Celebrating Black History Month: Legacy Is Built
Black History Month is often about looking back. For me, it’s also about looking forward.
As a Black developer, I’m aware that the industry I work in—real estate development—has historically lacked representation. Depending on the numbers you look at, minority developers represent a very small percentage of the field—somewhere around only two percent. That reality isn’t abstract. It shapes access to capital, opportunity, and scale.
During my journey building Bogan Developments, I read a book that left a lasting impression on me: Building Atlanta by Herman J. Russell.
Herman built a multi-billion-dollar enterprise (H.J. Russell & Company) during one of the most difficult periods in American history. He operated in the South during the civil rights movement. He took risks others wouldn’t. He secured opportunities others couldn’t access. He funded the movement with his own capital. And he did it while building a business that still stands today.
One story that stands out is his opportunity to pave a runway at the Atlanta airport. That single project helped scale his company in ways that changed everything. But what inspires me most is not just what he built—it’s who came out of his leadership. Many prominent developers and business leaders started under Herman Russell before launching their own ventures.
He didn’t just build buildings. He built capacity. He expanded the table.
That resonates with me deeply.
At Bogan Developments, our goal is not simply to complete projects. It’s to demonstrate what is possible. Given access to capital and opportunity, we can deliver $40 million developments. We can hire people who traditionally were not included. We can push the conversation forward.
Black History Month reminds me that representation in development isn’t symbolic—it’s structural. When we take on larger opportunities and execute them well, the industry changes. The table gets bigger.
And that matters.
