THE BITTER TRUTH: A COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF BLACK MALE AND BLACK FEMALE ENTREPRENEURS

The paper examines variables stated to be central to entrepreneurial success and reports differences between black male and black female entrepreneurs. Variables studied include task-specific efficacy, firm performance and opportunity recognition. Using a sample of 85 males and 58 females, results indicated that although black male and female entrepreneurs are somewhat similar in terms of business environment and demographics (e.g., education levels, years of business industry experience, likelihood of having a business mentor, etc.), black females trailed black male entrepreneurs in firm performance, task-specific efficacy and opportunity recognition. Overall, findings suggest an expressed need to enact specific-policies to increase success rates among this group of understudied entrepreneurs, black females.