A look at entrepreneurship and closing the racial wealth gap

ABC Owned Television Stations is joining forces with Microsoft Philanthropy to drive conversations about building wealth in the Black community in a new one-hour documentary special called “Our America: In The Black.” The special follows Microsoft Philanthropic specialist, Darrell Booker, who works to close the racial wealth gap through their inclusive digital programs. Part of the special focuses on the importance of building Black businesses through the power of mentorship as a pathway to close the racial wealth gap in Atlanta, Georgia, commonly referred to as the Black Mecca. “This is a city in a community where Black and brown people are really thriving, supporting each other, really excited for everyone to succeed and get to that next level,” Booker said. Despite the promising outlook for Black-owned businesses, the statistics tell a different story. According to census data, only 9% of businesses in the Atlanta metro area are Black-owned. Recognizing the pivotal role entrepreneurship plays in narrowing the racial wealth gap within the Black community, the Russell Innovation Center for Entrepreneurs is working to build and scale more Black businesses. The organization attributes its success to facilitating collaborations, investments, and mentorship, which Darrell believes is critical to the success of...