AFRICANGLOBE - In 1972, the U.S. Census Bureau recorded 195,000 Black-owned firms. From 2002 to 2007, the number increased by 60.5 percent to 1.9 million, more than triple the national rate of 18.0 percent. Over the same period, receipts generated by Black-owned businesses increased 55.1 percent to $137.5 billion.