PHOTO CREDIT: PowerNomics.com
By Edelia J. Carthan,
CarthanEnterprises.com, President & CEO
For decades, renowned author and economist Dr. Claud Anderson has issued a powerful warning to Black America: without economic self-reliance, African Americans will become a permanent underclass in the United States. His message is rooted in a harsh truth — wealth determines power, and power shapes policy. Without ownership of businesses, land, media, and institutions, Black communities are left vulnerable, dependent, and at the mercy of systems that were never designed to benefit them.
Anderson’s warnings are more relevant now than ever. As the U.S. prepares for a possible political shift with the implementation of Project 2025, a conservative plan to reshape the federal government, African Americans face the risk of losing more civil rights protections and economic opportunities. He urges Black communities to take immediate action to build wealth and self-sufficiency, warning that the window for securing their future is rapidly closing.
One of the most startling facts Dr. Anderson presents is the circulation of the Black dollar — or lack thereof. According to studies, a dollar circulates in the Black community for just six hours before leaving to benefit other groups. By comparison, the dollar circulates in Asian communities for 30 days, in Jewish communities for 20 days, and in white communities for 17 days. This stark difference highlights the economic dependency of Black communities on businesses, goods, and services owned by other groups.
“Six hours,” Anderson says. “That’s how long it takes for Black people to give their money right back to people who don’t look like them, who don’t live in their neighborhoods, and who don’t reinvest in their communities.”
Why does this happen? The answer lies in a lack of Black-owned businesses, industries, and institutions. Anderson argues that Black communities have been conditioned to spend their money with others rather than build their own economic base. As a result, the wealth generated by African Americans — through their labor, entrepreneurship, and creativity — leaves their neighborhoods almost immediately, enriching other communities while leaving Black communities economically stagnant.
Anderson points to historical factors that have created this cycle of dependency. From slavery to Jim Crow to modern-day discrimination, Black Americans have been systematically denied access to the same economic opportunities afforded to other groups. Policies that excluded Black people from land ownership, business loans, and educational resources have left Black communities without the tools to build lasting wealth.
But Anderson is clear: the past doesn’t have to define the future. His solution is simple but bold — Black America must unite, build wealth, and create self-sustaining communities that are no longer dependent on outside groups for survival. The key to empowerment, he says, is group economics — the practice of keeping wealth circulating within the community through Black-owned businesses, banks, schools, and media outlets.
“Power follows wealth,” Anderson writes in PowerNomics: The National Plan to Empower Black America. “If you don’t have wealth, you don’t have power. And if you don’t have power, you have no control over your future.”
As the political landscape in the U.S. shifts, Anderson’s call to action is more urgent than ever. The conservative plan known as Project 2025 — developed by right-wing think tanks to influence the next presidential administration — outlines sweeping changes to the federal government that could disproportionately harm African Americans. The plan includes eliminating diversity, equity, and inclusion programs, reversing affirmative action policies, and rolling back civil rights protections that have helped address racial discrimination in housing, employment, and voting.
The incoming administration could dismantle decades of progress, and Anderson warns that Black America cannot afford to be caught unprepared. He believes that waiting for government intervention or relying on political parties will no longer be enough to safeguard the rights and interests of African Americans. Instead, he calls for immediate action to build wealth and self-reliance, so Black communities can weather any political storm.
Central to Anderson’s plan is land ownership. He reminds Black Americans that land is the foundation of wealth and a critical tool for building generational prosperity. Without land, there can be no housing developments, no businesses, no agriculture, and no political leverage. He urges Black communities to acquire land and resources to create a stable economic base.
“Land is the one thing they’re not making more of,” Anderson often says. “If you don’t own any, you’re already at a disadvantage.”
In addition to land ownership, Anderson emphasizes the importance of Black-owned media. He argues that whoever controls the media controls the narrative — and, by extension, the minds of the people. Without Black-controlled media outlets, African Americans risk being misrepresented, misunderstood, and manipulated by mainstream media.
“We must tell our own stories,” Anderson says. “We must control our image and our message. If we let others do it for us, they’ll always paint us in a way that serves their interests, not ours.”
But Anderson stresses that none of this will be possible without unity. He acknowledges that African Americans are a diverse group with different experiences, backgrounds, and beliefs. However, he insists that the survival and success of Black people must be a shared priority. Internal divisions, he warns, will only weaken the community’s ability to make meaningful progress.
“We don’t have to agree on everything,” he says. “But we must agree on one thing: our collective survival. If we don’t come together now, we won’t have a future to fight for.”
Dr. Anderson’s call to action isn’t limited to economic strategies. He also urges Black Americans to get involved in local politics, where decisions about schools, housing, policing, and infrastructure directly impact their communities. While national elections get most of the attention, Anderson believes that local elections hold the real power to create lasting change.
“Stop waiting for a savior,” he says. “Stop thinking one election or one politician will solve all our problems. It’s not about who’s in office — it’s about who controls the resources.”
Anderson remains optimistic that change is possible, but only if Black communities take immediate action. He encourages individuals to support Black-owned businesses, mentor young people, invest in land and real estate, and advocate for policies that promote Black empowerment. These practical steps, he says, are the building blocks of self-reliance and long-term success.
The stakes couldn’t be higher. With Project 2025 looming and the potential rollback of civil rights protections on the horizon, African Americans must act now to secure their future. Anderson warns that without a plan for self-sufficiency, Black communities risk becoming politically, socially, and economically irrelevant in a nation they helped build.
“This isn’t about short-term victories,” Anderson says. “It’s about survival. It’s about making sure that future generations of Black people don’t inherit poverty, dependency, and marginalization.”
The clock is ticking. Anderson’s message is clear: the future of Black America depends on what the community does today. The choice is simple — build wealth, create power, and control your destiny, or risk disappearing into political and economic irrelevance.
“History shows us what happens to people who don’t own anything,” Anderson says. “They become dependent, they become exploited, and they eventually become invisible. We cannot let that be our fate.”
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