Many of Atlanta 's black millionaires owe their status to Maynard Jackson.

In the early 70s, that city's first black mayor took oversight of the multi-million dollar expansion of Hartsfield Airport 's terminal. Jackson shook the business community to its foundations when he told its leaders the project would come to a screeching halt if minority firms didn't get 25% of the work awarded.

Outraged white businessmen fiercely objected. Yet Jackson persevered and won concessions that allowed them to joint venture with black contractors and vendors, effectively cutting minority companies a 20% to 25% slice of the $450 million airport expansion pie. Contrary to dire warnings, the expansion was completed on time and under budget. Atlanta 's international airport was born.

According to a 2003 Black Enterprise magazine article, Jackson increased the percentage of public works contracts to minorities from less than 1% in 1973 to roughly 39% in 1978. It also said Jackson , more than any other mayor, had a hand in developing many companies on Black Enterprise 's list of top 100 black-owned firms in the nation.

Jackson 's policies were duplicated by other cities and federal agencies, effectively pushing open doors that were closed to minority contractors, and helped create scores of new black millionaires across the country.

Except in Birmingham.

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