About Black Pages USA and its owners
Our mission is to encourage, support and facilitate economic empowerment of the African-American community through the development of a strategic local business network, educational initiatives and communications ventures. The company increases the opportunities for black businesses to succeed by expanding the number of quality venues that offer positive exposure for African Americans. In 1998, this dedication to economic empowerment for African Americans led to the creation of “The Black Expo." Black Pages USA and Black Expo USA operate in 12 offices in the Southeastern United States.
 
Gerry McCants President, McCants Communications Group Inc.
McCants, a graduate of Virginia Union University, was born and raised in South Carolina in a home where service to others was a major priority. His belief that it was his calling to assist African American businesses to succeed by providing positive venues where Black businesses could be presented to the world led him to found Black Pages USA in 1990. The success of the venture prompted him the following year to partner with a like-minded young entrepreneur, Darrin Thomas.
 
Darrin Thomas Vice President, Thomas Media Group, LLC 
Thomas, a native of Florence, South Carolina, is a graduate of the University of South Carolina School of Business and a former member of the Xerox Corporation management team. One of his lifelong goals is to find a way to succeed in business while serving others.

McCants and Thomas operated Thomas-McCants Media Inc. from 1990 until 2008, when they decided to split the company to concentrate on specific markets. The McCants Communications Group focuses on the Virginia and North Carolina markets, while the Thomas Media Group focuses on South Carolina, Georgia and Florida. 

The Mission
Though they are separate companies, these firms share an understanding for the need to  encourage, support and facilitate economic empowerment in the African-American community. They continue to do so through the development of a strategic local business network, educational initiatives and communications ventures.

The Distribution Process

Black Pages USA reaches the public in three primary ways:

African-American Churches: Capitalizing on the church’s longstanding position as a pillar in the community, each family in selected churches receives one copy. Of the Black Pages USA readership, 70 percent obtain their copy at church.
Direct Mail: Black Pages USA maintains a database of current and former readers, in addition to current and past advertisers. Each of these receives a copy.
Distribution sites: Our distribution sites include small retail establishments, grocery store chains, large corporations and the local Chamber of Commerce. These pickup sites are promoted through radio and television advertisements. Of the Black Pages USA readership, 25 percent receive their copy from a distribution site.