HOV DID Because GOD DID

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Jay-Z finally said what I’ve been saying to the Hov haters for a few years now, but when I started saying it, Kanye and Rihanna were millionaires.

And this is what I think goes over a lot of people heads when they show their disdain for rich Moguls like Oprah, Tyler Perry, and Jay-Z…

While they have created wealth for themselves, they created wealth, jobs, and opportunities for others in the Black community.

Two of his artist have made it to billionaire status, a few millionaires, and even more thousands, his businesses have provided salaried or contractual employment (personal assistants, stylist, managers, promoters, down to the interns, etc), and the indirect opportunities this creates for people outside of his organization like choreographers, photographers, graphic artist, video directors, dancers, musicians, etc.
The same can be said for Kanye and Rihanna. Their businesses provide opportunities for the Black community both directly and indirectly from the hiring of personal stylist to the black business that sales their merchandise.

Master P, Oprah, and Tyler Perry and other moguls in the community have similar resumes. It’s a silent ripple effect that often gets ignored because many of us only see progress in direct agitation, grassroots activism, and/or direct local investments—and it has to be to their standard or it’s not good enough. If it’s not good enough, the mogul is usually deemed a coon, or sell out, or the one I find quite funny, an Illuminati devil worshipper.

I believe most of this is due to the fact that Reaganomics failed miserably in the 80s and the wealth gap started widening at a faster rate. Corporate greed only continued stagnation in the 80s and the trickle down effect didn’t trickle. Black folks who once took pride in those who were able to EARN a better life through hard work and good business practices grew disillusioned with the capitalist concepts as factories closed, businesses moved and the wealth gap widened. Not seeing the wealth being created from the Black politicians and the new class of Black millionaires pass down to the people confirmed the ideals of those who supported the economics of the Black Panthers and the Black Liberation Army. It only further exacerbated the untrustworthy status of the Black upper class as sell outs, coons and black folks who sold their souls. But I find it ironic that we praise Madam CJ Walker…what’s the difference?

End.