My Black American Labor Story

The #BHM theme for this month is honoring the Black American labor story. The labor that African Americans have contributed to this country is often unrecognized and largely uncompensated. So this month, I celebrate my own family's story.

My dad and his brothers migrated from Oklahoma to the city of dreams—Los Angeles—to pursue their quest for entrepreneurship. In the late ’70s, they established a chain of Shell Oil gas stations throughout South Central Los Angeles. At the time, this was a major accomplishment—having Black Dealers, as they were called, running gas station franchises. In fact, according to Black Tribe, there are only 29 Black-owned gas stations in the entire country today! Sigh...

I have many fond memories of growing up at the gas station—it was my very first job. Yes, I was overworked and underpaid, and surely some child labor laws were violated, but it was an amazing experience to work in service of the community. It shaped who I am today. That gas station was a thriving place of business—until 1992.

Amidst the routine of our family business, chaos erupted with the LA riots following the Rodney King verdict. The entire nation had watched police brutality unfold on video, only for the four involved officers to be acquitted of all charges of assault and excessive use of force. South Central Los Angeles became a place of catastrophe. Overnight, our neighborhood turned into a battleground, engulfed in flames and chaos. Fires raged for days. It was a frightening time.

We made a "Black-Owned" sign for our window. Because people knew us, we had the community’s trust. Our shop was spared from the destruction of the riots.

However, despite our resilience, my family lost Bell Shell in the aftermath—not to flames ignited by our neighbors, but to the insidious external forces of divestment. Divestment is the systematic withdrawal of resources and opportunities from underprivileged communities by those in power. Once we lost ownership of Bell Shell, we had nothing left but the Bell name.

That’s why I embarked on a journey of education and empowerment. My life's mission has been to fight against divestment.

That’s the story of Bell Shell—a narrative of triumph and tragedy, and a warning against the perils of complacency. If we fail to recognize the value of ownership and equity, we risk losing not just our businesses but our very livelihoods. By sharing my Black American labor story, I hope to inspire others to cherish and safeguard their stake in the world—ensuring that future generations are not deprived of the opportunities they deserve.

Watch my Ted Talk on Bell Shell https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ungkW8FLlgg&feature=youtu.be

Watch my interview of my father here on Sisters with Ventures

Only 5 spots left for my Linked Masterclass https://www.lishabell.com/challenge-page/9f18c32d-44cf-4258-bd3f-f208c924be94?utm_campaign=68ede8dc-10ad-4d1e-a0d0-72934bc012f5&utm_source=so&utm_medium=lp