As we celebrate the contemporary achievements of women in business and industry, it is essential to honor those whose vision and tenacity cleared the path. Among the earliest and most influential Black women entrepreneurs in South Florida was Sylvia Aldridge—a woman whose ingenuity, generosity and leadership helped shape the economic and social foundations of Broward County’s Black community.
When Aldridge arrived in Fort Lauderdale in 1904 as a young bride, the city was little more than a quiet settlement of seven homes and two stores. She began working as a domestic laborer, but her entrepreneurial instincts quickly surfaced. Recognizing a gap between employers seeking dependable labor and Black workers lacking formal representation, she founded Sylvia’s Employment Service, operating from her home at 301 NW Second St. Ever resourceful, she also ran a small restaurant from her residence, creating multiple income streams long before such strategies became commonplace.
Aldridge soon became known for providing employers with skilled, well-prepared workers. She personally screened applicants, ensured they were appropriately dressed and took pride in offering reliable service. When she realized that many workers needed consistent transportation to job sites, she again met the moment—establishing Sylvia’s Victory Cabs in the 1940s to guarantee safe, timely travel for her employees.
Yet Aldridge’s impact extended far beyond entrepreneurship. She was equally revered for her profound generosity. During the Great Depression, she fed struggling families from her own kitchen. She donated land to support her church, St. John’s United Methodist, and was a dedicated trustee and benefactor of Bethune-Cookman College, one of Florida’s historically Black institutions of higher learning.
One of her most transformative contributions emerged through her partnership with Dr. James Sistrunk to create Provident Hospital. At a time when Jim Crow laws barred Black residents from receiving care at white-only Memorial Hospital, the need for accessible medical services was urgent. Aldridge led the fundraising campaign that made Provident Hospital a reality in 1938, providing lifesaving care to a community that had long been denied it.
Sylvia Aldridge’s legacy is one of unwavering commitment to community, connection and service. Those who knew her recall a woman who mobilized her resources—and her relationships—to improve the lives of others. Her signature phrase, “Baby, I’ll get right on it,” captures the spirit of a leader who believed deeply in action, responsibility and collective uplift.
Through her entrepreneurial ventures, philanthropy, and determination to meet the community’s needs, Sylvia Aldridge laid a foundation on which generations of Black Fort Lauderdale residents would build. Her story reminds us that visionary leadership is not only about personal success—it is about using one’s gifts to open doors, solve problems and transform the world close to home.
Dr. Tameka Bradley Hobbs is regional manager of the African American Research Library and Cultural Center.
