The recent police shootings of several unarmed black men have sparked several thoughts and questions in my mind. Most revolve around why black people are treated as we are(in the US and abroad) and how to end or drastically reduce the mistreatment and blatant disrespect. I’m so tired of the same old responses to these atrocities. At this point, i’m so jaded that the slogan “No justice, No peace!” make me cringe because it just seems so empty to me. I feel that we need to approach this problem from a different angle.

As a business owner, I tend to look at things from an economic perspective. I started my business and plan to start more because I believe that building wealth for myself and my family is what will empower me and my loved ones.

Black America has been disrespected for too long and needs a plan. A serious long term plan that will permanently remove the race from bottom of the totem pole, second hand citizen status in America. What is one thing that differentiates black people in America from the other ethnic groups that live here? What is the glaring difference between the people who are continuously being abused, mistreated and disrespected versus those who are not? It is ECONOMIC POWER!

In his book, Powernomics, Dr. Claude Anderson writes, “Racism is a wealth and power based competitive relationship between blacks and non Blacks…True racism exists when one group holds a disproportionate share of the wealth and power over another group then uses those resources to marginalize, exploit, exclude and subordinate the weaker group.”

Lets start building wealth. Lets start thinking of how to put ourselves in a position to say, “If you mess with us, we will hit you in many places, including where it hurts you the most, your pocket.”