Profiles of African-American Success


Profiles of African-American Success is an American documentary web series produced by Frances Presley-Rice and filmmaker Bayer Mack for their production company Block Starz Music Television. The documentary series features short biographies of African-American businesses and entrepreneurs.
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Development

Profiles of African-American Success was originally developed by executive producer Frances Presley-Rice in conjunction with The Washington Times as a ten-part weekly video series for Dr. Ben Carson's digital magazine, American CurrentSee. The series is now distributed exclusively by BSMTV through its official website, Vimeo and YouTube channels and on various community television stations. During the promotion for his documentary film, The Czar of Black Hollywood, director Bayer Mack said his goal with Profiles of African-American Success was to carry on The Czar of Black Hollywood's theme of celebrating black Americans who succeeded in the face of Jim Crow and other challenges.

Featured profiles

Profiles of African-American Success has featured the following black entrepreneurs and institutions:Junius G. Groves: Gilded Age Business MagnateRobert S. Abbott: Millionaire Newspaper PublisherJeremiah G. Hamilton: The Dark Prince of Wall StreetHarry H. Pace: America's First Black Record Label OwnerFrederick D. Patterson: America's Only Black Car ManufacturerHomer B. Roberts: America's First Black Auto DealerReginald F. Lewis: America's First Black Billion Dollar BusinessmanPaul R. Williams: Architect to the StarsDon H. Barden: King of DetroitRichard "Dick" Griffey: Music Industry KingpinAlpha Kappa Alpha: A Legacy of Sisterhood and ServiceSylvia Robinson: Mother of Hip-HopGamble and Huff: The Sound of PhiladelphiaThe Million Man March: 20 Year AnniversaryMiss Black America: The Pageant Changed HistoryVee-Jay Records: Most Successful Black Owned Label Before MotownGeorge E. Johnson, Sr.: First Black Company on American Stock ExchangeCathy L. Hughes: First Black Woman to Head a Publicly-traded CompanyJerry Lawson: A Black Man Developed the First Cartridge Video Game Console
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Narrators

Season 1 of Profiles of African-American Success was presented by William Bell, who had worked with the producers on The Czar of Black Hollywood. Seasons 2 and 3 employed relatively unknown African-American voice actors and actresses. The premiere episode for Season 4 features narration by noted media professional Dyana Williams in a tribute to her friend, Radio One founder Cathy Hughes.

Reception

The critical and public response to the documentary series has been generally favorable with many praising its effort to showcase positive aspects of the African-American experience.