Actively Black in Black Enterprise: Investing in Black Communities

Black Enterprise featured Actively Black, the Black-owned athleisure brand founded by Lanny Smith in 2020, in “Lanny Smith’s Actively Black is Doing What Larger Corporations Aren’t—Investing in Black Communities,” published in March 2023. Writer Cedric “BIG CED” Thornton contrasted the pledges many companies made after the police killing of George Floyd with what our brand has actually done: reinvest a share of every sale back into the community. For the Tribe, it is a clear record of the mission in action.

Key takeaways

• Black Enterprise reported that Lanny Smith, a former professional basketball player, started Actively Black in 2020 after the police killing of George Floyd, when many companies pledged to invest in Black communities.
• According to Black Enterprise, Actively Black was reportedly worth $30 million and brought in $5.6 million in revenue the previous year.
• Black Enterprise reported that 10 percent of the company’s sales were reinvested in organizations supporting social justice, mental health and physical health in Black communities.
• Lanny told the outlet that Actively Black has donated more than $500,000 to programs including the Dr. Huey P. Newton Foundation, The Liberation Fund, Black Kids Code, Our Own and Families United.
• Black Enterprise reported that Actively Black works with a rotating cast of Black designers and brings on Black creatives the larger industry may overlook.

In Lanny’s words

“A lot of these sports apparel brands have profited off of Black talent.”

— Lanny Smith, to CNBC Make It, as quoted by Black Enterprise

“what happens when we are the multibillion-dollar brand and we’re donating that type of money back into our communities?”

— Lanny Smith, as quoted by Black Enterprise

“We can have a real impact.”

— Lanny Smith, as quoted by Black Enterprise

Why it matters

Black Enterprise opened by noting that, three years after 2020, little had changed on corporate promises to Black communities. Actively Black is our answer. Reinvestment is not a campaign we run during certain months; according to Black Enterprise, it is built into the business, with a percentage of sales going to organizations that serve Black people’s health, mental health and pursuit of justice.

The feature also highlighted the jobs side of the mission. Lanny told the outlet that giving Black photographers, videographers, designers and marketers opportunities they may not get elsewhere is very important. Every hoodie and every pair of leggings the Tribe buys helps fund that ecosystem. That is the power of ownership: when we scale, the community scales with us.

Shop the story

Honor a leader whose foundation we have supported in the Huey P. Newton x Actively Black collection, explore the Fred Hampton x Actively Black collection, or start with our women’s and unisex best sellers.

Frequently asked questions

Who founded Actively Black?

Actively Black was founded in 2020 by Lanny Smith, a former professional basketball player who played at the University of Houston.

Does Actively Black give back to the Black community?

Yes. Black Enterprise reported that Actively Black reinvested 10 percent of sales into organizations supporting Black communities and had donated more than $500,000 to programs including The Liberation Fund and the Dr. Huey P. Newton Foundation.

What did Black Enterprise say about Actively Black?

In March 2023, Black Enterprise reported that Actively Black was doing what larger corporations had not, investing directly in Black communities, and cited a reported $30 million valuation and $5.6 million in revenue the prior year.

Is Actively Black Black-owned?

Yes. Actively Black is a Black-owned athleisure brand founded by Lanny Smith with a mission to uplift and reinvest in the Black community.

Read the full feature: Lanny Smith’s Actively Black is Doing What Larger Corporations Aren’t—Investing in Black Communities, Black Enterprise (March 2023)