[dropcap]I[/dropcap] am not a fan of Donald Trump, but I study him and everyone else objectively. One of the things people don’t realize is that the reason Donald Trump, as arrogant as he is, can be president of the United States is because about 80 years ago, his father Fred planted seeds that allowed him to have the wealth and power necessary to become one of the leaders of New York City and eventually the free world.
Trump’s father did three things that we teach children and parents in our Black Financial Leadership Program:
1) He started as a laborer and built a BUSINESS that created an economic empire he was able to pass onto his children. This allowed them to start the game with a head start. While other 25 year olds were trying to find their first job, Donald Trump was the CEO of a multi-million dollar company.
2) He TAUGHT his son about wealth at an early age and prepared him to win at a rigged American economic game. He sent him to Wharton to study economics and drilled him everyday on how to win victories in business, or at least not lose everything to his competition. While we might want to challenge Trump’s faulty ethics, the truth is that both he and Hillary Clinton are two tough people who played a very dirty game on their way to the top.
3) He gave him DISCIPLINE. At an early age, Trump was sent to a military academy, where he learned the art of warfare. This discipline may have played a role in his ability to sustain himself during relentless attacks, and it also taught him early that there is no winning if you spend the bulk of your time whining.
Like it or not, this Knowledge, Investment and Discipline is what allowed Trump to become the leader of the free world. It is similar to the KID model I teach black parents on how to raise children to become economic champions. That way, no matter what anyone thinks about you, or how few friends you have, you gain the ability to shape your own destiny and not feel that you’ve been pushed to the sidelines.
Donald Trump doesn’t care if you like him or not, the same way that I don’t care if white men like me or not. The fact of the matter is that, as much as we want to fight, moan, scream and yell to the rooftops, he was able to get what he wanted because his father planted seeds nearly a century ago that paved the pathway for his children to become economic and political champions.
So, this election was not won in 2016. It was won in 1936.
My question for black people is this: What will your children and grandchildren be able to do in 80 years because of what you’re doing today? People don’t like your children today and they probably won’t like them 80 years from now. But there’s a difference between someone LIKING you vs someone giving you your RESPECT.
Respect must sometimes be demanded. Let’s give our children a chance to win.
Dr Boyce Watkins is a Finance PhD and founder of The Black Wealth Bootcamp, a popular Financial program for African Americans. You can learn about his financial leadership program for children by visiting BlackFinancialLeadership.com.
The opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author.
