I'm not an African American woman. In fact, I'm British. However, I'm always delighted when a black business woman reaches the top of her game. My sister is married to a Nigerian man. Therefore my nine year old niece, Lela, is of mixed race. I'd like to be able to say that she has never encountered racism, but sadly that would be a lie. The children of ignorant parents have made cruel remarks pertaining to her color. I was livid the day she told me that a boy at her school said she wasn't invited to his birthday party because her skin is brown.

Fortunately, the success stories of renowned black women entrepreneurs encourage my niece. The accomplishments of women like Oprah Winfrey, Tyra Banks and Condoleezza Rice show her that there's nothing she can't achieve if she sets her mind to it. Lela is a beautiful, bright, determined and humorous little girl. I'm confident that she'll achieve more than the ignorant boy who made the prejudiced remark. I'd like to thank the individual who inaugurated this important website about black women entrepreneurs. I have already emailed the URL to my niece.