Author Archives: Khooppres

Census 2020: Will Black Lives Count?

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The year 2020 will go down in history books, and future generations will be reading about the year the earth stood still.  While our lives have definitely slowed down due to COVID-19, the harsh reality is this is a critical year.  In addition to a historic election cycle, this is also the year we complete the Census to determine how we will deploy our Democracy for the next decade. 

The US Constitution requires a population count every 10 years; it is called the Census.  The purpose of the Census is to help ensure our government represents the people.  Many of you may debate me on this, but this is the objective.  Census data is used to allocate seats and draw District lines for the US House of Representatives, State Legislatures, and local boards.  If you’ve ever complained about the resources in your community, it’s important to understand the significance of the Census.  In fact, federal funds are distributed each year based on this data.  From infrastructure (highways), medical assistance, school lunch programs, Head Start, and much more, the Census drives how those funds are allocated across the country.

I know there are many distractions, and some are essential and worthwhile, but we have a call to action.  We must ensure that our families are appropriately represented in Census data.  Historically, blacks have been undercounted.  According to a White Paper published by the Center on Poverty and Inequality at Georgetown Law, in the 2010 Census, blacks were undercounted by more than 800,000 with approximately 7% of black children being excluded; this is roughly twice the rate for non-Hispanic white children.

There are unfortunate realities that increase the risk of blacks being undercounted, but we must do our part by proactively completing the Census this year.  We must educate ourselves and exercise our voice.  So many have fought and gave up their lives for us to have a voice in this country, our country.  Let’s stay engaged during this pivotal time to ensure that positive change occurs for our communities. 

Due to the pandemic, key Census dates have been revised.  The self-response phase has been extended until October 31, 2020.  It’s now easier than ever to respond.  You can complete your Census information online, by phone, or by mailing in your self-response form.  Don’t overlook this simple act.  Your silence will have lasting impacts.  For more information on Census 2020, please visit 2020Census.gov or view the short video captured below.

We know that Black Lives Matter!  One way to ensure that others know this too is by exercising our right to be counted.

Juneteenth and Black Wall Street Massacre: Two Separate Historical Events

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Over the last week, there has been a lot of media attention around Juneteenth and Tulsa, OK, the home of Black Wall Street.  While both are two monumental events in history, they are not related.  As a native Texan, I’ve always known the significance of Juneteenth, but will admit that I did not learn about Black Wall Street until I was an adult.

Juneteenth, also known as Jubilee Day, signifies the emancipation of the remaining enslaved blacks in the Confederacy.  While we all learned about the Emancipation Proclamation during our primary years of education, many may not know that slaves in Texas were not notified of their freedom until June 19, 1865, two and a half years after the issuance of the Emancipation Proclamation.  Because Texas was the most remote of the slave states and lacked the presence of Union troops, the proclamation was not enforced.  Of course, there was no incentive or desire for slave owners to share this information. 

Black communities have been consistently celebrating Juneteenth since the 1970s.  In a recent interview, Trump told the Wall Street Journal, “I did something good.  I made Juneteenth very famous.  It’s actually an important event, an important time.  But nobody had ever heard of it.”  Well, while you may not have heard of this historical date Mr. President, it doesn’t mean that others were not aware.  But, if your lack of knowledge helped to educate others, so be it.

The Black Wall Street massacre is another significant event in history but has no correlation to Juneteenth.  Black Wall Street was a predominately black neighborhood in Tulsa, OK.  At the time of the massacre, this area was known as the wealthiest black community in the United States.  On May 31, 1921, mobs of white residents attacked black residents and businesses ultimately killing men and burning and looting stores and homes.  This attack has been called “the single worst incident of racial violence in American history.” 

Trump’s initial decision to host a rally in Tulsa, OK on Juneteenth is what connected these two significant historical events.  One would think that someone in his camp should have been able to educate him on the significance of the date and location.  In the words of the late Steve Jobs, “It doesn’t make sense to hire smart people and tell them what to do; we hire smart people so they can tell us what to do.”

Resource: Black Wall Street The Board Game

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Financial Tips Presented At The National Black Book Festival

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At the beginning of June, I attended the National Black Book Festival in Houston, TX.  While there, I facilitated a seminar on the Rags to Riches Financial Model.  The presentation highlighted the essential components needed to lay a foundation for financial success.  Included below are some of the helpful tips that were shared with seminar participants:

  • Money matters are matters of the heart.  If you have a personal mission for your life, it becomes easier to be disciplined in your finances.  In order to succeed financially, you must have a mission for your money
  • To increase the amount of surplus (income-expenses) you have on a monthly basis, consider the following:
    • Combine your insurance policies in order to receive the multiple policy discount
    • Interest rates are at historic lows.  Explore opportunities to refinance your home and / or vehicle.  If you are struggling to pay your mortgage, consider investigating several of the governmental programs that have been established to help homeowners stay in their homes.  My post, Don’t Walk Away From Your Investment, outlines a few of these programs
    • If you have a cell phone, consider eliminating your home phone or opt for basic service
    • Measure your financial health based on your net worth and not your annual salary.  Your net worth is the difference between your assets (what you own) and your liabilities (what you owe.)  You can evaluate your net worth by using the following formula:

Net Worth = Age X Pre-Tax Income (Gross) / 10

  • You can’t fix what you’re not aware of.  That being said, you should obtain your credit report from the three major credit bureaus on an annual basis by visiting www.annualcreditreport.com.  This is a free service
  • Know your credit score.  For tips on improving your credit score, please review my post, Three Ways to Increase Your Credit Score
    • A low credit score will increase your liabilities and expenses and decrease your surplus and net worth
  • Set sound financial goals.  The following four steps are key ingredients to goal setting:
    • Be Precise – Include dates, times, and amounts so you can measure achievement
    • Be Realistic – It’s important to set goals you can achieve
    • Set Priorities – We often have several goals; give each a priority
    • Write Down Your Goals – Documenting your goals activates them and increases your chances of success

I hope you find the tips in this post helpful.  Establishing a solid financial future requires a plan, time, and money, but it’s never too late to get started.  To review the seminar presentation in its entirety, please click here:  NBBF Rags to Riches Seminar Presentation

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