The Weekend Review: What Happened to The Black Farmers, The Value of a College Edu, and Mark Cuban's Take on Investing
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What Happened to The Black Farmers
In 2019, I was listening to the New York Times Podcast: The 1619 Project, and there was an episode that touched on black farmers and the story of land ownership in America. As we all know land in American is at the foundation of wealth in this country.
In 1920, did you know there were about 1 million black farms? Which is about 14 percent. Today that number is less than 2 percent. What happened to farms as it was passed down to the next generation? This episode highlights the real struggles that black families went through to simply farm the land that they owned.
There were struggles to get loans from the bank, get the loan amount requested, and on top of that, there were issues just to get the loan processed on time in order to farm within cane season. This is a must listen…. start with Part 1 then move on to part 2.
Of course, we have a new administration in office that has run its campaign on inequality and addressing climate change. I can’t say I’m confident in any administration doing anything for the people, the history is just too deep. That’s why I wanted to link to The 1619 Project. It just gives us insight into what has happened in the past.
Two Biden Priorities, Climate and Inequality, Meet on Black-Owned Farms | The New York Times
This Week I Went Down The Rabbit Hole Trying to Learn About Crypto & Bitcoin
This week I went down the crypto and bitcoin rabbit hole simply trying to figure out what it is? Is it a currency? Or is it more of a digital asset that you can invest in? Even then, if you’re like me and wondering is this something that you should be studying, or is it something I should start putting my money in. Truth is, I don’t know much of anything, but I figured this would be about as good as time as any to just give you the links of what I’m reading and YouTubing.
First I was trying to figure out what is cryptocurrency and bitcoin, and this led me to the Earn Your Leisure YouTube Channel. I watched this episode, What is Bitcoin? Cryptocurrency Explained.
Then in true social media form, once you click on something it seems to show up in your feed. Next was a clip of Mark Cuban, owner of the Dallas Maverick on the Earn Your Leisure Podcast, and he was talking about digital currency, investing, and digital collectables. Interesting to listen to.
If you’re interested in Mark Cuban’s investment strategy, then pick up at about minute 35:50.
If you want to here about hear about Bitcoin, Cryptocurrencies, then tune in at about minute 39:00
For me very interesting. I hope you find it to be as well.
Maybe College is Not the Answer
Everyone knows someone that is drowning in student loan debt. I think about myself, with so much changing, I’m wondering what did I learn in college that’s so useful today. Absolutely everything is changing. But that’s a wonderful thing because there’s opportunity in change.
It just brings up the question, how valuable is college in today’s business environment? There are high-paying jobs, that don’t require a college degree. Yet most jobs require a degree of some sort.
There are trades that are in high demand that happen to pay really well, where a degree is not required. We know this, but tech companies know this as well. With the pandemic derailing college in 2020, COVID has only accelerated what has already been in the making.
Take IBM, a major corporation that offers an alternate route to a six-figure job without incurring student loan debt. They have an early college program at the high school level that was started in 2011, Pathways in Technology Early College High School, also known as P-Tech. At P-Tech, students finish high school with an associate’s degree and relevant work experience in growing fields in the tech industry.
IBM’s new path to a six-figure salary doesn’t require a college degree | Fortune
Producer and Director Ava DuVernay Launches Recruitment Diversity Tool
Producer and director Ava DuVernay, who you probably already know, as she has brought us the Netflix doc about the Central Park 5, “When They See Us”, Queen Sugar, and the movie “Selma”. So from the content that’s already been put out there, there is a ton of respect. But this is even more important, because so often black folks are just left out, or they say they can’t seem to find “qualified candidates”.
But not anymore, Ava DuVernay is launching a database that will initially have resumes of more than 3,000 experienced workers. As she was coming up through the ranks, she noticed that the crew was always white and she initially attributed that to prejudice, but later learned it’s more about who you know, and that people are just in the wrong circles. So this diversity tool is a great thing and something I’m happy to hear about.
Ava DuVernay Launches Recruitment Tool to Improve Diversity of Hollywood Crews | Wall Street Journal (paid)
SUPPORTING BLACK BUSINESS
Meet the Father Who Designed a Diaper Bag Just for Dads| Black Enterprise – Kwame White is the founder and CEO of W.S.E.L Bags, the modern diaper bag designed for dads. Baby products typically are designed with the idea that the mother will be assuming the primary role of parenting, however, dads are hands-on parents too. Kwame has created a line of diaper bags to let fathers know they are valued too. Shop: W.S.E.L Bags
Kanarys Has Become a Black-Owned Tech Company to Watch | Paper City – The founders Star Carter and Mandy Carter, two former lawyers that noticed the disparities and inequities in the fundraising world were inspired to start Kanarys.
Kanarys uses Equal Opportunity Employment reports and assesses company policies to measure diversity and inclusion efforts. Although they’re measuring diversity & inclusion efforts, Kanarys also shows companies how it can be good for business. Studies show that racially and ethnically diverse companies have higher average returns and less turnover. Visit: Kanarys
Do You Know Nathan “Nearest” Green?| Inc. – Nathan “Nearest” Green is the enslaved African who taught Jack Daniels how to make Whiskey. After emancipation, he became the company’s head distiller. We’re thankful for Fawn Weaver, the entrepreneur that brought the whiskey that dawns the name of Uncle Nearest to market. Shop: Uncle Nearest
NEWS SNIPPETS
Linkedin Study Shows HBCU Grads Bucking Low U.S. Hiring Trends Despite Economic Downturn | BET
New York Time Internal Report Admits Its Coverage Has Been Rooted In White Perspectives | Newsone
Jay-Z Shares His ‘Empire State of Mind’ With LVMH | The Root
Give Black Employees Time to Rest and Recover | Harvard Business Review
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