HBCU Money™ Turns 13 Years Old

By William A. Foster, IV

Life is a hard battle anyway. If we laugh and sing a little as we fight the good fight of freedom, it makes it all go easier. I will not allow my life’s light to be determined by the darkness around me. – Sojourner Truth

HBCU Money is officially a teenager. Usually the teenage years are a rough and tumultuous time and it is hard to see that being any differently for us. The current social and political climates that we are about to experience over the next four years will test our patience and fortitude. It is vital that HBCU Money stays a voice of focus, strategy, and guidance in the African American institutional space as it relates to economics, finance, and investment.

It is inherent that we continue to strengthen and build our African American institutional ecosystem. It is also vital that that ecosystem build bridges of connection with the African Diaspora institutional ecosystem. We must throw off the shackles of isolationism and island mentality that plagues us so deeply. Before we make decisions we must ask ourselves is there an African American institution that exist that serves that need or want. If it is not there, then we must discuss building it. Where is the HBCU that has an African American MBA that teaches us how to build and run businesses from our interest? Where is the HBCU that has a law school focused on African American agriculture and real estate? Where is the African American bank focused on export-import for African American businesses? Are we using our talents to enhance ourselves individually or are we using our talents to enhance our institutions that enhance the collective? These are just a few of the vital things we are missing in our financial infrastructure.

There is not much that needs to be said, but plenty that needs to be done.