Posted by Actively Black
on September 25, 2026
Forbes profiled Actively Black, the Black-owned athleisure brand founded by Lanny Smith in 2020, in Yolanda Baruch's November 2023 feature "Actively Black Expands Brand And Donates $500K To Black Communities." The story followed Smith from a career-ending injury with the Sacramento Kings to launching Actively Black on Black Friday 2020, and documented how the brand has given back to Black-led organizations while it grows. It is one of the clearest records of why we exist and how we reinvest.
Key takeaways
- Forbes reported that Actively Black has donated $500K to support the Black community through organizations including the Liberation Fund, Compton Girls Club, Black Girls Smile, Black Girls and Black Boys Code, Ujima and Black Mamas Matter Alliance.
- According to Forbes, Actively Black made $100,000 in its first week, and inventory expected to last three months sold out within four weeks.
- Forbes reported that the brand reached $2.3 million in revenue in its first twelve months and was close to $6 million by the end of 2022, and that Smith raised a Series A in 2022.
- Forbes reported that Smith's mentor Daymond John helped connect him with Marvel and Disney licensing, leading to an officially licensed Black Panther collection.
- According to Forbes, Actively Black's partnerships have included Teleport Watches, Marvel, The Bobsled and Skeleton Federation of Nigeria, Slam Magazine and NIL deals with four HBCU athletes.
- Forbes reported that Actively Black manufactures in Asia and in Lagos, Nigeria, and that Smith sees Africa as a future place to expand manufacturing.
In Lanny's words
“We're going to stop asking for a seat at the table. We're going to build our own table”
— Lanny Smith, to Forbes
“I like to call it deprogramming and reprogramming the people.”
— Lanny Smith, to Forbes
“I'm not building an apparel brand; the clothing is just the uniform for the movement.”
— Lanny Smith, to Forbes
Why it matters
Forbes captured the moment Actively Black was born. Smith told the outlet that brand statements after the murder of George Floyd felt like marketing, and questioned why companies supported by Black dollars and Black athletes had stayed silent for decades. His answer was to build a brand that is Black-owned year-round, not only during Black History Month or Juneteenth, and to put its resources back into the community that built it.
The $500K in giving that Forbes reported is that promise in action: support for Black girls, Black mothers, young coders and community organizations. Forbes also reported Smith's goal of becoming a global brand within five years to bring the diaspora together. Every order from the Tribe helps fuel that reinvestment.
Shop the story
Explore the officially licensed Actively Black Wakanda Collection, our HBCU collection, and the best sellers the Tribe keeps coming back to.
Frequently asked questions
Who founded Actively Black?
Lanny Smith founded Actively Black and launched it on Black Friday in 2020. Before that, he founded the faith-based apparel brand Active Faith in 2011, according to Forbes.
How much has Actively Black donated to Black communities?
Forbes reported in November 2023 that Actively Black had donated $500K to Black community organizations, including the Liberation Fund, Compton Girls Club and Black Mamas Matter Alliance.
Is Actively Black Black-owned?
Yes. Actively Black is a Black-owned athleisure brand founded by Lanny Smith, created to uplift and reinvest in the Black community.
How did Actively Black get its Black Panther collection with Marvel?
Smith told Forbes that his mentor Daymond John saw his mockups and called Marvel and Disney licensing during their meeting, which led to a pitch and an officially licensed Black Panther collection.
Read the full feature: Actively Black Expands Brand And Donates $500K To Black Communities, Forbes (November 2023)
