Everyday Black Economics: Curated Content on Black Economics and Business
It’s time for a deeper understanding of Black economic success and happiness. We need a different conversation about the Black economic experience. One that is based on basic economic principles yet tailored to the actual experience of Black folks living in the US. One that is factual and thoughtful. Yet, postive and uplifting.
What is Black Economics?
Black economics refers to the study, analysis, and discussion of how Black people in the US function in the global economy. How do African Americans earn income and spend money within the US economy? What is the impact of racism, discrimination, historical economic exclusion, and economic inequality within the structure of the US political economy?
Black Economics hopes to answer those questions. By using facts and research, studies and articles, it analyzes the impact of our political and economic system on Black Americans. Black Economics discusses economics, social science, Black history, Black culture, and politics.
The goal of Black economics is to provide the intellectual framework, the ideas and facts, to support the prospering, flourishing and full achievement of the potential of Black people while maximizing Black happiness.
What’s so special about Black Economics?
Black economics looks at more than numbers—it centers power, history, systemic inequality and paths forward. It asks not just what’s happening in the economy, but why and for whom. It recognizes that race is not incidental to economics—it’s structural in the United States.
Why do we write about Black Economics?
We write about Black economics because we think there is an audience. And we want to inform that audience. The position of Black people in the US is unique in history and is followed widely around the world. African-Americans are an inspiration to many people around the world.
Up until now, the market for Black Economics and Black business ideas has been ignored. There are too many websites covering the latest financial crisis, personal finance, rich and successful people or entertainers. The White media covers topics for the majority and gives little time to larger economic trends affecting Black people. The average person does not have time to follow the most important news stories in Black Business and Economics.
What is the goal of BlackEconomics.com?
Our goal is to inform and spark curiosity about Black Economics. We want to help people take a step back We want readers who will absorb, understand, think, and analyze the forces that decide the economic situation of African Americans in the US. What drives their incomes and purchasing decisions. We offer selected content that is important for Black people in the US and around the world.
What we are not
We keep it boring, factual, and research-oriented. We are not a website that is dominated by investment advice, personal finance videos, and self-help podcasts. We support all of them. But if you want to understand what all these sites have in common and what drives them, you should read our Blog. If you want to know how the economy actually works: We are here. We can explain the “why”. We explain Black economic history and economic history. We explain Black economic thought. We dive deep into the underlying causes and drivers of Black economic success, happiness and failure.
Key Questions We Want to Answer
What is the path to success and happiness? Why do others do so well, and we struggle day-to-day? What economic forces control my existence and success? Help me to understand more.
We answer those questions and more. We offer research, opinions, and articles to help you better understand Black economics. Black people helped build this country, but we have not profited. We need to realize the power and pain of capitalism. We are missing the basic economic principles and business knowledge to use our own economic power.
This website and newsletter are an attempt to explain the economic forces that determine the position of Black people in the U.S. and the world. We want to discuss how we can improve our position. From reparations to unemployment; jobs to prosperity; happiness, generational wealth, and discrimination.
We cover the most important topics in Black Economics and Business. We cover it all.
What is our political philosophy?
Pragmatic progressivism for Black People with solid Black Nationalist goals tempered by the realism of conservative US capitalism. Yeah that a lot. We support what actually works.
Economically, we are solidly in the mainstream, neo-Keynesian camp (government is the tool to secure FDR’s four freedoms), but with a slight Black nationalist bent. We need to reduce inequality and increase opportunity for African Americans and all Americans.
But we are also opportunistic, curious, and ambitious. We fully believe in Black people helping themselves. But also developing talents in sports, entertainment and science. Black intellectual property has been stolen for years.
We should spend at least 10%-15% of our income with Black people. Yes, that includes Walmart and Amazon, which employ large numbers of Black workers. Believe it or not, our Black spending is at least 10%, considering contractors, home improvement, legal fees and Walmart.
Efficient and activist government
Separately, we believe in an efficient and effective government which is focused on inequality and opportunity. For too long, government has coasted. A active government that builds things and makes things more affordable. But we also believe the government has lacked vision and missed opportunities. We support programs that help Black People (affirmative action) and the country provide opportunities and reduce inequality.
Note:
We have a slight intellectual bent. But try to be accessible. Our target audience is Black undergraduate economics majors. But our second audience is barbershops, Black institutions and fraternities, Black economically curious and academics.
We also fully source our articles with links to important underlying studies and real data.