“New money” isn’t truly new until it helps create a new reality for those who come after us. For many of us in the Black community, we are the first generation to have access to substantial wealth-building opportunities. That’s a tremendous achievement – and an enormous responsibility. Why? Because the racial wealth gap is real, and we have a chance to change that. Even today, the median net worth of Black families is only about 15% of that of white families . That sobering statistic isn’t meant to discourage; it’s meant to highlight how critical our efforts are. Every dollar of wealth we create isn’t just about our bank account – it’s a step toward closing a centuries-old gap, toward what The Black Negotiator envisions as “Black people reached wealth equity” .
Legacy is a word often thrown around by billionaires, but it’s just as important for everyday people. You might not have a foundation named after you, but if you can leave your children the knowledge and habits to build their own wealth – that’s legacy. If your nieces and nephews see you investing in stocks or starting a business and it inspires them to do the same, that’s legacy. If you use your “new money” to support community programs, scholarships, or mentorship, you’re shaping futures beyond your own. Each of us has the power to be a link in a chain of empowerment, turning the narrative of generational poverty into one of generational prosperity.
Building a legacy doesn’t mean sacrificing all personal joys now for a future you won’t see. It’s about balance – enjoying the fruits of your labor while planting seeds so others can enjoy fruit of their own. It’s buying property not just to say “I own property,” but so your family has stability and an asset that grows in value over time. It’s climbing the career ladder or growing your business not for bragging rights, but to open doors for others once you reach the top. It’s even about healing financial trauma – breaking the cycles of debt and financial secrecy that might have plagued our families, and replacing them with literacy, transparency, and smart new habits.
When I apply New Money in the morning, I sometimes close my eyes and think about my kids who, I hope, will have far more. In that moment, the scent connects me not only to my personal ambition for the day, but to a continuum of progress – I am my ancestors’ wildest dream, and my success will be my descendants’ launching pad. That perspective makes the meaning of “new money” so much richer. It’s not about flashy lifestyles; it’s about freedom and security cascading down to others. My worth isn’t just what I achieve for myself, but what I set in motion for others.
In redefining new money, we’ve moved from personal empowerment to collective uplift. Your worth and your legacy are intertwined. Each bold step you take today – every investment, every saved dollar, every venture started – is a gift to the future. And as you live with that awareness, even a simple daily ritual like putting on a fragrance becomes profound. New Money, with its inspiring aroma, becomes your daily salute to both where you came from and where you’re going. It’s a reminder that you’re building something that matters, something that lasts. Your new money is building a new legacy, one breath at a time, one day at a time.
The Black Negotiator 