Photo: George Ellis Johnson Sr. founded Johnson Products Company in Chicago, creating products such as Ultra Sheen and Afro Sheen, https://aaregistry.org/story/george-e-johnson-was-a-natural-businessman/
Chicago was once the capital city for Black millionaires and businesses, with one of the nation’s largest concentrations of Black residents. These businesses weren’t just regional, they had a national and global reach. Worldwide brands such as Ebony and Jet magazines and Afro Sheen hair care products were all headquartered in Chicago.
Later, Oprah Winfrey and her Harpo Studios opened in Chicago. While Harpo has remained, most of the other standout Black-owned, Chicago-based businesses have disappeared.
