Beyond the Spotlight: Why We Must Celebrate Our Business Elites

Black excellence in action—business leaders shaping legacy, strategy, and long-term economic power beyond the spotlight. #BlackBusinessExcellence

I recently heard businessman John Hope Bryant speak about a troubling yet profound reality: in the Black community, we often fail to honor and uplift our business elites with the same passion and reverence we reserve for entertainers, athletes, and influencers. Bryant, known for founding Operation HOPE and championing financial literacy and economic empowerment, pointed out something I've long felt but hadn’t fully articulated—we are disproportionately starstruck by the fame of visibility, not the legacy of sustainability.

Bryant referenced a former NBA player who, despite having a mediocre career on the court, became a billionaire after retirement through shrewd business investments and strategic relationships. His message was clear: wealth is not just made in the spotlight—it’s built in the margins, boardrooms, and balance sheets.

The Problem of Misplaced Aspirations

In our community, we speak the names of LeBron James, Jay-Z, and Drake with pride—and rightly so. Their achievements are inspiring. But when was the last time we lifted up names like:

• Robert F. Smith – billionaire investor and philanthropist, CEO of Vista Equity Partners, who paid off student loans for an entire graduating class at Morehouse College.

• Don Peebles – real estate mogul, founder of The Peebles Corporation, one of the largest Black-owned real estate investment companies in the U.S.

• Jabari Young – respected business journalist who has written for Forbes and CNBC, covering the economic narratives that shape industries.

These individuals are building generational wealth, influencing policy, transforming education, and reshaping the economic trajectory of entire communities. Yet, their visibility remains limited. Why?

Because we’ve glamorized exposure over equity.

The Impact on Our Youth

This lopsided admiration has long-term consequences. A 2020 study by McKinsey & Company noted that Black Americans are underrepresented in high-growth, high-wage industries such as tech, finance, and real estate (Chui et al., 2020). Meanwhile, fields that dominate media—like sports and entertainment—are hyper-competitive and short-lived for the vast majority.

In short: we’re preparing a generation to chase visibility, not viability.

John Hope Bryant made a critical point: Black and Brown Americans are now essential to the future of the U.S. economy. With declining birth rates among white Americans and rising diversity in the younger workforce, the future of economic growth depends on preparing our youth for success in scalable industries—not just screen time.

Cultural Shift and the Global Context

Bryant also hinted at a shift in cultural influence and economic power. With fewer college-educated white men in the pipeline, he suggests that American culture and business could increasingly be shaped by immigrants and foreign-born talent—not necessarily because of policy, but due to raw demographics and labor trends.

He’s not wrong. According to Pew Research (2023), immigrants account for 17% of the U.S. workforce but 25% of STEM workers, and their representation is growing. If we don’t equip young Black and Brown Americans with the tools to compete globally—beyond the camera and into coding, capital, and commerce—we risk becoming consumers of our culture, not creators of its future.

What Should We Do?

Here’s the call to action—for leaders, parents, educators, and mentors:

1. Honor business acumen the way we honor talent. Celebrate Black CEOs, real estate developers, scientists, and tech founders at assemblies, award shows, and in classrooms.

2. Teach financial literacy early. As Bryant often says, “there’s a difference between being rich and being wealthy.” We need to teach ownership, investment, and credit management—not just how to earn, but how to grow.

3. Build exposure to diverse careers. Let young people shadow business leaders, engineers, and entrepreneurs. They cannot become what they cannot see.

4. Fund and support scalable models. Invest in programs that train youth in AI, coding, finance, biotech, and logistics—not just performing arts.

5. Tell better stories. Document and share the journey of business trailblazers in our communities with the same energy we share sports highlights.

Conclusion

This isn’t an indictment of entertainers—many of them are brilliant business minds in their own right. Rather, it’s a reminder: we must broaden the narrative of success.

If we don’t, we may continue to raise generations who believe success must come from a microphone or a ball—when in fact, it can also come from a spreadsheet, a boardroom, or a well-negotiated contract.

As John Hope Bryant put it: “We must become the heroes we've been waiting for.”

References (APA 7 Style)

Bryant, J. H. (2023). Financial literacy is a civil rights issue. Operation HOPE.Chui, M., Hall, B., & Robinson, K. (2020). The future of work in Black America. McKinsey & Company. https://www.mckinsey.comPew Research Center. (2023). Key facts about U.S. immigrants. https://www.pewresearch.org