For many in Birmingham, the name A.G. Gaston evokes the story of a humble but ambitious man who overcame the grips of segregation to become one of Birmingham’s first black millionaires. For me, however, it brings back memories of a mentor and teacher during my early days in banking.

I remember Dr. Gaston well. He gave me a job as a loan officer at Citizen’s Federal Bank in the 1980s. At the time he was well into his 90s, but still full of life’s lessons. While working for one of Gaston’s enterprises, I learned the importance of laying the foundation for a strong financial future. Amazingly, even at his age, Dr. Gaston was a walking example of a good work ethic.

I wasn’t the only the one touched by his life. Dr. Gaston employed hundreds of people, many of whom started their careers with one of his companies, worked there for more than 30 years, educated their children and retired from one of his enterprises. Dr. Gaston is an icon and should be the model black business owners seek to emulate.

His rise to success is an inspiring story. Born the grandson of slaves, A.G. Gaston grew up during a time when societal, educational and economic barriers held black people back. In spite of Birmingham’s hostile climate to people like him, Gaston opened several businesses – including a bank and an insurance company – which treated African Americans with the decency and respect that white establishments would not.

In fact, Gaston’s businesses flourished because he found a need and filled it. The fact that many of the businesses he founded still exist and thrive today is a testimony to his genius.

New Annual Conference
It was that success that motivated me, my organization, the Birmingham Business Resource Center, and Gaynelle Adams Jackson of Advanced Planning Services, to create the “A.G. Gaston Economic Empowerment Conference.” We held the first conference in February. Our goal is to highlight Gaston’s life and, in doing so, inspire other black business owners to rise to higher heights.

Scores of African-American business owners attended the two-day event. It highlighted and awarded local successful black businesses, provided workshops on everything from revenue generation, to overcoming financial obstacles, to creating strategic partnerships with other businesses.

Conference attendees also participated in networking opportunities and heard the inspiring words of George C. Fraser, a well-known African American author and motivational speaker.

My dream was that African-American business owners would walk away saying to themselves, “If Gaston could overcome poverty, discrimination, rigid Jim Crow laws and segregation, so can I.”

To me, this conference is absolutely imperative because, despite Gaston’s model of success, few have lived up to the example he set. Unfortunately, no other African American business owner in Birmingham has rivaled his accomplishments.

Black Business Stats Grim
Statistics show just how bad the state of black business in Birmingham really is. Although blacks make up 30 percent of the Birmingham region’s population, they own or run only 8.1% of the area’s businesses. Even more startling is that of the $75.1 billion in sales revenue generated by Birmingham-area businesses, only 0.3% of that comes from black businesses.

Those figures are derived from the 1997 Economic Census, published every five years. Although the latest numbers on black-owned businesses are not yet available, I seriously doubt those figures will change substantially.

For that reason, it is our plan to present the Gaston conference annually in hopes of teaching Birmingham blacks that business success in our community did not end when Gaston died. It’s important to constantly encourage them and make sure they don’t feel left alone, without resources and support.

Gaston, the Perfect Role Model
It is difficult being business at all. And it’s more difficult for a black-owned business today, but it was even harder in Gaston’s day. That’s why he’s the perfect model. When Gaston started his businesses in the 1920s, blacks were not as free as we are today. We were especially not as free to spend our money where we pleased.

The market for black consumers in Gaston’s day was captive, and business owners knew that. Let me quickly point out, however, that black America was a whole lot poorer in terms of its earning power then. Therefore blacks then had much, much less to spend than the $500 to $700 billion we have now.

Through the A.G. Gaston Conference, we plan to teach African Americans to use our spending power for the benefit of our community. And, when the dust settles, we want to start a movement that will empower, inspire and somehow create more A.G. Gastons in the Magic City.

Bob Dickerson is the executive director of the Birmingham Resource Center. You can reach him at (205) 250-6380. Learn more about the A.G. Gaston Economic Empowerment Conference at www.aggastonexpo.com.