BET founder Robert Johnson told CNBC on Tuesday that he believes Black History Month should focus more on what is needed to provide equal economic opportunities in the coming years.
“I suggest we start calling February … ‘Black history, black future,'” Johnson said in an interview on Squawk Box. “Let black Americans talk about what they want to achieve for their country and their families in the future. And let white Americans talk about what they are willing to do and what they are willing to do or what they are doing to make the future brighter for Black Americans. ‘
While every American president since Gerald Ford was officially recognized as Black History Month in 1976, its origins extend decades earlier to 1915 and the founding of the Association for the Study of African American Life and History.
Every American president since Gerald Ford in 1976 officially recognized February as Black History Month. According to the Association for the Study of African American Life and History, the origins of Black History Month date back to 1915. That was when ASALH was founded by historian Carter G. Woodson, who explicitly focused on one week in February nine years later. . on the study of black history. In 1976, after growing interest, ASALH, according to its website, worked to expand it to a full month focused on Black History. Woodson, the son of former slaves, became known as the Father of Black History.
Johnson said the need to study and recognize black history remains critical for all Americans. Johnson said he believes a greater emphasis should be placed on ‘black futures’.
“Do not deny history, but it is better to know where you are going than where you have been,” said Johnson, who founded Black Entertainment Television in 1980. He became America’s first black billionaire in 2001 when BET’s holding company was sold. and Viacom.
“We’ve told the story over and over again of black achievements against chance,” Johnson said. ‘Now we need to start talking about what black people can contribute to this country if they have a future as economical as the future. for White Americans. ‘
Johnson had earlier called on the US government to issue $ 14 billion in compensation for slavery as a way to help reduce the racial wealth gap in the country. He made the remarks on CNBC in June as protests against racial inequality and police brutality swept the country following the assassination of George Floyd Minneapolis.
“Wealth transfer is what is needed,” Johnson said at the time, arguing why compensation was needed. “Think about this. Since about 200 years or more is slavery, labor taken without compensation is a transfer of wealth. Denial of access to education, which is a primary driver for building income and wealth, is a transfer of wealth. “
President Joe Biden has repeatedly stressed that his government wants to reduce racial inequality. According to a Federal Reserve study released in September, White families had an average wealth of $ 188,200, while it was $ 24,100 for black families and $ 36,100 for Hispanic families.
Johnson on Tuesday suggested that Biden, in order to make progress toward its goal, prioritize programs that target capital to promote black entrepreneurship.
“Black businesses tend to hire black people as a whole, so you create more black businesses, the bounce goes to more black jobs,” Johnson said. “More black jobs means more black people paying for home ownership, black people … saving for retirement, black people investing. Finally, we are taking a giant step to reduce the huge wealth gap.”
Watch the full interview with Robert Johnson on Tuesday below: