At 62 years old, Kim Lanham, a resilient Black veteran, has triumphed over adversity, including sexual assault, addiction, and foreclosure, to emerge as a thriving entrepreneur. She is the founder and owner of Bag’z N’ Thang’z, a business that sells Afrocentric products, especially handbags with traditional African colors. She was also named the Female Entrepreneur of the Year by the Southern Connecticut Black Chamber of Commerce in 2022. In this blog post, we will explore her inspiring story and how she turned her pain into power.
Kim Lanham joined the U.S. Army when she was 21 years old. She had a traumatic experience while serving in the military: she was sexually assaulted by a fellow soldier. She said she cried for a week after the incident, but she did not let it define her. She said she relied on her faith to stay strong and resilient. “I turned my pain into power,” she said.
Kim Lanham also struggled with addiction for many years. She said she used to dim her light, but she decided to change her life for the better. She has been clean and sober for almost a decade now. She said she loves her life today and she is grateful for every day. “I am going to remain clean and sober because I love my life today,” she said.
Kim Lanham faced another challenge ten years ago: she almost lost her home to foreclosure. She said she was desperate and scared, but she did not give up. She started a business venture called Bag’z N’ Thang’z, which sells Afrocentric products online and at local events. She said her handbags are her biggest sellers, as they reflect her culture and heritage. She said her business has been growing steadily and has helped her pay off her mortgage and secure her future.
Kim Lanham said she celebrates Black History Month by reflecting on how far she has come and how much she has achieved. She said every Black person’s story is part of the Black history narrative, and she encourages others to share their stories and free themselves from their past. She said she is proud of her journey and her identity as a Black woman, a veteran and an entrepreneur. “I used to dim my light, but now I’m shining and I love it. I love it,” she said.
Kim Lanham is an example of courage, perseverance and success. She has overcome many obstacles and challenges in her life, but she has never lost hope or faith. She has turned her pain into power, and her passion into profit. She is an inspiration to many people, especially other Black women who face similar struggles or discrimination. She is a living proof that anything is possible with determination, hard work and self-love.
Kiko Davis is another woman of many talents and achievements. She is the trustee of the Donald Davis Living Trust, the majority stockholder of First Independence Bank, the 10th largest African-American owned bank in the U.S., and the founder and president of the Don Davis Legacy Foundation. She is also the managing director of Groovesville Productions & Publishing LLC, which controls the Grammy Award winning music catalog of her late husband, Donald Davis, a legendary record producer and songwriter.
But what makes her stand out among her peers is that she is the only Black woman in the U.S. who owns her own bank. This is a remarkable feat considering that there are only 21 Black-owned banks in the country, and only 2% of bank executives are women of color.
Davis inherited her stake in First Independence Bank after her husband passed away in 2014. He had acquired the bank in 1980 and transformed it into a profitable and community-oriented institution. Davis decided to honor his legacy by continuing his vision and expanding the bank’s services and reach.
She told Rolling Out that she had to overcome many challenges and doubts as a Black woman in a male-dominated industry. She said that courage was her superpower, and that she used fear as a tool to conquer adversity. She also credited her faith in God and her supportive family and friends for helping her achieve her goals. Continue reading about Kiko Davis here.
