The National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ) mourns the loss of Earl Graves Sr., an industry trailblazer who founded Black Enterprise, the premier resource for Black entrepreneurs, Black-owned businesses, and career, tech, and money content for Black people. Graves, who passed Monday night, was an inspirational and transformational entrepreneur, publisher, philanthropist and Black business advocate. He received NABJ’s Lifetime Achievement Award in 2006.

“The NABJ family sends condolences to the Graves and the Black Enterprise family. Mr. Graves impacted so many of our members — giving some of them their first major jobs and inspiring others to pursue careers in business reporting and storytelling. He was a giant in the industry and greatly respected. His legacy will live on in the pages of Black Enterprise and through the countless lives he touched,” said Dorothy Tucker, NABJ President.

Former NABJ President Bryan Monroe, who has served as editor of EBONY and JET magazines said, “As the creator of Black Enterprise, Mr. Graves showed us that Black people could thrive in business when the White media wouldn’t see us. He then turned that family business into a global brand. He was truly a visionary.”

Journalists took to social media on Tuesday to express the personal impact Graves had on their lives.

“Earl G. Graves, Sr. gave me my first break in national TV, working in the world of finance and Wall Street at Black Enterprise Business Report. A giant gone. Thank you for blessing my life,” tweeted Shon Gables of CBS46 in Atlanta.

Read the Philadelphia Tribune article here.