From the Friday Keynote Luncheon: Inside the Leader’s Studio

By Robin Farmer

Legendary media magnate Robert L. Johnson expressed concern about what his generation has passed on to younger African-Americans.

Johnson, a trailblazing entrepreneur known globally as the creator of Black Entertainment Television (BET), the first black-controlled company listed on the New York Stock Exchange, shared his thoughts as the keynote speaker at Friday’s luncheon sponsored by Dell.

Moderated by Journalist Ed Gordon, the hour-long Q&A touched on an array of topics, from Johnson’s competitive nature to excel to his affinity for building strategic business alliances.

But it was a question from Mica Caine, the new president of the Leaders of Tomorrow® (LOT) program, which generated comments about the state of black America from the chairman of the RLJ Companies.

Asked if his generation has successfully passed the baton, Johnson said black unemployment is double the rate of whites and it’s been that way for 50 years. The wealth gap has increased between black and whites. More than half of young people will never attain the middle class wealth of their parents.

Despite sending more African-Americans to school, "we have not seen the African-American economy as a whole grow." At a time when black superintendents lead school systems and city councils, there are still too many failing schools. Johnson said he was unsure who would apply the brakes to this trajectory.

"There is still a dwindle of hope that things will change," Johnson said. "Are we handing you a better opportunity than what was handed to us? I am bit concerned."

2013 NBMBAA/Chrysler Group LLC Case Competition Winners Announced
The Clark Atlanta University team won first place. Members Shermika Dunner, Amber Dyess and Keith Edmonds will receive a scholarship in the amount of $25,000.

Second place went to Emory University. Joseph Faxio, Theo Harvey and Iesha Scott won a $15,000 scholarship.

The University of St. Thomas team won third place and a $10,000 scholarship. Members were Joelle Allen, Monica Ricard and Kamaj Bailey.