The Survey of Consumer Finances collected by the St. Louis Federal Reserve Bank, from the years 1992 to 2013, the median net worth of blacks who finished college dropped 56%(adjusted for inflation). In contrast during that same period, whites with college degrees median net worth rose by 86%, and Asians gained nearly 90%. All of these gains occurred during a time period which included three (3) recessions.(See article by Patricia Cohen, New York Times, 08-17-15).
In this above article, financial analysts said that the main factor which leads blacks to continue to lose economically is their lack of inheriting wealth from preceding generations. One expert stated, “Prior family wealth is the key”. In order to leave a will and legacy of wealth, one must first earn, invest, and save their profits.
Recently, President Barack Obama agreed to reinstate Pell grants for inmates to be able to obtain a collegiate education on a limited basis during their incarceration. I am currently being housed in an institution that has college courses for prisoners, where professors visit the prison throughout the week to teach credited classes for an associate’s degree in business.
However, when you question most guys in prison that are attending college if they intend to start a business upon their release, most of them are only concerned with finding a job. And, this level of thinking is totally contrary to my Niggernomics movement of economic awareness and empowerment. Instead of changing laws to remove the “box” on job applications for prior criminal convictions, government resources will be best investing into extending grants and guaranteed loans from the Small Business Association to returning citizens to start and operate their own enterprises.
My motto is “Create Jobs, Don’t Look For One!”. When you think like an employee, while knowing that you have a criminal record in an environment where most employers are not open to hiring ex-felons, then you are incarcerating your ideas to a life of small wages and discrimination. In order to build wealth to pass down to the next generation (i.e. Dynasty Trusts), you must operate your own corporations, franchises, and legitimate establishments. Committing yourself to finding a job upon your release from prison and being an employee till you retire is a life of economic slavery.
We have to begin to think about our next generation of children and grandchildren before we continue to perpetuate the current “consumer culture” that permeates the black culture today. This is a mindset that teaches us that we have no self worth unless we purchase certain brands of clothes, cars, and accessories. Instead of enriching others who care nothing about our loved ones, we should become more diligent in investing our savings into sources of revenue where our money will literally make money instead of being content with only appearing to be rich.
The Pell grants is a start for returning citizens, but the end game is investment into returning citizens that will create jobs, industries, and build communities.
Halim Flowers
Ideallionaires.tumblr.com
ConvictSoapBox.com
CriminalU.co
collected by the St. Louis Federal Reserve Bank, from the years 1992 to 2013, the median net worth of blacks who finished college dropped 56%(adjusted for inflation). In contrast during that same period, whites with college degrees median net worth rose by 86%, and Asians gained nearly 90%. All of these gains occurred during a time period which included three (3) recessions.(See article by Patricia Cohen, New York Times, 08-17-15).
In this above article, financial analysts said that the main factor which leads blacks to continue to lose economically is their lack of inheriting wealth from preceding generations. One expert stated, “Prior family wealth is the key”. In order to leave a will and legacy of wealth, one must first earn, invest, and save their profits.
Recently, President Barack Obama agreed to reinstate Pell grants for inmates to be able to obtain a collegiate education on a limited basis during their incarceration. I am currently being housed in an institution that has college courses for prisoners, where professors visit the prison throughout the week to teach credited classes for an associate’s degree in business.
However, when you question most guys in prison that are attending college if they intend to start a business upon their release, most of them are only concerned with finding a job. And, this level of thinking is totally contrary to my Niggernomics movement of economic awareness and empowerment. Instead of changing laws to remove the “box” on job applications for prior criminal convictions, government resources will be best investing into extending grants and guaranteed loans from the Small Business Association to returning citizens to start and operate their own enterprises.
My motto is “Create Jobs, Don’t Look For One!”. When you think like an employee, while knowing that you have a criminal record in an environment where most employers are not open to hiring ex-felons, then you are incarcerating your ideas to a life of small wages and discrimination. In order to build wealth to pass down to the next generation (i.e. Dynasty Trusts), you must operate your own corporations, franchises, and legitimate establishments. Committing yourself to finding a job upon your release from prison and being an employee till you retire is a life of economic slavery.
We have to begin to think about our next generation of children and grandchildren before we continue to perpetuate the current “consumer culture” that permeates the black culture today. This is a mindset that teaches us that we have no self worth unless we purchase certain brands of clothes, cars, and accessories. Instead of enriching others who care nothing about our loved ones, we should become more diligent in investing our savings into sources of revenue where our money will literally make money instead of being content with only appearing to be rich.
The Pell grants is a start for returning citizens, but the end game is investment into returning citizens that will create jobs, industries, and build communities.
Halim Flowers
Ideallionaires.tumblr.com
ConvictSoapBox.com
CriminalU.co
DOB- 09-01-80
Washington, D.C.
30 years to life
Contact Information-
Halim Flowers
#11967-007
Federal Correctional Institution Gilmer
P.O. Box 6000
Glennville, West Virginia 26351
My name is Halim Flowers and I am an author, poet, blogger(CriminalU.co), and at-risk youth advocate. I have been incarcerated for 18 years, since I was 16 years of age for aiding and abetting a felony murder in a case where I was not the shooter and the person charged as the gunman had his case dismissed and was never tried for this offense. I know it sounds crazy but it is my destiny for now and I embrace. My passion in life is learning and helping to enlighten and inspire others, especially helping to develop the character and lives of young men. I was featured in an Emmy award winning documentary about my experiences as a child at the adult D.C. Jail titled "Thug Life In DC"(See Thug Life In DC at YouTube) and I have authored nine books in the genres of self-help, prisoner reform, juvenile justice, memoir, and poetry(See Halim Flowers at Amazon.com). I very contrite for my past criminal offenses and seriously committed to helping our youth to understand "Victim's Impact" and breaking the "school-to-prison pipeline".