Maggie Anderson

Maggie Anderson and her family made history and dominated headlines as national media covered their real-life case study in self-help economics in the black community. The Anderson family lived exclusively off black business and talent and bought only black-made products for an entire year. This initiative, known as The Empowerment Experiment (EE), was closely analyzed in a landmark study conducted by Northwestern University's Kellogg School of Business. Since the completion of their experiment, Anderson has become the voice of consumers of all backgrounds who aim to ensure that their buying power positively impacts struggling minority communities.

A sought-after speaker, Anderson has appeared on CNN, MSNBC, Fox News, C-SPAN, PBS Newshour, and CBS Morning News, among many other national television and radio shows. She is the author of the critically acclaimed book "Our Black Year," which explores the family's commitment to exclusively supporting Black-owned businesses. Publishers Weekly praised the book as "a dynamite subject" and "an effective probe into how African Americans spend so much money that overwhelmingly leaves their communities."

Anderson’s continued efforts in economic empowerment are evident in her recent initiatives, such as the Black Owned Hair Care Challenge (BOHCC) launched in 2020, aiming to reclaim the Black Hair Care industry and empower Black women entrepreneurs and consumers. She has been recognized with numerous accolades, including being named one of “The Most Fascinating Women of 2016” by BET and Centric TV, and “Woman of the Year” by YWCA. Her message underscores that supporting quality Black businesses helps to recycle Black wealth, decrease unemployment, and provide more local role models for Black youth, thereby fostering increased self-help economics in the Black community.