Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. said, "We have to strengthen Black institutions. We shouldn't fund our oppressors. Withdraw your money from the banks and invest in Black banking." Those aren't his exact words, but in simple terms that's basically what he was saying. Dr. King was speaking about a banking movement. Not only banking but the stepping-stones to building great economic bases for Black America. What made it so real to me was that he wasn't suggesting anything he wasn't investing his own time in. Unlike the so-called leaders of the Black community these days, who suck and could care less what happen to their people because they are for self. They're also fine with the fact they don't have to go through what we go through on a daily! No backbones at all, and uncle Tom's at their best. Not everyone can call themselves a leader these day's, and the voice of leadership now is occurring out of the struggle, and the hurt and pain, of brothers and sisters tired of the mistreatment and genocide of their people.
Among those people, you have Michael Render. You may know him by his stage name, Killer Mike. An artist, actor and activist from Atlanta Georgia. Not too long ago, Michael Render did an interview (one of many) on an Atlanta radio station advocating the people to bank Black. Just like Dr. King said in that speech he gave the day before he got assassinated, Killer Mike said, "It's time to get angry and do something. It is time to prevent these abuses and the police that abuse the law". I was deeply touched by his interview and have started to research about Black-owned banks. "Take your money out of this dog's hands", he also stated. He speaks with all his hurt, anger, and disappointment in all the police brutality of Black Americans.
In Atlanta, after the recent police shootings the "#BankBlack" movement has taken action and is rapidly spreading across America. Cynthia N. Day, President and CEO of Citizens Trust Bank, reported over 8,000 new accounts and 350 new accounts in the first week after the police shooting. Cynthia Day, went on twitter to thank Killer Mike for starting the movement. In Texas at Seaway bank, chief retail banking officer Daryl Newell said, "Their bank has seen a boost of 1.6 million dollars. Additionally, at Unity National Bank of Houston, John Scroggins, President and CEO said, "There were more than 300 new accounts at their 2 locations within 72 hours of the police shootings.
There are 21 Black-owned banks in America and their assets totaling approximately $4.7 billion or approximately 0.43 percent of Black America's $1.1 trillion in buying power. In 1994, there were 54 Black-owned banks according to the FDIC. Wake up Black America, we can protest and walk the streets until our feet bleed, but it's all in vain if we don't support and work towards positive action with one another and the youth in our own community. Keep looking for help from your oppressors and things will only get worse. Black America has to fund Black America in order to get some respect, we have to rebuild our own communities, and fight for total freedom, not just liberty. Bank Black, take away the power and funds from your oppressors. The information is out there, and from the looks of it some Black Americans are starting to wake up. My source of information came from this one interview with Killer Mike, all the names and numbers are accurate it just took for somebody to put the information out there for me to actually research it.
Black lives don't matter in America, but Black dollars do. Support Black-owned businesses, it's time, it's time!
