| What is the truth about African Americans & | | | | Dr. Claud Anderson (Renowned Expert) teaches that |
| wealth? How well are we really doing? How far have | | | | in 1864 on the eve of the Civil War there were only |
| we really come? | | | | 200,000 free Black people in America the rest of us |
| According to statistics provided by The National Black | | | | over 5 million were still enslaved. Out of those 200.000 |
| Business Trade Association African Americans have | | | | Black people who were free they attained 1/2 of 1 % |
| over $750 Billion dollars of spendable income. If African | | | | of Americas wealth. WEALTH not income Here we |
| Americans were an independent Nation & had our | | | | are in 2009 all of us free and 150 years later and yet |
| own land & country (which I think we should | | | | we still only own 1/2 of 1 % of America's wealth. That |
| & will someday) that would make our economy | | | | means that for every dollar America owns Black |
| the ninth largest in the world. We have several Black | | | | America only owns 1/2 of a penny. Not even a whole |
| Millionaires. Oprah Winfrey, Russel Simmons, Jay Z | | | | penny 1/2 of 1 red cent. Dr. Claud Anderson also |
| & countless others. We have hundreds of Black | | | | states that there are two white men in America that |
| executives in key positions at Fortune 500 companies. | | | | are more wealthy by themselves than ALL of African |
| African Americans has the world imitating our style | | | | Americans combined. Bill Gates & Ralph Ellison. |
| and swagger through our music & clothing. We | | | | That's just two examples we can list thousands of |
| even have a Black President. I guess you can say with | | | | white Americans who are more wealthy than us. |
| all of this and $750 Billion dollars in income we must be | | | | Some may say money isn't everything, I don't need to |
| doing great. We are living the dream Right! Wrong!!! | | | | be wealthy to be happy. I am educated and I have a |
| Here is the real truth: In America 10% or 1 out of every | | | | great job.Some even say that money is the root of all |
| ten people live in poverty. In Black America 25% or 1 | | | | evil. I say that you are wrong! Let's get it right ! The |
| out of every 4 people live in poverty; most in extreme | | | | LOVE of money is not the root of all evil in our |
| poverty. In cities like Detroit, Pre-Katrina New Orleans, | | | | community! It is the Lack of money that is the root of |
| Baltimore, Washington DC, and Rural Southern Towns | | | | all evil and the foundation of our problems. Lack of |
| where African Americans are more than 50% of the | | | | money causes us to have inferior education. The lack |
| population the poverty rate among Blacks is much | | | | of money cause some of our people to turn to crime |
| higher. African Americans are only 12 to 15% of the | | | | as a means to support themselves and family. The |
| population of the United States yet Blacks are 51% of | | | | lack of of money causes our relationships to fail and is |
| the prisoners in the federal & state prison | | | | destroying our families. |
| systems. | | | | We have had many laws passed and so many of our |
| How could we have accomplished so much yet have | | | | people have shed their blood & some have even |
| so little? The problem is Income Is Not Wealth! Let me | | | | given there life. We have black politicians. Black |
| say it again Income Is Not Wealth! | | | | Preachers with Mega Churches. Yet True wealth, |
| You might say what do you mean? What is the | | | | freedom, justice and equality has eluded us. The |
| difference? I will put to you in simple terms: wealth is | | | | Honorable Elijah Muhammad had it right whether you |
| what is owned. Income is what is earned. Wealth is a | | | | agree with him or not. He had it right He said "That you |
| collection of assets. Income is what you get in | | | | cannot legislate freedom justice & equality. We |
| exchange for your labor. Income can help you attain | | | | can only achieve that through unity & supporting |
| assets. Assets are what creates wealth. | | | | our own." |
| As we know African Americans have over $750 | | | | We must create & build strong Black businesses |
| billion in income making us the ninth largest economy in | | | | in order to attain wealth. We must support existing |
| the world. However our true wealth or collection of | | | | Black Businesses in our community. Black business |
| assets makes us the poorest nation is the world. We | | | | owners must take an active role in improving their |
| own very little yet we consume everything? Who | | | | business by getting the proper training & |
| produced the car that you drive? Was it a Black | | | | resources needed to run a successful business. We |
| person or some other person? Who grew the food | | | | must network with each other and exchange ideas |
| that you eat & must have to sustain life was it | | | | and invest in each others businesses. We must stop |
| you & your kind or some other person? Even this | | | | teaching our children to get an education to get a job. |
| computer I am typing on; It may be black but a black | | | | We must teach them to get an education to be an |
| person did not manufacture it. | | | | entrepreneur to help employ our people. |