The welcome saturation of Black History Month specials is upon us.

The welcome saturation of Black History Month specials is upon us.

The Smithsonian Channel, a joint business venture between the Smithsonian Institution and Showtime Networks Inc, is offering several programs on Saturday nights for the month of February.

The Saturday line-up includes several original programs that have previously aired. “Seizing Justice: The Greensboro 4” aired Feb. 5 then again on Feb. 19 at 10 p.m.

Two biographies are repeated: “Lives that Changed the World: Nelson Mandela,” aired Feb. 5 at 10 p.m. and a documentary on Muhammad Ali airs February 12 at 10 p.m.

A six-part series on American music, narrated by actor Morgan Freeman, starts with a look at the blues February 12 at 8 p.m. Another blues show follows at 9 p.m. on February 12. Then jazz on February 19 at 8 p.m. Postwar jazz on February 19 at 9 p.m. Soul roots on Saturday, Feb. 26 at 8 p.m. Soul of the 1960s and 1970s on Feb. 26 at 9 p.m.

The schedule concludes on February 26 at 10:30 p.m. with a program on the Scurlock Studio, the Washington photography business of Addison Scurlock and his sons, George and Robert.

Black History Month is time to reflect on our heritage.

This day and age only a handful of Black men can be justifiably entered onto a list of famous Black businessmen. In order to make the list, Black business moguls like Kenneth Chenault and Stanley O’Neal would stand out in the finance area because they are very famous. Certain famous Black athletes like Tiger Woods and Michael Jordan would qualify because their success stems from athletic skill and endorsements but not from bona fide business skills.

If you watched the film, “The Pursuit of Happiness” in 2006, it is a depiction of famous Black businessman Chris Gardner’s triumphant rise to success from poverty and homelessness. Today, Chris Gardner has his own brokerage firm, Gardner Rich & Co, in addition to being a successful author and motivational speaker.

Berry Gordy’s business skills, as a record producer, made him responsible for putting the greatest entertainers in the world on the map. From Michael Jackson to Stevie Wonder, Gordy’s record label, Motown, is a household name and it is synonymous with an entire music genre.

Call and Post Publisher Don King rose to fame as a Black businessman through his unmatched skills at promoting boxers. King is the man responsible for Mike Tyson, Evander Holyfield, and Julio Cesar Chavez, and he masterminded comeback fame for Muhammad Ali and George Foreman.

As the founder of Phat Farm and the co-founder of the Def Jam recording label, Russell Simmons is one of the most famous Black businessmen in America. Simmons also produced Def Comedy Jam and owns Rush Communications as well as Run Athletics (co-owned with his brother, Joseph “Rev Run” Simmons).

Regardless to what he’s calling himself these days, Sean Combs is a successful and famous Black businessman. He owns Bad Boy Records, the Sean Jean and Sean clothing lines, and he has produced recording artists from TLC to Mary J. Blige.

Magic Johnson, the former NBA superstar from the Los Angeles Lakers, is a prominent and famous Black businessman as he invests in Starbucks, AMC Movie Theaters, and T.G.I. Friday’s chains across the country.

Johnson also owns several real estate ventures as well.

BET founder Bob Johnson is credited with being the first Black billionaire but, before him, there was a legendary Black businessman who built a billion-dollar company.

A deal Reginald F. Lewis made after he purchased international giant Beatrice Foods promoted his American company, TLC Group, L.P. to the biggest offshore leveraged buyout in history, making TLC Beatrice worth $1.5 billion and on to Fortune’s 500 list.

Lewis died of brain cancer at age 50 in 1993 but his philosophy continues to be followed by entrepreneurs and Black youth.

Well before “The Giving Pledge” campaign reaped 16 philanthropic tycoons, Reginald F. Lewis gave million dollar donations to charity. Lewis gave back to Black youth and stressed the importance of entrepreneurship.

J. Bruce Llewellyn, a Black businessman who made a name for himself in banking, broadcasting, bottling and groceries also had a dream. In 1983, Llewellyn, former Philadelphia 76ers star Julius Erving and Bill Cosby bought the Philadelphia Coca-Cola Bottling Co. In 1988, he would buy another Coca-Cola bottling company in Wilmington, Delaware.

In 1985, he bought WKBW-TV in Buffalo, N.Y. and, along with several other investors, purchased South Jersey Cable for over $400 million.

Black professionals utilize technology to become successful business owners, from increasing their education to setting up shop. Technology is being put to use by Black professionals to acquire the knowledge and skills they need as they efficiently establish and work their businesses.

After doing their research and determining the best course of action, Black professionals make use of technology to establish their businesses or purchase existing businesses.

Online education is booming and the variety of coursework, learning atmospheres, and providers of online education offer can be taken advantage of by Black professionals. Black professionals who are constricted by location, available time, or financial limitations can find the educational programs to suit them as they build their business skills.

The variety of programs available allows professionals to make the selections that best suit their needs, the amount of time they have to invest, and their budgets all without requiring them to attend classes at a strict time or in a set physical location.

To utilize technology to their maximum advantage, Black business professionals continue to educate themselves and stay involved in their networks. Technology helps professionals break through and overcome limitations of location, available time, and finances to achieve the education they desire and strengthen their business skills.

Black professionals further utilize technology to network and establish and support their business enterprise.