Black Issues Forum 2002
Black Wealth in America - Myth or Reality?
Advisors: Blanche Hughes, Margaret Rollins, Jessie Council | Library staff: Joan Beam, Allison Cowgill, Kevin Cullen | Peer Mentors: Kellen Allen, Laura Martin, Krista Roper, Nicole Easley, Reggie Jones
"Don't look now, but there's a movement afoot, we ought to know - we started it nearly three decades ago" --Earl G. Grones from his article entitled, "Let Wealth Be Our Legacy."
Many individuals believe African Americans are becoming one of the wealthiest ethnic groups in the country. "Black Enterprise", a literary journal that addresses finances in the African American community, printed the conclusion of a study on black wealth in its August 2000 issue, which called for blacks to join the Black Wealth Initiative (BWI). The BWI is a campaign aimed at challenging African Americans to join the black wealth-building movement by committing to specific principles of disciplined savings and investing. However, there are those that believe the opposite. Others consider blacks as the most impoverished group in the world. Hugh Price, President of the National Urban League, says, "One of the most glaring gaps between African Americans and mainstream America is the 'wealth gap.'" Based on this summary, does Black Wealth exist or not?