Dr. Taura Taylor, Assistant Professor of Sociology and former Interim Director of International Comparative Labor Studies, has released a significant new publication titled Black Employee Ownership: A Pathway to Wealth Building and Economic Opportunity. The report represents the culmination of a multi year research effort examining how employee ownership can serve as a meaningful strategy to advance economic prosperity in Black communities and help close the racial wealth gap.
Developed through a collaborative partnership between scholars at Morehouse College and the University of California, Riverside, the study explores how historical inequities, structural barriers, and present day policy environments shape access to employee ownership for Black workers and entrepreneurs. The research situates employee ownership within broader conversations about equity, labor, and wealth building in the United States.
Using a mixed methods approach, the report draws on longitudinal data analysis, interviews and surveys with Black workers and entrepreneurs, a comprehensive policy audit, and in depth case studies of Black led employee owned businesses. Together, these methods illuminate both the potential of employee ownership as a tool for shared prosperity and the persistent barriers that continue to limit Black participation in employee ownership models.
To strengthen employee ownership as a viable pathway to economic mobility, particularly within Black communities, the report offers a series of actionable policy recommendations. These include culturally relevant education and outreach, strong incentives and wraparound supports that center racial equity, and sustained investments in the leadership of Black led employee ownership support organizations and trusted community intermediaries. The recommendations are designed to help scale employee ownership into an economy wide norm while ensuring Black communities can fully share in its benefits.
The findings provide a clear and practical roadmap for policymakers, practitioners, and advocates committed to building a more inclusive economy through employee ownership. By centering Black experiences and leadership, the report contributes critical insight to national conversations about wealth, work, and economic justice.
This achievement reflects the continued collaboration between Morehouse International Comparative Labor Studies and Project Equity. Dr. Taylor led Morehouse College’s contribution to the study, drawing on her expertise in the sociology of entrepreneurship, social movements, and qualitative research. The project also benefited from the research assistance of Morehouse alumnus Terron Ferguson (Class of 2008), student research assistants from Spelman College and Morehouse College, and guidance from community advisors within the Black Solidarity Economy.
Dr. Taylor extends her sincere gratitude to the research participants, research assistants, and community advisory board members, and offers special thanks to Julian Hill, Kade Davis, Jatu Barker, and Marq Riggins for their critical support throughout the project.
Support for this research was provided in part by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation through its Policies for Action program, as well as the Urban Institute and the WorkRise Network. The research team expresses deep appreciation for their partnership and commitment to advancing equitable economic policy.