HWS BEU [Black Economic Union] scrapbook

The Black Economic Union, formerly known as the Negro Industrial Economic Union, was founded by Jim Brown in 1965 while he was still in the National Football League. The non-profit supports Black-owned businesses and economic growth in Black communities.

Jim Brown organized a 1967 press conference, including Curtis McClinton and other top Black athletes, that was held in the Cleaveland NIEU headquarters to support Muhamad Ali after Ali announced that he was a conscientious objector to the Vietnam War draft.

The Kansas City branch of NIEU was started by Curtis McClinton, a Kansas City Chiefs star, in 1968. The name was changed to Black Economic Union in 1970, and the Kansas City organization continues to support Black-owned and low-income businesses in the area with loans, job training, and technical support. The group was heavily involved in the development of the historic 18th and Vine jazz district in Kansas City, Missouri.