Luke Cage, Hero for Hire (1972) 1

Welcome to August and National Black Business Month.

Founded in 2004 by John William Templeton, historian, and Frederick E. Jordan, Sr., engineer, the month has been set aside to honor black business owners. They make up about 10 percent of America’s businesses and about 30 percent of all minority-owned businesses.

In total, that is equal to about 2 million companies. About half of those are in health care and social assistance, repair and maintenance and personal and laundry services.

Breaking that mold is the spokesman for the month, Luke Cage.

Luke Cage, Hero for Hire (1972) 1

Also known as Power Man, Cage was the first black superhero to host his own title.

Marvel took advantage of the blaxploitation films of the time by creating a new fictional character.

His back story included a tarnished angel origin. Cage was – literally – caged for a crime he did not commit. He volunteered for an experimental procedure that resulted in superhuman strength and unbreakable skin.

Cage’s solo book would run 49 issues. With issue 50, he would team with Iron Fist. Together they fought crime for another 100 issues.

A solo act again, Cage became a man on the run for a second time after being framed for the murder of Iron Fist. The mystery is set straight when it is learned the Iron Fist that was “killed” was a doppelganger.

Once cleared of all charges, Cage set out to start a new life in Chicago. This time he forgoes the superhero trappings and worked as a plainclothes private eye.

Later he returned to his Heroes for Hire business before being absorbed into the Avengers when they reformed. He also became a father after a tryst with Jessica Jones.

His newly formed family didn’t stop him from continuing his hero activities. Cage became leader of the Thunderbolts only to rejoin the Avengers which then went through several incarnations.

He went full circle, re-teaming with Iron Fist under the “All-New, All-Different Marvel.”

In addition to his work in the print medium, Cage cameoed on television. An animated version first appeared on The Super Hero Squad Show. Later he would guest in The Avengers: Earth’s Mightiest Heroes.

A younger version would become a regular on the Ultimate Spider-Man cartoon as part of the S.H.I.E.L.D. team complimenting the Wall Crawler.

In 2015 Cage joined the cast of the Netflix series Jessica Jones. The guest spot earned him his own series the following year.

To celebrate Black Business Moth, consumers are encouraged to support local businesses owned by African Americans and use social media as an outlet to promote their endeavors.