Actively Black in Inc.: The Juneteenth 2020 Launch and Building Our Own Table

Inc. covered the launch of Actively Black, the Black-owned sports apparel brand founded by Lanny Smith in 2020, in a June 2020 story by Cameron Albert-Deitch titled “His First Startup Focused on Faith. Now, He’s Reinvesting in Black America.” It is one of the earliest national stories about our brand, written days after Lanny announced Actively Black on Juneteenth and months before the first products shipped. Reading it now, the mission is exactly the same one the Tribe carries today.

Key takeaways

• Inc. reported that Lanny Smith announced Actively Black on Juneteenth 2020, with products expected to follow in August or September of that year.
• Inc. noted that Smith previously founded Houston-based Christian sports apparel brand Active Faith Sports in 2012, which ranked No. 150 on the 2017 Inc. 5000.
• According to Inc., Smith planned to donate a set percentage of every purchase to health and wellness organizations serving Black communities.
• Inc. reported that the brand was meant to address health disparities that hit Black communities hardest, including diabetes, high blood pressure, and COVID-19.
• Inc. wrote that Smith described ideas such as food trucks and free weekend bootcamps in underserved neighborhoods.
• Inc. noted that Smith wanted to prioritize hiring women of color, citing his mother’s career as a pioneering computer programmer in Houston.

In Lanny's words

“I’m a Black man. I’m a Black founder.”

— Lanny Smith, founder of Actively Black, to Inc.

“So instead of us continuing to beg for a seat at this table, let’s build our own table.”

— Lanny Smith, to Inc.

“I don’t think there’s a better time for this than right now.”

— Lanny Smith, on launching Actively Black in 2020, to Inc.

Why it matters

Inc.’s story captured a turning point. Lanny had already built a successful apparel company, and he told Inc. he had carried the idea for Actively Black for a year or two before deciding the moment had come. He pointed out that Black culture fuels the biggest names in sportswear while too few Black people hold executive, decision-making, or ownership roles at those companies. His answer was not to ask for a better seat. It was to build a brand the community owns.

That idea became our foundation: we’re not asking for a seat at the table, we’re building our own table. From the start, the plan was to tie every purchase to reinvestment in Black health and wellness, because the clothes are the uniform for the movement. Inc. documented that commitment before a single item was sold, which makes this story a clear record of what Actively Black was built to do.

Shop the story

Honor where it began with our Juneteenth Collection, or gear up for the health and wellness mission in our Performance collection.

Frequently asked questions

When did Actively Black launch?

According to Inc., Lanny Smith announced Actively Black on Juneteenth 2020, with the first products expected later that year.

What did Inc. say about Actively Black?

Inc. described Actively Black as a Los Angeles-based sports apparel startup built on the idea of building your own table instead of asking for a seat, with a plan to reinvest a percentage of every purchase in Black communities.

Who founded Actively Black?

Actively Black was founded by Lanny Smith, a former University of Houston basketball player whose NBA career ended due to injury. Inc. notes he previously founded Active Faith Sports.

Is Actively Black Black-owned?

Yes. Actively Black is a Black-owned athleisure brand whose mission is to celebrate Black culture and uplift and reinvest in the Black community.

Read the full feature: His First Startup Focused on Faith. Now, He’s Reinvesting in Black America, Inc. (June 2020)