The Wealth Choice (BOOK REVIEW)

The Wealth Choice:

Success Secrets of Black Millionaires

by Dennis Kimbro, Ph.D.

Palgrave Macmillan

Hardcover, $25.00

304 pages

ISBN: 978-0-230- 34207-1 

Book Review by Kam Williams

“In spite of Black America’s advances… with more successful, educated and accomplished entrepreneurs and corporate professionals than at any other time in history, the journey is far from over. To be honest, it is only beginning...

Pockets of prosperity, a gulf as vast and deep as the Nile, separates the majority of the Black community from its financial elites as well as from virtually every other ethnic group in our society. The abyss between wealthy Blacks and poverty-stricken Blacks is more than disturbing.

The unemployment rate for young Black males… is fast approaching Great Depression levels. More Black males than ever are incarcerated, attend miserably-failing, segregated, inner-city schools, and live in gang-infested neighborhoods.

These impoverished enclaves have become the equivalent of a domestic Third World country… Though the challenges… may desperately need addressing, the purpose of this book is to highlight the possibilities that are available to all… possibilities brought to my attention and clarified by Black America’s wealthiest.” 

-- Excerpted from the Introduction (pgs. 8-9)

            What’s the key to becoming a millionaire for an African-American? That’s the basic question posed by Dr. Dennis Kimbro to a thousand of the most affluent blacks in the United States in a study conducted over the last seven years.

            Among the icons graciously participating in the survey were entertainment industry tycoon Tyler Perry, Godfather’s Pizza CEO-turned-presidential hopeful Herman “9-9-9” Cain, FUBU fashion line creator/Shark Tank co-host Daymond John, BET founder Bob Johnson, Renaissance man Steve Harvey, televangelist Bishop T.D. Jakes, TV-One CEO Cathy Hughes, film director Spike Lee, motivational speaker Les Brown, mutual fund manager John Rogers and entrepreneur Farrah Gray, who became a self-made millionaire by the age of fourteen.

            Culling from the copious comments collected, Kimbro came up with nine “Disciplines” common to most of the millionaires interviewed. These pearls of wisdom include “Passion and Focus,” “A Strong Work Ethic” and “A Frugal Nature” to name a few.

            The precepts struck this critic, quite frankly, as almost common sense, suggesting that perhaps the biggest challenge rests in taking the advice offered to heart and actually implementing it in your daily economic regimen. A mouthwatering recipe for riches courtesy of accomplished African-American elders with proven track records.