Black Economic Union

The Negro Industrial and Economic Union (NIEU) was founded in 1965 by Jim Brown of the National Football League's Cleveland Browns.{{cite web|url=https://www.clevelandbrowns.com/news/jim-brown-life-timeline|title=The Ultimate Brown: A timeline of Jim Brown's life|website=clevelandbrowns.com|access-date=2025-04-19}} While still in the NFL, Brown established the Black empowerment organization, retiring the following year in 1966.{{cite web|url=https://www.lex18.com/news/jim-brown-appreciation-remembering-hall-of-fame-running-backs-lasting-impact-on-and-off-field|title=Jim Brown Appreciation: Remembering Hall of Fame running back's lasting impact on and off field|website=lex18.com|access-date=2025-04-19}} Teammates Walter Beach, Sid Williams, and John Wooten joined Brown, with Wooten as executive director, Carl B. Stokes as legal advisor, and Arnold R. Pinkney as secretary and treasurer.{{cite web|url=https://www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=137059|title=Jim Brown / Carl Burton Stokes Historical Marker|website=hmdb.org|access-date=2025-04-19}}

An extension of Brown's pro-Black social activism, the Union focused on self-reliance, supporting businesses, and economic growth in the Black community. In the 1960s and 1970s, Union members launched training programs, issued loans, and created jobs.{{cite web|url=https://remarkableohio.org/marker/153-18-clevelands-ali-summit-the-negro-industrial-and-economic-union/|title=153-18 Cleveland’s Ali Summit / The Negro Industrial and Economic Union|website=remarkableohio.org|access-date=2025-04-19}} Brown revealed the group supported 400 Black-owned businesses during its peak from 1967 to 1974.{{cite web|url=https://nmaahc.si.edu/explore/stories/legendary-jim-brown|title=NMAAHC: The Legendary Jim Brown|website=nmaahc.si.edu|access-date=2025-04-19}}

Formed in Cleveland, Ohio, the organization had its main offices at 10501 Euclid Avenue in University Circle. The NIEU soon established branches in other major U.S. cities like L.A. and New York City. By 1967, UCLA star Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, then known as Lew Alcindor, was volunteering at the NIEU's Los Angeles chapter.{{cite web|url=https://kareem.substack.com/p/jim-brown-and-me-the-serious-dangers|title=Jim Brown & Me and The Serious Dangers of AI|website=kareem.substack.com|access-date=2025-04-19}} Booker Griffin, known for his activism and work in radio, held the position of Los Angeles director for the Negro Industrial and Economic Union.{{cite book|url=https://books.google.ca/books?id=WzgDAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA4&dq=Negro+Industrial+and+Economic+Union&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwi7te7on-SMAxWLnokEHZUHCug4KBDoAXoECA0QAw#v=onepage&q=Negro%20Industrial%20and%20Economic%20Union&f=false|title=Jet 20 Jun 1968 - Vol. 34, No. 11|year=1968|publisher=Johnson Publishing Company|access-date=2025-04-19}}

On June 4, 1967, the NIEU hosted the historic Cleveland Summit, where Jim Brown gathered 11 top Black athletes and future mayor Carl Stokes to join Muhammad Ali in a press conference addressing his rejection of the Vietnam War draft. Ali faced national backlash for his stance, and the attendees also endured criticism and threats. Its Cleveland office was the site of the historic meeting, with Ali joined in the front row by Jim Brown, Bill Russell, and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.{{cite web|url=https://www.cleveland.com/browns/2023/05/jim-browns-activism-including-the-muhammad-ali-summit-pushed-social-change.html|title=Jim Brown’s activism, including the Muhammad Ali Summit, pushed social change|website=cleveland.com|access-date=2025-04-19}} In the back row stood Carl Stokes, Walter Beach, Bobby Mitchell, Sid Williams, Curtis McClinton, Willie Davis, Jim Shorter, and John Wooten.{{cite web|url=https://andscape.com/features/locker-room-talk-67-cleveland-summit/|title=We haven't come far enough since the '67 Cleveland Summit|website=andscape.com|access-date=2025-04-19}}

The NIEU expanded in summer 1968 after receiving $520,000 from the Ford Foundation in April and $251,400 from the Economic Development Administration. The grants supported new offices in Kansas City, San Francisco, and Washington, and increased staffing in Cleveland, Los Angeles, and New York.{{cite book|url=https://books.google.ca/books?id=cTgDAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA25&dq=Negro+Industrial+and+Economic+Union&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiA457C_-OMAxXFLFkFHY1fIDQQ6AF6BAgKEAM#v=onepage&q=Negro%20Industrial%20and%20Economic%20Union&f=false|title=Jet 1 Aug 1968 - Vol. 34, No. 17|year=1968|publisher=Johnson Publishing Company|access-date=2025-04-19}} The national economic union opened up in Missouri with help from members of the Kansas City Chiefs like Curtis McClinton.

Rebranded the Black Economic Union (BEU), the group dropped "Negro" from its title in 1970 when the regional offices began to disband.

Brown organized the Annual Jim Brown Golf Classic in 1970 to bring awareness to the initiative.{{cite news|title=Goal of Jim Brown's Tourney: 'Awareness'|newspaper=The Los Angeles Times|date =1971|page=51|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/384743707/?match=1&terms=Black%20Economic%20Union|access-date =2025-04-19}}

By 1979, the BEU had established five neighborhood offices in Kansas City and grown into a citywide organization focused on both business and economic development. Managing a budget of more than $500,000, it provided loan packaging, job training, technical support, and other services to support minority and low-income businesses.{{cite book|url=https://www.google.ca/books/edition/HUD_Challenge/9-Ui5ymCzYwC?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=Negro+Industrial+and+Economic+Union&pg=PA16&printsec=frontcover|title=HUD Challenge Volume 10, Issue 2|year=1979|publisher=Department of Housing and Urban Development|access-date=2025-04-17}}

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Category:Black economic empowerment

Category:Black-owned companies of the United States

Category:American companies established in 1965

Category:1965 establishments in Ohio

Category:1968 establishments in Kansas