. That’s not an indictment of their success. It’s a reminder that Black entrepreneurs have been systemically shut out of opportunities, whether through lack of access to capital, land ownership, or commercial real estate.
Take the example of Clayton County, Georgia—a majority-Black area. It wasn’t until 2017 that a young couple opened the first Black-owned gas station in the county. That’s not progress—it’s an overdue beginning.
Most of the money spent at these gas stations doesn’t stay in the community. It leaves—heading to owners who often don’t live there, don’t reinvest, and don’t hire local residents. Meanwhile, in more affluent or non-Black communities, it’s common for businesses to support local sports teams, fund beautification projects, or give scholarships. Why is that kind of reinvestment missing from so many Black neighborhoods?
The problem isn’t that we don’t have the talent. We have the vision, the work ethic, and the community loyalty. What we often don’t have is access—to funding, to mentorship, to commercial property, or to startup networks.
If we want to build stronger, safer, and more prosperous neighborhoods, we must build ownership. Black ownership of essential businesses like gas stations can create jobs, keep money circulating in our communities, and offer young people real-life examples of economic power.
In recent years, the number of Black-owned businesses has risen by 22%, but many remain concentrated in lower-growth sectors like personal care and healthcare services—not in high-volume, everyday industries like fuel retail.
It’s not enough to “buy Black” once a month. We need to own Black—not just in fashion or food, but in the industries that touch our lives every day. The gas station is more than just a pit stop. In Black communities, it should be a launch pad for wealth, opportunity, and pride.
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Marvin Dixon/Founder
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