Back when I was eight, enduring a rough upbringing scarred by poverty, addiction, and violence, I learned to ride a bike. It was a self-taught lesson born from necessity and a bit of envy. You see, my brother and the other kids in the neighborhood were already zipping around on two wheels, leaving me in the dust. I didn't have the luxury of being taught—I had to figure it out on my own.
I remember grabbing my aunt's beat-up old bike one day, determined that I wouldn't go back inside until I could keep up with the rest. My first attempt ended with me hitting the pavement hard. But I got back up, adjusted my grip, and tried again. It was a process of trial and error; I fell several more times, but each time I got a little better at balancing, a little smoother at pedaling. Soon enough, I was actually riding, feeling that rush of freedom that comes with the breeze against your face.
However, I quickly realized I'd missed a crucial skill—I didn't know how to stop. Racing towards a dangerous 8 foot drop in our backyard, I had to make a split-second decision. I could either head for the drop or steer slightly to the right and run head on into a tree. I chose the tree. It hurt, sure, but it was the better of the two choices, and it taught me about thinking and acting quickly.
Why bring up this story from my childhood? Because when you are passionate enough about making something happen you have to be the one to take relentless action on your passion. This also mirrors the way we tackle bigger, tougher challenges, like fighting systemic racism and closing the racial wealth gap at Generating Income For Tomorrow (G.I.F.T.). We're taking matters into our own hands, just like I did with that bike.
Here’s the reality: waiting for those in power to make moves hasn’t cut it. So we stepped up. We asked the people what they needed, gathered the data, and then went to work. We built programs, raised funds, and got resources directly to Black business owners who can fire up economic engines in neighborhoods that desperately need it, like the east side of Kansas City.
If you are a founder trying to launch something, my advice for you today is to get active. Be annoyingly actionable at bringing your vision into reality because it will have the power to change the world.
No matter who you are, I'm inviting you to get active too. Systemic racism won’t change unless we all put our backs into it, and there are plenty of ways to help drive this change:
Donate to Black-led Nonprofits: There are organizations out there who do the legwork—providing access to higher education, homeownership programs, workforce development, and supporting Black entrepreneurs. They need your dollars to increase their impact to a critical level.
Hold Companies and Governments Accountable: Whether it’s pressing your workplace on its supplier diversity policies or questioning your city officials about economic justice legislation, your voice can lead to real change.
Cultivate Community Investments: Engage with programs that offer business grants, scholarships, and homeowner assistance. These initiatives not only bridge gaps but build ladders for upward mobility.
Support Black-owned Businesses: Make a deliberate choice to patronize these enterprises. Your dollars are votes for the kind of communities you want to build.
Learning to ride a bike taught me about resilience, about picking yourself up after a fall. The same goes for tackling racial inequities. You might face setbacks, might ‘hit a few trees’ along the way, but each obstacle is a lesson in how to do better next time.
We’ve got a long ride ahead of us to dismantle these deep-rooted barriers. But think about it this way: if an eight-year-old could figure out how to ride a bike in a day, imagine what we can achieve together with sustained effort and commitment. Be part of this change. Be an Equity Advocate. Let’s ride this path together, push for those necessary changes, and create a community, a city, a country that’s equitable for all. That’s the world we’re working toward—one where every person has the support they need to soar, just like I did on that bike, free and unstoppable.
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