Liberation In Legacy: A Juneteenth Spotlight On Black-Owned MSP

Kenyatta Computer Services, a Denver-based Black-owned MSP led by father-son duo Lionel and Nahjee Maybin, exemplifies how legacy and leadership can drive lasting impact in tech. Founded on principles of cultural pride, economic empowerment, and generational growth, the company centers freedom as both a mission and a practice. This Juneteenth, their story offers a powerful reminder that true independence is built—not granted.

“We are the Maybins, the mighty, mighty Maybins. Everywhere we go, people wanna know who we are. So, we tell them…”

Before Lionel Maybin’s children learned to build computers or sign client contracts, they learned that chant. It wasn’t just a fun family slogan. It was a practice in naming themselves, reminding each other where they come from, and setting the tone for where they were headed. That chant, simple and proud, is a thread in a larger tapestry of self-determined Black legacy building—one that finds special resonance on Juneteenth.

Juneteenth: The Real Independence Day

On June 19, 1865, more than two years after President Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation, Union troops arrived in Galveston, Texas, to enforce the freedom of enslaved people. That moment, while delayed, was deeply felt and would later be known as Juneteenth. Today, the date is a federal holiday and a time of remembrance, joy, resistance, and responsibility in Black communities.

Juneteenth is a mirror held up to the contradictions of American freedom. For Black entrepreneurs, especially those in the tech sector, the holiday offers a chance to reflect on the difference between having opportunity and being allowed to access it. It also invites an important question: What does freedom look like when you create it on your own terms?

From Punch Cards To Purpose: Lionel’s Founding Story

Lionel Maybin, founder of Denver-based Kenyatta Computer Services, first encountered computers through a seventh-grade math teacher. After being told he answered too many questions in class, the teacher handed Lionel a special project: punch card programming behind a hidden door in the classroom. That moment changed everything.

From RadioShack cassette recorders to a self-taught understanding of programming, Lionel’s early fascination with computing grew into a life of disciplined learning and innovation. After 24 years in the U.S. Air Force, he launched Kenyatta Computer Services to offer more than just tech solutions. The company was his way of showing Black youth what was possible.

“I wanted to give hope,” he said. “I wanted to be an example of what it looks like to build something and offer someone else a way across the bridge.”

Influenced by African-centered scholarship and the seven principles of Kwanzaa, Lionel used business not as an escape from cultural identity, but as an extension of it. He named the company “Kenyatta” in honor of his father’s Pan-Africanist ideals and instilled values like self-determination and cooperative economics into every part of the business.

Nahjee’s Next Chapter

Nahjee Maybin didn’t always envision himself running the company his father built. With two degrees in engineering, his plan was to work in geophysics and climb the traditional corporate ladder. But after being unexpectedly let go from a government role after graduation—and earning nearly $10,000 in a single week from a tech project with his father—he started to reconsider what was possible.

At 26, he took on more projects with Kenyatta Computer Services. Eventually, he accepted the mantle of CEO, not out of obligation but because the numbers made sense and the mission aligned with his values. Nahjee spent the first few years in the field doing hands-on work, learning the business from every angle. His approach to leadership is both operationally strategic and personally grounded.

“My favorite part is being able to create opportunities,” Nahjee explained. “We’ve had people with felonies from more than a decade ago pick up fiber cable for the first time and turn that into a career. That kind of freedom—being able to say yes to people who are often told no—that’s what keeps me going.”

Freedom As A Living Practice

For the Maybins, Juneteenth serves as a philosophical guide. Lionel’s first company logo depicted an enslaved man breaking chains operating as a visual commitment to liberation, not assimilation.

“Freedom is something you take,” Lionel said. “And it starts by knowing who you are and where you come from.”

The Maybin children were raised in that knowledge. Growing up the family celebrated Kwanzaa, the African American holiday festival of lights, every year. They were taught that their history didn’t begin with enslavement, and that they are connected to engineers, scholars, and architects of ancient civilizations. That foundation gave them permission to dream widely and act boldly.

Their understanding of freedom also extends to business strategy. Kenyatta Computer Services works exclusively with clients who align with their values. If a prospective client doesn’t respect their culture or their community, they are willing to walk away. Some may see this as a risky philosophy in today’s social climate but for Nahjee, this approach has protected their integrity.

“We haven’t lost business because of who we are,” he said. “We’ve gained loyalty by staying true to it.”

Legacy Beyond The Buzzwords

While some companies treat inclusion like a checkbox, the Maybins treat it like a birthright. Lionel sees the current sociopolitical climate—where exclusion is growing louder—as a call to deepen commitment, not retreat from it.

“They’re just fighting for survival,” he said of those resisting equity. “But for us, this is nothing new. We’ve always had to push forward. We’ve always had to create our own doors.”

That spirit of creation, passed from father to son, lives on in their clients, their employees, and now in Nahjee’s own children. The Maybins aren’t just surviving in the tech channel. They’re shaping it with care, culture, and clarity.

What The Channel Can Learn From Juneteenth

The tech industry often celebrates disruption. Juneteenth reminds us that not all disruptions are born from technology. Some come from truth, persistence, and the refusal to wait for someone else to make space.

The story of Kenyatta Computer Services is a lesson in building without permission. It’s about knowing that freedom isn’t abstract. It’s measurable, in ownership, in opportunity, and in the courage to name yourself.

As Lionel said, “We do what we gotta do with what we’ve got.”

On Juneteenth, and every day after, that’s the definition of legacy worth learning from.

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