Let Us Not Forget….

Bren Sheriff
Bren Sheriff


Let Us Not Forget….

A few weeks ago, I wrote a column filled with memories from years gone by—years I still recall with great fondness. This week, I return to those memories with a different focus. I want to revisit some of the financial principles that guided earlier generations—principles rooted in discipline, self-reliance, and determination. Sadly, many of those lessons have either been forgotten or were never learned in the first place.

As I have often stated, the financial condition of many Black families is moving in the wrong direction. The wealth gap between Black and White families continues to widen rather than narrow. While there are many reasons for this disparity, one key factor remains within our control: the choices we make as individuals and families regarding work, saving, entrepreneurship, and wealth building.

This is not rocket science. It is the practical application of lessons that many of our parents and grandparents understood well. They used those lessons to move forward economically, often without advanced degrees, special privileges, or equal opportunities.

I am speaking of a time before the Civil Rights Movement secured many of the protections we now take for granted. Many Black Americans began their careers before laws existed to protect them from discrimination in hiring, promotion, and compensation. They were frequently overlooked for advancement, expected to work harder than others, and paid less for their efforts.

Today, some of the workplace protections and policies that have shaped employment for the past half-century are being challenged, modified, or eliminated. For many workers—particularly those whose careers have unfolded under protections enforced by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC)—these changes can be unsettling.

Yet, as former First Lady Michelle Obama famously reminded us, "When they go low, we go high."

The challenges confronting Black families today are not new. What may be new is that, after decades of progress, many of us have forgotten some of the strategies previous generations used to overcome economic adversity.

Consider the thousands of workers across the country who have recently lost stable government jobs. What should they do next? My answer is simple: see a need and fill it. Identify a service or product that is needed matching your skills, talents, and desire to fill - you are now an entrepreneur-plan your work and work your plan.

There has never been a shortage of work. What is often lacking is the vision to recognize opportunities and apply our God-given talents to meet the needs of others. Every community has problems waiting to be solved and services waiting to be provided.

Individuals with accounting, administrative, marketing, clerical, technical, healthcare, or digital skills possess talents that can help businesses grow and prosper. Those skills can be offered as employees, consultants, contractors, or entrepreneurs. A growing business—particularly a growing Black-owned business—can benefit from the experience and expertise of talented workers while creating new opportunities for everyone involved.

One lesson remains as true today as it was generations ago: make yourself indispensable. Understand how your work contributes to the success of the organization you serve—or hope to serve. If you are currently employed, look for ways to increase efficiency, improve service, attract customers, reduce costs, or generate revenue. If you are seeking employment, remember that employers hire people who help their businesses succeed. Employees who consistently create value are the most difficult to replace.

For those who have recently lost jobs they believed were secure, this may be a painful lesson. Yet it may also reveal an important truth: your value is not determined by a job title, a government agency, or the political winds of the moment. Your value lies in your knowledge, your skills, your work ethic, and your ability to solve problems.

Carry that confidence into every interview. Employers are looking for people who can contribute to their bottom line, solve problems, and help their organizations grow. Do not be afraid to tell your story and demonstrate your accomplishments. As the old saying goes, "It's a poor dog that can't wag his own tail."

An old saying reminds us that "the more things change, the more they stay the same." The economic landscape may be changing, but the principles that helped previous generations survive and succeed remain relevant. We must reexamine those principles and determine how they can be applied today.

Our ancestors built businesses, purchased homes, educated their children, and created opportunities despite obstacles far greater than many of us face today. They succeeded because they relied on faith, family, community, discipline, and perseverance.

The challenges before us are real, but so is our capacity to overcome them. We will survive, and we can thrive if we rediscover the strength within ourselves and within our communities. The road ahead may look different from the road behind us, but the path to progress remains the same: identify a need, create value, pursue excellence, and never stop believing in your ability to build a better future.

It is time for the mantras that sustained earlier generations to become guiding principles once again: We shall overcome. Hope spring eternally.  Let us not grow weary in well-doing, for we shall reap if we faint not. We are, indeed, "fearfully and wonderfully made." And in the enduring words of Reverend Jesse Jackson, "Keep hope alive."  Let us not forget….

THIS WEEK'S QUIZ: What is the greatest, the number of non-voting Black registered voters or the number of unregistered Black voters in Chicagoland?

Answer to Last Week's Quiz: Mrs. Johnson receives a phone call from someone who sounds exactly like her grandson. He claims he has been arrested while traveling and urgently needs $2,500 wired immediately. What should she do first? She should immediately call her grandson to verify that he has generated the call.  Know that AI (artificial intelligence) is out there scamming.

For Questions or Help: 773-817-0601 basheriff1@gmail.com

Disclaimer: The illustrations and examples presented in this column are not, nor are they intended to be, legal, financial, tax, insurance, or other licensed professional advice. Readers should consult the licensed professional of their choice regarding their individual circumstances.



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