article_title name birth_date death_date
anthony overton
 anthony overton 21 march 1865 2 july 1946
anthony overton

anthony overton -lrb- march 21 , 1865 -- july 2 , 1946 -rrb- , a banker and manufacturer , was the first african american to lead a major business conglomerate .
in 1898 he established hygienic manufacturing company and produced a number of goods , including the nationally known high brown face powder , which was `` the first market success in the sale of cosmetics for black women '' .
in 1923 he established the douglass national bank , the second nationally chartered black-owned bank in the united states .
he went on to develop a highly diverse conglomerate , including the great northern realty company , the `` chicago bee '' , and the victory life insurance company .
in 1927 the national association for the advancement of colored people -lrb- naacp -rrb- awarded him its spingarn medal for outstanding achievement by an african american .
that same year , he was also given the prestigious harmon award 's first award and gold medal in business .
he was a member of alpha phi alpha fraternity .
