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3 weeks ago | 
forbes.com | Lenwood V. Long
On a hot summer afternoon in a neighborhood just east of a city skyline with hardly any trees or green spaces, a mother tapes plastic over her drafty windows. Her utility bill has doubled, and her child’s asthma has worsened since the construction site nearby started kicking up dust. The playground down the block sits in the shadow of a smokestack. The air smells different here. And as storms come more often now – louder, wetter, more violent – her roof still leaks.
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1 month ago | 
forbes.com | Lenwood V. Long
Homeownership has long been a powerful tool for wealth creation in America, allowing families to build equity, secure financial stability, and pass down generational wealth. However, systemic discrimination has historically restricted Black families from accessing these opportunities, contributing to a persistent racial wealth gap.
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1 month ago | 
asianamericans.einnews.com | Lenwood V. Long
gettyHomeownership has long been a powerful tool for wealth creation in America, allowing families to build equity, secure financial stability, and pass down generational wealth. However, systemic discrimination has historically restricted Black families from accessing these opportunities, contributing to a persistent racial wealth gap.
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1 month ago | 
forbes.com | Lenwood V. Long
In honor of Women’s History Month, this column focuses on the CEO of an Urban League affiliate organization, Chair of a Community Development Corporation and member of the African American Alliance of CDFI CEOs, creating opportunities where women can thrive, lead and drive meaningful change.
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2 months ago | 
forbes.com | Lenwood V. Long
The abrupt firing of CFPB Director Rohit Chopra on February 1 and the swift appointment of Scott Bessent on February 3 have set in motion the rapid dismantling of the agency. Wasting no time, Bessent immediately ordered operations to stop, halting enforcement actions. Despite Chopra leaving a blueprint for state-level enforcement on February 4, the agency's collapse accelerated.
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2 months ago | 
forbes.com | Lenwood V. Long
In the early 20th century in the heart of Tulsa, Oklahoma, African American entrepreneur Ottawa W. Gurley defied the odds, purchased 40 acres of land, and built something extraordinary. The Greenwood district in Tulsa, famously known as Black Wall Street, was a thriving economic powerhouse where Black entrepreneurs, professionals, and families flourished. Barbershops buzzed with conversation, banks financed Black-owned businesses, and grand theaters hosted the finest performances.
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Feb 13, 2025 | 
forbes.com | Lenwood V. Long
America tells itself a story, one of grit and merit. Work hard, it says, and success will follow. That those who rise do so because they earned it, because they worked harder, because they wanted it more, because they proved themselves worthy. It is a comforting story, one that explains inequality without ever challenging it. It reassures the winners and shames the rest. But in reality, merit in America has never been a simple equation of talent plus effort.
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Jan 22, 2025 | 
forbes.com | Lenwood V. Long
For many, names such as Muhammad Ali, Spike Lee, or Colin Kaepernick symbolize the intersection of culture, activism, and athleticism, standing as powerful examples of individuals using their platforms to challenge injustice and inspire systemic change within African American communities and beyond. The entertainment and sports industries are multi-billion-dollar industries that shape public opinion, amplify social movements, and generate billions in annual revenue.
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Dec 16, 2024 | 
forbes.com | Lenwood V. Long
Throughout history, many organizations and initiatives have been dedicated to addressing systemic inequalities and providing support to Black-led institutions, businesses, and entrepreneurs. The United Negro College Fund (UNCF), National Urban League, and The Black Vision Fund are a few impactful, Black-led organizations fostering economic growth, education, and development within Black communities.
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Nov 27, 2024 | 
forbes.com | Lenwood V. Long
The election in 2024 presents a defining moment for the nation, particularly for Black communities, who have historically borne the brunt of systemic inequities. While the incoming administration has emphasized economic growth, educational reform, and energy independence, the policies underpinning these efforts carry implications that could deepen existing disparities.
