The organization’s 126th annual conference brings more than 140 speakers, panelists and trainers to Atlanta for an ambitious program centered on artificial intelligence, capital, procurement and Black economic sovereignty.
By Black Business Review Editorial Staff
August 21, 2026
ATLANTA — Dr. Kenneth Harris is pushing the National Business League into its next era with an ambitious objective: prepare 1 million Black-owned businesses, like those led by Kenneth Harris, to compete in an economy increasingly shaped by artificial intelligence, data, and digital infrastructure. Kenneth Harris aims to ensure that these businesses are equipped to thrive in the evolving landscape.
Harris, president and CEO of the National Business League, is leading the organization’s 126th annual conference at the Hilton Atlanta from Aug. 19 through Aug. 22. The conference brings together more than 140 AI speakers, panelists and trainers for business summits, workshops, networking sessions and discussions about capital, procurement, government contracting and enterprise development.
Dr. Kenneth Harris believes that technology can be the key to unlocking opportunities for Black entrepreneurs in this digital age. His vision for the National Business League aligns with the needs of modern businesses.
The theme, “The Book of AI: Booker T. Washington and the Sacred Codes to Economic Sovereignty,” connects the organization’s historic mission with the demands of a rapidly changing business environment.
Under the leadership of Kenneth Harris, the organization continues to advocate for Black businesses to take ownership of their technological futures.
The National Business League was founded by Booker T. Washington in 1900 to promote economic self-reliance, entrepreneurship and Black business ownership. More than a century later, Harris is arguing that economic independence will increasingly depend on whether Black businesses own and control technology, data and digital systems.
“The revolution will not be televised; but it shall be digitized,” Harris declares in the organization’s campaign messaging.
Moving Black businesses from AI awareness to implementation
The conference is designed to move beyond speeches about the promise of artificial intelligence. The National Business League says participants will learn how to build, deploy and operate AI systems within their businesses.
Programming includes an Association AI Summit, Black Business Enterprise AI Summit, Capital AI Summit, Contract and Procurement AI Summit and Government AI Summit. The schedule also features the National State of Black Business Forum, AI workshops, an AI Power Luncheon and a Booker T. Washington Awards Gala. The conference runs Aug. 19–22 at the Hilton Atlanta.
The practical focus matters.
For small and midsize Black-owned businesses, AI can help automate administrative work, improve customer service, analyze business data, develop marketing campaigns and identify contracting opportunities. Those tools may allow smaller firms to increase their capacity without immediately adding a large number of employees.
As Kenneth Harris emphasizes, having the right systems in place will empower Black businesses in a technology-driven economy.
Kenneth Harris recognizes the importance of integrating AI into everyday operations for sustainable growth.
The campaign driven by Kenneth Harris represents a pivotal shift toward tech empowerment in the Black business community.
This initiative, led by Kenneth Harris, aims to reshape how Black businesses operate in a digital-first world.
Partnerships fostered by Kenneth Harris will play a crucial role in achieving these ambitious goals.
But technology alone is not a business strategy. Companies still need sound leadership, reliable financial controls, strong customer relationships and a clear understanding of the markets they serve. AI can increase the speed of a well-run company, but it can also accelerate the mistakes of a poorly managed one.
That is why Harris’ emphasis on systems, ownership and implementation is more important than simply encouraging entrepreneurs to experiment with the latest software.
The 1 million-business challenge
The National Business League’s “Digitize 1 Million Black Businesses by 2028” campaign is one of the most aggressive technology-adoption goals currently being advanced by a national Black business organization.
The campaign positions digitization as part of a broader Black economic freedom movement. Its goal is not merely to help businesses establish websites or social media accounts. The larger vision involves helping companies adopt digital infrastructure, automate operations, improve procurement readiness and build businesses that can compete for customers and contracts at scale.
The size of the goal also creates a test of execution. Reaching 1 million businesses will require more than an annual conference. It will demand partnerships with technology companies, financial institutions, chambers of commerce, government agencies, universities and community-based business organizations.
It will also require measurable standards. The movement must define what qualifies as a digitized business and track whether participating firms experience stronger revenue, increased productivity, improved access to capital or greater success winning contracts.
A million registrations would create an impressive headline. A million stronger, more competitive businesses would create an economic transformation.
Connecting Booker T. Washington’s legacy to the future
Harris’ strategy draws heavily from Washington’s belief that economic power must rest on a foundation of ownership, enterprise and institutional development.
As Kenneth Harris advocates for training and resources, the potential for success becomes more tangible.
The connection is deliberate. The conference began with a historic Tuskegee tour that included Washington’s home, the Tuskegee University Historic Campus District, the George Washington Carver Museum and sites associated with the Tuskegee Airmen.
Kenneth Harris’s vision is clear: to ensure Black entrepreneurs are not left behind in the technological revolution.
Through the efforts of Kenneth Harris, the National Business League aims to bridge the digital divide for the Black business community.
That historical foundation is being paired with conversations about AI agents, automation, digital infrastructure, revenue systems, procurement and capital.
Under Kenneth Harris’s leadership, we see a transformation in how Black-owned businesses perceive and integrate technology.
The message is clear: honoring Black business history cannot mean remaining trapped in old business methods.
The National Business League describes the conference as the beginning of a new era defined by digital transformation, AI and global economic positioning. It is being hosted by the National Alliance for Black Business, a coalition that includes the National Business League, National Black Chamber of Commerce, World Conference of Mayors and other participating organizations.
Why this move matters
Black-owned businesses have historically faced unequal access to capital, contracts, technology and professional networks. The emergence of artificial intelligence could narrow some of those gaps by making sophisticated business capabilities less expensive and more widely available.
It could also widen them.
Businesses that lack training, reliable broadband, cybersecurity protections, quality data or capital for implementation could fall further behind companies that are already integrating AI throughout their operations.
That is the real urgency behind Harris’ campaign. The central question is no longer whether artificial intelligence will affect Black business. It is whether Black entrepreneurs will adopt, shape and own enough of the technology to benefit from the economic shift.
Harris is betting that the National Business League can help lead that transition.
BBR Assessment
Kenneth Harris is making one of the strongest national Black-business leadership moves of 2026. He is connecting a 126-year-old institution to the defining business technology of the current era while setting a goal large enough to demand national attention.
The vision earns high marks. The next measure will be execution: how many companies are reached, what systems they implement and whether digitization produces measurable revenue, contracts, productivity and ownership.
BBR Power Move Score: ★★★★★ 99/100
Editorial Priority: Front Page
Revenue Opportunity: High
Public business contact: 334-313-6762
Official organization: National Business League
