I have spent a dozen years studying the Economy, Finance, American History, General History and politics as well as a feverish two years catching up on Black History. From what I can see, economic empowerment can only do so much. Black people need power, influence, a seat at the table, real protection within the American state.
The Jews, the Irish, the Germans, the Italians, The Polish, the Japanese all tried to simply work hard, save their money and invest their modest wealth wisely. They all got turned back or delayed until they were granted full citizenship by the broader white community. Only once they got the protection of the state and its rewards: land grants, FHA assistance, VA College grants, The Interstate Highways and civil service jobs, did those communities begin to truly flourish.
Perhaps one must study Economics to its fullest extent in order to understand its relative weaknesses. Politics, power, pull, protection and influence all determine economic outcomes of various groups. Black people need political muscle, juice, punch, strength at all levels in order to be economically empowered.
Like Drake, we start at the bottom. Joe Washington wants to start a very small business. He cannot because his State has licensing laws that require him to pay a few thousand dollars simply to cut hair. He needs to come up with $10,0000 in order to start his business but he cannot because he sold crack in the 1980's so he is a "felon" (he sold crack in 1983) and is black listed for all time from mainstream employment. He works free lance as a roofer but he is always being bled white from municipal traffic fines. He tries to save but his soft roll on a right turn cost him $500 and his expired tags cost him another $300. The Irish Cops who control his suburban town will make sure to always take a few Benjamins here and there.
Suppose that, Joe actually does save up his money and he actually starts a chain of stores. Let us suppose that his black owned business does not go over well with the cops. Joe owns several stores and several city blocks. Our Patrolmen's Benevolent Association does not like the fact that several blocks are black owned. The PBA decides to apply to the "broken windows" theory to its law enforcement during the day. Everyone who is stopped is harnessed and ticked by day and yet by night, saturation patrols suddenly stop. In fact, the PBA leaves your stores vulnerable to be looted and vandalized. Police can kill with their own guns and they can doom you by withdrawing all protection and leaving you to the mercy of real criminals.
Finally, Joe Washington breaks into high finance. Somehow his stores all succeed and he makes so much money they he is issuing mortgage loans, trading stocks and he is buying and selling bonds and he is highly intertwined with major insurance companies. The Crash of 2018 comes. This time the Federals actually will prosecute. They can string up Joe Washington and make him the scapegoat for the 2018 Crash. The FDIC euthanizes his subsidiaries in South Central LA, South Chicago, Oakland, Atlanta and DC Metro. The head of the Black Capital Firm (BCF) is hanged publicly. American will experience years of moribund economic performance, declining wages and foreclosures but at least Joe Washington got his due! Goldman, Citi, BoA and Wells escaped unharmed, bailed out, bolstered, strengthened and and recapitalized but BCF got their's!
Black people would be wise to start their own banks, law firms, retail shops and other business undertakings but ultimately, black folks need political muscle. Aligning with genuine progressives of any race and playing King makers in Democratic primaries are crucial to any attempts at black economic empowerment.
luckyluchiano
Would be interesting to see how much in collections black churches collect on an annual, monthly, and even weekly basis. 
