The Black Wall Street Times
The Black Wall Street Times is a Tulsa-based digital news publication amplifying Black voices and stories. It distributes original journalism via a WordPress website, two email newsletters, and multi-platform social media, funded by philanthropic grants, individual donations, and advertising.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2016
- HeadquartersTulsa, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingDigital Commerce or Content
What The Black Wall Street Times does
The Black Wall Street Times is a digital-first news publication headquartered in Tulsa's historic Greenwood District, founded in 2016 by Nehemiah D. Frank, a descendant of 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre survivors. The publication's editorial mission is to amplify Black voices and stories at the local, state, and national levels, covering politics, justice, health, business, education, arts and culture, sports, and opinion through a lens explicitly oriented toward equity, representation, and community accuracy. Its distribution surface spans theblackwallsttimes.com website, two owned email newsletters (The Daily Holler weekday digest and The Block weekly Tulsa/Oklahoma roundup), and five social media channels (Twitter/X, TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn).
The underlying technology stack is a WordPress-based digital publication running on Newspack, with no proprietary platforms, APIs, SDKs, or mobile applications. Product offerings are content-centric: the digital publication itself, the two newsletter add-ons, a donation/philanthropic support program with suggested individual contribution tiers of $20, $100, $500, or custom amounts, and a Media Kit for businesses purchasing advertising placements. There are no SaaS or technology products beyond the editorial site itself.
Revenue is generated through three streams: philanthropic grants from a concentrated set of at least seven foundations (George Kaiser Family Foundation, Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Foundation, Borealis Philanthropy's Racial Equity in Journalism Fund, Kauffman Family Foundation, Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, Lobeck Taylor Family Foundation, and PEN America), recurring individual donor contributions, and display advertising via a self-serve Media Kit. The publication operates on a freemium reader model in which core content remains free, and the primary customer segments are Black readers in Tulsa and the broader African American diaspora, alongside general news consumers seeking equity-focused coverage. Customer count is not disclosed, and the organization operates with 1-10 employees, placing it firmly in the small independent newsroom segment.
The Black Wall Street Times firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- The Black Wall Street Times
- Legal name
- The Black Wall Street Times, Inc.
- Website
- https://theblackwallsttimes.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2016
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- The Black Wall Street Times is a Tulsa-based digital news publication amplifying Black voices and stories. It distributes original journalism via a WordPress website, two email newsletters, and multi-platform social media, funded by philanthropic grants, individual donations, and advertising.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
The Black Wall Street Times industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Digital News Publication
- NAICS
- Newspaper Publishers (513110), Periodical Publishers (513120)
- SIC
- Newspapers: Publishing Or Publishing & Printing (2711), Periodicals: Publishing Or Publishing & Printing (2721)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Investigative & Nonprofit News Organizations (MPAJADAF)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Alternative/Independent Newsweeklies & Opinion Press (MPAJADAH)
Keywords
Where The Black Wall Street Times is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Tulsa
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
The Black Wall Street Times business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Digital Commerce or Content
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others
Revenue model
- Philanthropic Grants: The publication receives grant funding from local and national philanthropic organizations including George Kaiser Family Foundation, Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Foundation, Borealis Philanthropy's Racial Equity in Journalism Fund, Kauffman Family Foundation, Lobeck Taylor Family Foundation, Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, and Pen America.
- Individual Donations: The publication accepts donations from individual supporters, with suggested amounts of $20, $100, $500, and custom amounts through its online donation portal.
- Advertising: The publication offers advertising opportunities through its Media Kit, with display ad placements available for businesses and organizations seeking to reach its audience.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Monthly | Donation tiers for individual supporters |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels8 records
The Black Wall Street Times product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The Black Wall Street Times is an independent digital news publication that produces and distributes original journalism covering politics, justice, education, health, arts & culture, business, tech, sports, and opinions through a lens prioritizing Black voices and equity. It distributes content through its WordPress/Newspack website, two email newsletters (The Daily Holler and The Block), and social media, while monetizing via philanthropic grants, individual donations, and display advertising.
Product overview
The Black Wall Street Times is a single-platform digital news publication built on WordPress/Newspack. Its core offering is the publication itself (theblackwallsttimes.com), which distributes editorial content across multiple news categories. The publication offers two email newsletter products—The Daily Holler (weekday digest) and The Block (weekly Oklahoma/Greenwood roundup)—alongside a donation-supported philanthropy program and advertising services for businesses. There are no SaaS products, modules, APIs, or technology platforms offered as distinct product lines.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- The Black Wall Street Times Digital News Publication A free, digital-first news publication amplifying Black voices and experiences, covering local and national news across Politics, Opinions, Justice, Health, Beauty & Fashion, Sports, Business, Tech, Education, and Arts & Culture for the Black community and broader readers.
