Black Wall Street: A Black Business Expo on Display in Atlanta,Ga.

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Black Wall Street: A Black Business Expo second annual event, was front and center at the Westin on Peachtree Plaza in Atlanta, Ga., on Saturday June 4, 2022. This year’s 2nd annual expo presented prominent Black businesses and entrepreneurs advocating the urgency for financial literacy within the Black community.  Chaired by The Financial Literacy Institute, Inc., Black Wall Street Business (BWSB) was established to spotlight the eminence of greatness of African Americans who have become distinguished through the development of their existence. BWS’s mission is to use entrepreneurship as a caveat to annihilate social injustice and to evangelize social and political reform. BWS is committed to the preservation of the Black community, who more than often are victimized by the barriers placed upon them channeled through the justice and socioeconomic systems of America; often leaving them to ponder the thought if things will ever change, and if so, what will it take for change to come into existence.  
BWS proposes that the answer to the problem is the use of “green backs” yeah, that “almighty dollar” (in my O’Jays) voice, as the genesis for the long overdue change.  By highlighting the weight of the “black” dollar, change is eminent.  
According to statistics, Black people have more buying power than ever before, and that of $1 trillion in gross national income, but only 2% is reinvested into the Black communities. (www.bankgreen.com). According to Forbes, African Americans, at 47.8 million strong, are the second largest consumer group, with a $300 billion opportunity at stake. ( www.forbes.com). Yet with those staggering statistics, Black people are impoverished and financially disabled.
Black Wall Street Business Expo (BWSBE), platform encourages the reinvestment and circulation of the black dollar within the African American community to create opportunities and latitudinal investments.  The equation for success, wealth, and longevity, is an easy one. By spending “our” black dollars, with Black owned businesses, not only do we recreate opportunities of inclusion, but we strengthen our solidarity within the community; thus, dismantling the anxiety and limitations that have ultimately resulted in social injustices, crime, and death.

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The red carpet event, led by Elizabeth “Lizi” Smith, of Atlanta’s hip hop and R&B radio station, V103, and media correspondent Rainy “Country Cutie” Cates, who has co-hosted on Q in the streets, was sponsored by its charitable guru and event curator, Jasmine S. Young, founder and CEO of Southern Heritage Financial Group, and the executive director of the CPA firm’s The Financial Literacy Institute, Inc.
The Financial Literacy Institute, Inc., provides

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educational resources to underserved communities.  Young is a certified CPA with 7 years of experience in accounting, financial consulting, estate planning and tax preparation. Young offers her knowledge and financial solutions to a myriad of organizations and industries across the globe.

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Southern Heritage is one of the Global Conference for Insurance and Finance’s 2020 Top 100 Global Leaders in Finance.  The wealth of knowledge that she willing provides to the Black community is often too expensive for “us” to afford. Young’s allegiance to building generational wealth, and commitment to the sustainability of African Americans is undeniable.
The official headliner premiering on the red carpet was none other than renowned Dr. Umar Johnson. Recognized for his expertise on the education and mental health of Afrikan American children, Dr. Umar, as he is known to friends is the kinsman to the Great Abolitionist Fredrick Douglass (1818-1895) and the late Abolitionist Bishop Alexander Wayman (1821-1895).  Dr. Umar has appeared on the Breakfast Club, Fox Soul, Cannon’s Class, Rickey Smiley Show, Bev Smith Show, News One Now, Tom Joyner Morning Show and the Real Housewives of Atlanta. Dr. Umar is one of the most recognized social scientists of the 21st century.
When AtlPlus Magazine, founder and CEO, Ebony Mayo asked Dr. Umar what Black Wall Street meant to him and his community, he reiterated the importance of the Afrikan American community becoming financially literate as a means to abolish poverty and the negative stigmatism placed on us by society.  Dr. Umar’s book (Psycho-Academic Holocaust: The Special Education and ADHD Wars Against Black Boys), articles and lectures are bookmarked throughout many colleges and universities.  Notably, Dr. Umar is the former Minister of Education for the Honorable Marcus Garvey’s UNIA-ACL, and a direct descendant pf a formerly slaved civil war veterans who served in the 9th & 19th Regiments of the United States Colored Troops of Maryland.
In addition, the event consisted of a panel discussion with celebrity guests, financial literacy advocates and counselors, and the official Black Wall Street and Friends of the Movement: Vote with Your Wallet. Among the distinguished guests was Dr. Quin Brooks as moderator, Holly Reid Toodle, CPA, Master Chef, Cameron Dangerfield, the Mayor of the city of Riverdale; Dr. Evelyn Wynn-Dixon Cristyl Kimbrough, founder of Kimbrough Law, LLC., Dr. Kevin James, President of Morris Brown College, an HBCU, located in Atlanta Ga., and Terrica Wright, CEO, and founder of Terrica Wright Real Estate Group.  The panel of powerhouses were demonstrative in their promulgation for financial immunity for African Americans.  
www.blackwallstreettalnta.org

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