History of the Georgia Black Chamber of Commerce
“Why the GBCC Was Formed”

During the 1996 Georgia legislative session, the proposed legislation H.R. 154 (authorized by Rep. Earl Ehrhart, 36th District; John Wiles, 34th District; Keith Breedlove, 85th District; Max Davis, 60th District; and Harold Mann, 5th District) was introduced. Had two-thirds of the General Assembly approved the resolution, a constitutional amendment banning affirmative action would have been put on a statewide ballot. Thus all programs that help minorities and women, even scholarships aimed at black college students, would have come to an end.

In late January of 1996, a group of black business owners from metropolitan Atlanta formed the Georgia Association of Minority and Female Business Enterprises (GAMFBE), because they saw a need to form an organization that would aggressively stand against anti-affirmative action legislation. Lou Walker was voted president of the organization and the GAMFBE took an active role in spearheading and coordinating the statewide Affirmative Action Rally held April 24, 1996, on the steps of the Georgia State Capitol. At the same time, black mayors from across the country were convening in Atlanta for the National Conference of Black Mayors. The Rally was put on their agenda.
Realizing a major push was on nationally to dismantle affirmative action programs, GAMFBE recognized the need to:
• Become self-sufficient as black business people
• Empower black businesses by working together as a group toward a common goal to enhance economic opportunities
• Provide an advocacy that would impact black-owned businesses across the state

They searched for a national organization that shared their goals and in October 1996, GAMFBE voted to become the affiliate Georgia chapter of the National Black Chamber of Commerce. In November of the same year, GBCC representatives attended the NBCC Fall Conference in Daytona Beach, Florida. At the conference the GBCC was awarded the honor of hosting the National Black Chamber of Commerce Spring Conference in Atlanta in May 1997.

The GBCC established itself as an important link in the NBCC chain in less than one year. As a result, the GBCC received the Most Innovative Affiliate of the Year award at the 1997 NBCC National Conference held in Denver, Colorado. Also, as a result of the positioning of the GBCC, Atlanta Mayor Bill Campbell was the recipient of the NBCC’s National Mayor of the Year award presented to him in Denver. The GBCC continues the struggle against those who fight to abolish affirmative action.