“Black Titan: A.G. Gaston and the Making of a Black American Millionaire” by Carol Jenkins and Elizabeth Gardner Hines tells the story of an entrepreneur who became the first or one of the first Black millionaires in America. A.G. Gaston was the grandson of slaves and came of age at a time when many Black people in the South were struggling as a result of the end of Reconstruction and the emergence of Jim Crow. Seeing a bleak future working in mining, Gaston began to recognize and take advantage of opportunities to provide services to co-workers and later the broader community. This knack for seeing a need and filling it would result in a sprawling business empire that would also provide support for the Civil Rights Movement.
Tag: <span>financial independence</span>
“Black Fortunes” by Shomari Wills tells the story of the first six Black Americans who became millionaires in the years following slavery. It serves as a mini-biography for each individual, giving insight into their early life and then detailing the path they took to accumulate their wealth. For the most part, the book linearly tells each person’s story but jumps back and forth between the subjects as the book moves through the years.
Your Money and Your Man was written by financial writer and television host, Michelle Singletary. The book offers women some financial advice for life in general but focuses on dating/courtship, marriage, and raising kids. The advice in Your Money and Your Man won’t apply to everyone but it’s helpful to know what the different options are and how to select what’s right for you. The breakdowns in each chapter explain how to take action on the advice offered and are very useful.