Last night’s Black Wall Street Soiree at the Downtown Cultural Arts Center (a Black-owned venue) was a shining testament to our resilience and unity. The room embodied the full spectrum of our community—individuals overcoming insurmountable odds, thriving professionals, reformed legends who turned their lives around, executives of renowned conglomerates, internationally acclaimed nonprofit leaders, and young entrepreneurs in the making.
One of the most inspiring aspects was the shared sense of family. Regardless of where we came from or our current status, the evening was a powerful reminder of the strength we have when we come together.
Recently, someone criticized Black-owned businesses in a way that reminded me how easy it is to tear each other down. Growing up in a Black business-owning family, I don’t subscribe to that mindset. When I see a struggling business owner, I don’t critique them publicly—I pull them aside to offer support, solutions, or guidance. What I will never do is use my platform to harm our community. If I can’t help, I certainly won’t hurt.
It deeply pains me to hear negativity spoken over Black-owned businesses. Instead, we must speak life into them. As Calvin Watkins said, we need to support our businesses “until it hurts.” Last night, keynote speaker Alicia Wilson, Esquire, emphasized that our collective annual disposable income exceeds $1 trillion—a staggering figure that could transform our communities if spent more intentionally.
The truth is clear: we must do better. Too often, we finance companies that don’t respect or value us, and that must change. No excuses. We owe it to ourselves, our businesses, and our future generations to invest in each other. This country is facing uncertain times, and it’s crucial to recognize that no one is coming to save us. The power to thrive lies within us, especially when we align with our spirituality and purpose.
May we continue to uplift Black-owned businesses and speak life into our community. As Billie Holiday so beautifully sang, “God bless the child that’s got his own.”