McGhee, Norman L. Sr.
1897-1979 · Contribution: 1952
Founded the first Black-owned brokerage firm in the United States; first African American licensed stock dealer in the Midwest
Portraits are AI-generated interpretations, not photographs.
Impact on the world
Founded McGhee & Co. in Cleveland in 1952, the first Black-owned brokerage firm in the United States, while becoming the first African American licensed stock dealer in the Midwest, opening doors for Black wealth-building through stock investment.
Life & background
Based in Cleveland, Ohio, McGhee founded McGhee & Co. in 1952, the first Black-owned brokerage firm in the United States, and became the first African American licensed stock dealer in the Midwest. He used his wealth and influence to support civil rights causes as an active NAACP member.
Sources
- Encyclopedia of Cleveland History (Case Western Reserve University); FIA (Futures Industry Association); InvestmentNews
More in Business & Misc.
Ajao, Adeyemi
unknown
Co-founded Base10 Partners, the first Black-led venture capital firm to manage over $1 billion in assets
Allen, Byron
1961-present
Built Allen Media Group from a single bartered celebrity-interview show into a multibillion-dollar media empire spanning broadcast television stations, cable networks, The Weather Channel, and a controlling stake in BuzzFeed, making him one of the wealthiest Black media owners in American history
Allen, Eliza
c.1840-after 1910
Only woman listed on the founding charter of the first chartered African American-owned bank in the United States
Awotona, Tope
1981-
Founded Calendly, a widely used scheduling software platform