Black Capitalists: A Blueprint for What Is Possible

Do Black capitalists exist, or is this a contradiction and the epitome of an identity crisis? Laryea’s (wealth management researcher at JPMorgan Chase) debut book makes a case for creating layers or levels of possibility of what has been considered Black capitalism. The book defines Black capitalism as how individuals reposition themselves to negate exploitation as a foundation for capitalism and transform it on the grace of social good. Laryea unveils how race determines one’s unique experiences with capitalism. She uncovers the hidden spaces in which Black capitalism thrives, and new meaning is given to word constructs like “hustle,” “soft life,” and “gig economy” throughout the African diaspora. Viewing Blackness as a social and economic construct, the text explores W.E.B. Dubois’s and Frantz Fanon’s contrasting theories, the myth of the American dream, life in the prestigious lanes of Wall Street, and entrepreneurialism in the diaspora. Laryea poses key, thought-provoking questions to readers, such as, “Am I on the right side of capitalism?”