Minority businesses finally feeling hope

It was another day of unnerving economic news.

The Dow Jones performed a portfolio-punishing plunge of 332 points. Chemical manufacturer Rohm & Haas Co. announced 900 job cuts; Clear Channel Communications Inc., 1,850.

Yet Philadelphia-area entrepreneurs Michael Pearson, Joyce Shorts and Angelo R. Perryman rejoiced Tuesday. For also on that day, a new president had issued an inaugural call to "begin again the work of remaking America."

Spoken by a man who shares their skin color, those words inspired hope in Pearson, Shorts and Perryman.

In interviews last week, they spoke candidly of the business challenges they say they have encountered because they are black, and why they think President Obama could change that.

Read their stories on

D2.