But the true economic potential of African American firms is not being unrealized.

"The question that I addressed was, 'Did we do business with South African firms?' "

The firm is ranked as a top tier South African firm in the following practice areas:

Although they were among the three international finalists, none of them won the commission, which went to a South African firm.

In 2007, average gross receipts for African American-owned firms actually decreased by 3 percent from $74,000 per firm in 2002 to $72,000.

Desperate, the country's ruler hired a South African firm, Executive Outcomes, that was run by a former apartheid-era military commander.

Gencor's decision is the first of its kind by a big South African firm.

But several prominent South African firms also hope to secure his services.

A large South African firm is exploring for diamonds in the Canadian north.

The good news is that the number of African American-owned firms increased by 60.5 percent between 2002 and 2007 to 1.9 million firms.