After signing the richest contract in NBA history, Jaylen Brown has set his sights on a lofty goal: building a Black Wall Street in Boston.
The term “Black Wall Street” refers to the Greenwood District of Tulsa, Oklahoma, which was once home to a thriving African American community. In 1921, the district was destroyed in a race riot that left hundreds of people dead and thousands homeless.
Brown’s vision for a Black Wall Street in Boston would be a community that is economically self-sufficient and provides opportunities for Black businesses and entrepreneurs. He has said that he wants to use his platform to “attack the wealth disparity” in Boston and create a “pilot” for other cities around the world.
Brown’s plan is still in the early stages, but he has already begun meeting with community leaders and businesses to discuss how to make it a reality. He has also pledged to donate a portion of his salary to the project.
“I want to bring back Black Wall Street here to Boston,” Brown said. “I want to attack the wealth disparity here.”
Brown’s goal is ambitious, but it is also necessary. Boston has one of the largest wealth gaps in the country, and Black residents are disproportionately affected by poverty. A Black Wall Street could help to close that gap and create a more equitable city.
In addition to the economic benefits, a Black Wall Street would also have a number of social and cultural benefits. It would provide a space for Black businesses and entrepreneurs to thrive, and it would also create a sense of community and empowerment for not only Black Bostonians, but African Americans all over the country.
