BET founder Robert Johnson told CNBC on Tuesday that he believes Black History Month should pay more attention to what it takes to provide equal economic opportunity for years to come.
“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 accomplish in the future for their country and their families. black Americans. “
Every US president since Gerald Ford in 1976 has officially recognized February as Black History Month. According to the Association for the Study of African American Life and History, Black History Month dates back to 1915, when ASALH was founded by historian Carter G. Woodson, who points to a week in February nine years later. explicitly aimed at studying black history. In 1976, after a sustained growing interest, ASALH worked to expand it to an entire month focusing on Black History, according to its website. The son of former slaves, Woodson has come to be known as the father of black history.
Johnson said the need to study and recognize black history remains critical to all Americans. But Johnson said he believes there should be more emphasis on the ‘black future’.
“Don’t deny history, but it’s better to know where you’re going than where you’ve 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. to Viacom.
“We’ve told the story of Black’s performance against the odds over and over,” Johnson added. Now we need to start talking about what black people can contribute to this country if they have a future that is economically as bright as the future. for white Americans. “
Johnson has previously called on the US government to pay $ 14 trillion in slavery reparations as a way to help narrow the country’s racial wealth divide. He made the comments on CNBC in June, when protests against racial inequality and police brutality swept the nation after George Floyd’s murder in Minneapolis.
“Prosperity transfers are what it takes,” Johnson once said, arguing for why reparations are needed. Think about this. For over 200 years of slavery, labor without compensation has been a transfer of wealth. Denying access to education, which is a primary driver of income and wealth, is a transfer of wealth. “
President Joe Biden has repeatedly emphasized his government’s desire to reduce racial inequality. According to a Federal Reserve study published in September, white families had an average net worth of $ 188,200, while it was $ 24,100 for black families and $ 36,100 for Hispanic families.
Johnson suggested on Tuesday that in order to progress towards his goal, Biden should prioritize programs that direct capital to promote black entrepreneurship.
“Black companies tend to hire black people in their entirety, so you create more black companies, the recovery goes to more black jobs,” Johnson said. “More black jobs means more black people paying for their own homes, black people … saving for retirement, black people investing. Ultimately, we are making a giant step towards closing the huge wealth gap.”
Watch the full interview Tuesday with Robert Johnson below: