BET founder Robert Johnson told CNBC on Tuesday that he believes Black History Month should focus more on what it takes to deliver the same economic opportunity in the coming years.
“I’m suggesting we start calling in February …” Black History, Black Futures, “Johnson said in an interview with” Squawk Box. “” Let black Americans talk about what they want to achieve in the future for their country and their families. And for white Americans to talk about what they are willing to do and what they are willing to do or do, to make the future brighter for black Americans. “
Although every president of the United States since Gerald Ford in 1976 has officially recognized February as the month of black history, its origins go back decades before 1915 and the formation of the Association for the Study of the Life and History of African Americans.
Every president of the United States since Gerald Ford in 1976 has officially recognized the month of February as Black History Month. However, according to the Association for the Study of the Life and History of African Americans, the origins of Black History Month go back to 1915. That was when ASALH was founded by historian Carter G. Woodson, who nine years later designated a week in February explicitly on the study of black history. In 1976, after growing interest, ASALH worked to expand it to a whole month focused on the history of blacks, according to its website. Woodson, the son of former slaves, has become known as the Father of Black History.
Johnson said the need to study and recognize the history of blacks remains very important to all Americans. But Johnson said he believes more emphasis should be placed on “black futures.”
“Don’t deny the story, 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 he sold the BET holding company to Viacom.
“We’ve told the story of black hits against odds over and over again,” Johnson added. “Now we need to start talking about what blacks could bring to this country if they had a future as bright economically as the future. For white Americans.”
Johnson has previously called on the U.S. government to issue $ 14 trillion reparations for slavery as a way to help reduce the racial wealth gap in the country. He made the comments on CNBC in June, as protests against racial inequality and police brutality ravaged the country following the assassination of George Floyd Minneapolis.
“Wealth transfer is what is needed,” Johnson said at the time, arguing why repairs are needed. “Think about it. Since more than 200 years of slavery, work done without compensation is a transfer of wealth. Denial of access to education, which is the main driver of income accumulation and wealth, is a transfer of wealth. “
President Joe Biden has repeatedly stressed that his administration wants to reduce racial inequality. According to a Federal Reserve study released in September, white families had an average wealth of $ 188,200, while it was $ 24,100 for black families and $ 36,100 for Hispanic families.
Johnson suggested Tuesday that in order to advance its goal, Biden should prioritize programs that drive capital to help foster black entrepreneurship.
“Black companies tend to hire black people as a whole, so the more black companies you create, the recovery will go to more black jobs,” Johnson said. “More black jobs mean more blacks paying home ownership, blacks … saving for retirement, blacks investing. In the end, we take a giant step toward closing the huge wealth gap.”
Watch the full interview with Robert Johnson on Tuesday below: