Black Business Month just passed and if I’m being honest, it feels much different from previous years—and not in a good way. I noticed fewer in-person celebrations, fewer marketing campaigns and social media posts championing the impact that Black businesses have had on America, and utter silence from those who once rallied unrelenting support behind BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) and underrepresented founders.

These changes felt like they happened almost overnight when President Donald Trump signed an executive order directing federal agencies to end diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), claiming that it fosters illegal preferences and discrimination. Once this happened, DEI officially became a slur and weaponized, which caused thousands of companies to walk back on the commitments that were made. 

Rolling back DEI

So how have Black-owned businesses fared in 2025 because of these swift policy changes? Not great. One of the main issues that we just can’t seem to shake is that when most people think of DEI, they automatically associate it with being Black or having to do solely with race. They may not even recognize that they’re doing this, but they are. This limited viewpoint and lack of understanding around what DEI is and isn’t, caused many companies to react in fear and pull back investments and other resources that Black businesses relied on to operate and scale. From Google to Target we’ve seen brands publicly declare that they are rolling back any and all DEI initiatives.

As this is all going on, much (if not all) of the Black community has been devastated by what’s happening. There have been prominent Black-owned businesses shutting down that we never saw coming, and Black founders sharing their challenges amidst DEI rollbacks. Not to mention it’s recently been reported from last month’s dismal job’s report that unemployment amongst Black Americans is at an all-time high. 

Multiple challenges

The many challenges that prevent Black-owned businesses from reaching their full potential are no secret. As Black founders, we are often left out of the equation. We face unfair roadblocks in landing new clients, we are overlooked and hardly celebrated for our achievements, and the process for securing VC funding to help make our dreams a reality is atrocious. According to Crunchbase data, venture capital for Black entrepreneurs dropped a staggering 71% compared to last year, amounting to less than 1% of the overall dollars invested. 

Black entrepreneurs were already on the chopping block, and now with the current climate, it’s becoming even more difficult to scale or make a lasting impact. Many of us and other groups of people feel under attack as those in the federal government are trying their hardest to erase our legacies. This has made my work more crucial than ever before. Since I started my PR agency, my mission has always been to get Black and BIPOC founders the awareness, press, and attention they deserve. In 2025 it has only intensified. 

Keeping a Legacy Alive

As a descendant of Carter G. Woodson, the founder of Black History Month who gave Black voices a platform when no one else did, my business continues to keep that legacy alive. Brennan Nevada to this day is the only New York-based Black, female-owned PR agency for tech companies, startups, and VCs. Over 90% of my clients are Black businesses, and despite DEI backlash, I’ve experienced rapid growth and expansion representing some of the largest Black and minority-owned businesses and founders in the world. I’ve had the privilege of speaking to, listening to, and working with dozens of Black founders this year throughout their hardship and one thing is clear: They are eager to tell their truths and leverage PR and earned media to do so. 

The power of stories

Why this sudden surge in interest? Storytelling gives Black businesses the opportunity to be the author of their brand and control the narrative. It’s empowering. Owning your voice is crucial for long-term success, and as a Black founder you can use storytelling to navigate and fight stereotypes or misinformation against you by sharing your unique viewpoints. Unleashing the power of storytelling gives others a chance to step into your shoes, while closing gaps and misunderstandings which many Black founders face in today’s divisive culture. 

Malcolm X once said, “The media’s the most powerful entity on earth. They have the power to make the innocent guilty and to make the guilty innocent, and that’s power. Because they control the minds of the masses.” I stand by this and am determined to use my decades of PR and media relations experience to get Black businesses as much positive press coverage in as many news headlines as I possibly can. 

In 2025, Black businesses are becoming incredibly aware that they need to tap into the power of storytelling and integrate it into their entire go-to-market strategies. Especially, if they want to build a business that will stand the test of time—no matter who is in the White House.