Actively Black on Roland Martin Unfiltered: Black Dollars, Black Brands

Roland Martin Unfiltered hosted Lanny Smith, founder of the Black-owned athleisure brand Actively Black, for a conversation about the double standard Black-owned businesses face in fashion, as recapped by The Black Lens in October 2025.

The discussion started with Ralph Lauren’s collections celebrating Morehouse and Spelman and Black history on Martha’s Vineyard, and turned into a direct question for the culture: who really benefits when Black culture is sold back to us?

Key takeaways

• According to The Black Lens, Roland Martin and Lanny contrasted Ralph Lauren’s roughly $7 billion in annual revenue with its pledge of $2 million to HBCUs over five years.
• The Black Lens reported that Lanny said customers often question a $60 Actively Black shirt while spending hundreds on Nike or Ralph Lauren without hesitation.
• Lanny argued that Black-owned businesses are measured against billion-dollar corporations with decades of infrastructure but are rarely given the same time and support to grow, The Black Lens reported.
• The recap noted that Actively Black keeps its supply chain rooted in the Black community by sourcing premium cotton from Black farmers, from dirt to shirt.
• According to The Black Lens, Lanny said luxury is not found in a label but in the culture that drives global trends, which Black communities have long powered.
• The Black Lens summarized the takeaway: if Black America spends $30 billion a year on apparel, more of those dollars should circulate back through Black-owned brands.

Why it matters

This conversation says out loud what the Tribe already knows. Black culture sets trends worldwide, yet the profits too often leave our communities. Actively Black was built so that when you buy into the culture, the culture gets paid back, from the Black farmers who grow our cotton to the community programs we reinvest in.

It is also a reminder to extend Black-owned businesses the same patience we give legacy brands. We’re not asking for a seat at the table. We’re building our own table, and every purchase is a vote for that table to keep growing.

Shop the story

See the supply chain Lanny described in our Premium Cotton collection, rep the culture in the Actively Black x HBCU collection, and read more about our mission on our About Us page.

Frequently asked questions

Who founded Actively Black?

Actively Black was founded by Lanny Smith, a former professional basketball player from the University of Houston, and launched in 2020.

What did Lanny Smith say on Roland Martin Unfiltered?

According to The Black Lens, Lanny discussed the pricing double standard Black-owned brands face, the Ralph Lauren HBCU-inspired collections, and why Black consumer dollars should circulate back into Black communities.

Where does Actively Black get its cotton?

The Black Lens reported that Actively Black sources premium cotton from Black farmers to keep its supply chain rooted in the Black community.

Is Actively Black Black-owned?

Yes. Actively Black is a Black-owned athleisure brand.

Read the full recap: Roland Martin’s unfiltered interview with Lanny Smith of Actively Black, The Black Lens (October 2025)