A new documentary highlighting black female entrepreneurs debuted on Netflix this week, giving a behind-the-scenes look at the unique challenges faced by women of color.
“She Did That” dives into the stories of four women: Carol’s Daughter hair care founder Lisa Price, author and digital strategist Luvvie Ajayi, The Lip Bar creator Melissa Butler and My Fab Finance founder Tonya Rapley.
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Filmmaker Renae Bluitt, founder of Crush Media, decided to pursue the project as an extension of her hit blog, “In Her Shoes,” which has chronicled the stories of up-and-coming black female entrepreneurs for nearly a decade.
“As the fastest group of entrepreneurs in this country, [black women] are literally turning water into wine in spite of the many obstacles we face on our entrepreneurial journeys,” Bluitt told Forbes. “This film was created to let the world know what it really takes to be a successful black woman entrepreneur in this world.”
According to a 2019 report from American Express, black female-owned businesses represented the highest rate of growth of any group from 2018 to 2019 — an increase of 12 percent — and they account for 21 percent of all women-led businesses.
The women in the film share experiences about building their brands and trying to get them funded, and Bluitt said she hopes it makes others feel empowered.
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“Entrepreneurship can be a lonely journey, particularly for black women who may not have the resources to hire a team,” said Bluitt. “I want women to know that even the most successful women in business have experienced the challenges and obstacles they face while building their brands.”