Book Review: Black Fortunes by Shomari Wills – and Reflections from Black to the Future by Drs. LaRachelle Samuel-Smith and William H. Turner
In Black Fortunes, Shomari Wills vividly resurrects the often-overlooked stories of America’s first Black millionaires. He offers a sweeping portrait of resilience, enterprise, and ambition in the face of brutal systemic racism. Through detailed storytelling, Wills captures figures like Madam C.J. Walker, Robert Reed Church, and Annie Turnbo Malone. Their business acumen and strategic vision challenged the prevailing social norms of post-Reconstruction America helping the modern era learn from the past.
Black Fortunes is especially resonant today. It addresses the themes discussed in Black to the Future: Lessons from Black Wall Street for Community and Economic Prosperity. This book is co-authored by LaRachelle Samuel-Smith and William H. Turner. Both books emphasize that Black economic power has long been both a tool for liberation and a target for destruction.
Wills’ narratives show that wealth building among Black Americans was intentional. It resulted from deliberate planning, collective support, and an unyielding spirit. Similarly, Samuel-Smith and Turner argue that today’s movements for Black prosperity must recapture this spirit. Black to the Future examines the rise of Tulsa’s Greenwood District as a critical case study. It also looks at its tragic destruction. The study extracts lessons about the importance of economic collaboration, community-minded entrepreneurship, and resilient financial ecosystems.
Parallels and Lessons from the Past:
- The Importance of Ownership: Wills’ profiles repeatedly highlight land, property, and business ownership as pathways to autonomy and influence. Samuel-Smith and Turner echo these principles in their strategic roadmap for future Black economic empowerment.
- Community-Driven Wealth: Both books stress that individual success was historically linked to community well-being. Figures like Robert Reed Church invested in public spaces. He also invested in community infrastructure. They exemplify the interconnected prosperity model that Black to the Future champions.
- Resilience Amid Adversity: Wills does not shy away from describing the racism, violence, and sabotage that Black entrepreneurs faced. Samuel-Smith and Turner similarly caution that contemporary efforts must prepare for systemic pushback while building networks of resilience.
- Education and Mentorship: Many of Wills’ subjects prioritized education and skill development for themselves and others. This commitment is mirrored in Black to the Future. It stresses that intellectual capital is as critical as financial capital in sustaining prosperity.
- Strategic Innovation: The figures in Black Fortunes were innovators. They created new beauty products. They pioneered real estate development. Samuel-Smith and Turner argue that embracing new industries is vital for Black communities. Adopting technologies and financial models helps them thrive in today’s economy.
Final Thoughts
Learning from the past, together, Black Fortunes and Black to the Future form a powerful dialogue across history. Wills reminds us that Black wealth building is not a new phenomenon. It is a foundational part of American history. This aspect is too often buried. Samuel-Smith and Turner start that conversation. They question how we can learn from both the triumphs and the tragedies. This learning can help build a more sustainable and fair future.
Anyone serious about understanding Black economic history—and serious about envisioning its future—should consider reading these two works together. They offer both inspiration. They also give a clear call to action. The past is not just prologue. It is a toolkit for building the future.
This powerful continuity of vision sets the stage for the next step:
From Heritage to Hustle.
This new 3-part webinar is ideal for entrepreneurs, professionals, and community builders. They are encouraged to take the lessons from history. These include the triumphs and the tragedies. They should turn them into actionable moves for today’s economy.
It’s time to secure contracts.
It’s time to innovate with technology.
It’s time to scale leadership and legacy-building skills.
Because the stories we honor aren’t just inspiring—they are a blueprint for building something greater than ourselves.
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