- The Daily Holler Newsletter A daily email newsletter delivering local, state, and national news focused on Black community stories, sent to subscribers Monday through Friday.
- The Block Newsletter A weekly email roundup newsletter covering Greenwood, Tulsa, and Oklahoma news relevant to the Black community.
- Advertising/Media Kit Services Display advertising placements and media kit services sold to businesses and organizations seeking access to the publication's Black-community and equity-focused readership.
Companies that use The Black Wall Street Times
Customer profileSegments3 records
Ideal customer profiles1 record
The Black Wall Street Times technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
The Black Wall Street Times partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- Pen AmericacoreOrganization supporting press freedom and free expression, partnering with The Black Wall Street Times to protect journalistic integrity.
- Gaylord College of Journalism and Mass Communication (University of Oklahoma)coreAcademic partnership where Gaylord News provides student-reported content to The Black Wall Street Times, supporting journalism education while expanding coverage capacity for the publication.
Scale indicators1 record
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
The Black Wall Street Times competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- The Root: The Root is a long-running digital publication covering Black news, politics, opinion, and culture — a direct substitute for Black Wall Street Times readers seeking the same mix of news, opinion, and cultural coverage.
- Capital B: Capital B is a nonprofit, grant-funded local and national news organization serving Black communities — structurally similar to BWST in funding mix, mission, and community-led editorial model.
- Blavity Inc. Blavity is a Black-focused digital media company operating a portfolio of news and culture sites with multi-channel distribution; directly comparable as a Black-audience digital publisher with editorial + sponsored/ad-supported monetization.
- Word In Black: Word In Black is a collaborative network of Black local newsrooms pooling coverage and distribution — directly comparable as a Black-audience digital news operation, including the grant-supported nonprofit model many of its members share with BWST.
- MLK50: Justice Through Journalism: MLK50 is a Memphis-based nonprofit investigative outlet focused on racial and economic equity — closely comparable in mission (equity-driven investigative reporting), funding model (philanthropic grants), and digital-first delivery.
- The Grio: The Grio is a Black-focused national digital news outlet covering politics, culture, and identity-driven stories — competing for the same reader attention and brand-advertising spend that BWST pursues.
Emerging players
- The 19th News: The 19th News is a nonprofit newsroom covering gender, equity, and marginalized communities; structurally and financially comparable to BWST in its grant-supported, mission-driven, digital-first delivery.
Regional players
- Block Club Chicago: Block Club Chicago is a nonprofit, neighborhood-focused digital news outlet operating in a single metro — an analog for BWST's hyperlocal Tulsa/Greenwood model and its donation/grant-supported reader-funded economics.
- Madison365: Madison365 is a Wisconsin-based nonprofit newsroom covering communities of color; structurally analogous to BWST as a small, mission-driven, grant- and donation-funded regional digital publication.
Broad incumbents
- Essence Communications: Essence is an established Black-focused media brand spanning magazine, digital, events, and commerce; overlaps with BWST on culture, news, and Black-female-leaning audience, though operating at vastly larger scale and broader scope.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
The Black Wall Street Times social profiles
Digital presenceThe Black Wall Street Times financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
The Black Wall Street Times leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
The Black Wall Street Times funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
The Black Wall Street Times M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about The Black Wall Street Times
What does The Black Wall Street Times do?
The Black Wall Street Times is an independent digital news publication that produces and distributes original journalism covering politics, justice, education, health, arts & culture, business, tech, sports, and opinions through a lens prioritizing Black voices and equity. It distributes content through its WordPress/Newspack website, two email newsletters (The Daily Holler and The Block), and social media, while monetizing via philanthropic grants, individual donations, and display advertising.
Is The Black Wall Street Times a public or private company?
The Black Wall Street Times is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was The Black Wall Street Times founded?
The Black Wall Street Times was founded in 2016. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is The Black Wall Street Times based?
The Black Wall Street Times is headquartered in Tulsa, United States, in the North America region.
How does The Black Wall Street Times make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Philanthropic Grants are the primary driver. The others are individual Donations and advertising.
Who are The Black Wall Street Times's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are The Root, Capital B, Blavity Inc., Word In Black, MLK50: Justice Through Journalism and The Grio. The 19th News is listed as an emerging player. Regional players are Block Club Chicago and Madison365. Essence Communications is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does The Black Wall Street Times have an API?
No public API is recorded for The Black Wall Street Times.
What industry is The Black Wall Street Times in?
The Black Wall Street Times's product category is Digital News Publication. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAJADAF, Investigative & Nonprofit News Organizations, with a secondary code of MPAJADAH, Alternative/Independent Newsweeklies & Opinion Press. Its NAICS code is 513110 and its SIC code is 2711.