There is something we talk about often — but practice inconsistently.
Supporting Black businesses.
We mention it during movements.
We hashtag it during crises.
We repost it when emotions are high.
But economically?
We have not institutionalized it.
And according to Dr. Michael V. Roberts, that is the core problem.
Who Is Dr. Michael V. Roberts — and Why His Voice Matters
Dr. Michael V. Roberts is not just a motivational speaker. He is a proven architect of ownership.
A businessman, author, and founder of a vast portfolio of enterprises spanning telecommunications, media, real estate, construction, and technology, Dr. Roberts has built one of the most respected Black-owned business empires in America.
His philosophy is clear:
“Action has no season.”
And more importantly:
Ownership is power.
He teaches that wealth is not emotional. It is structural.
It is engineered.
It is protected.
It is circulated intentionally.
The Six-Hour Dollar Problem
One of the most alarming statistics often cited in Black economic discussions is this:
In many communities, money circulates multiple times before leaving.
But in the Black community, it is commonly estimated that the dollar leaves within six to nine hours.
Six hours.
That means a paycheck can enter the community in the morning and be gone before dinner.
We:
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Cash our checks at institutions that don’t reinvest in us.
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Pay bills to corporations outside our communities.
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Shop at global chains.
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Spend heavily on brands that have no ownership ties to our neighborhoods.
And then we ask: Why don’t our communities grow?
Dr. Roberts would argue the issue is not income.
It is infrastructure.
Spending Power Without Retention Is Leakage
Black Americans command over a trillion dollars in annual buying power.
But buying power without circulation becomes economic leakage.
Dr. Roberts emphasizes that if you do not control:
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Production
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Distribution
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Ownership
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Capital flow
You do not control your economic destiny.
Consumption builds someone else’s empire.
Ownership builds yours.
The Psychological Barrier
The challenge is not just economic — it is behavioral.
We have been conditioned into consumer loyalty rather than ownership loyalty.
We sometimes:
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Trust national brands more than Black entrepreneurs.
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Demand perfection from Black businesses while tolerating mediocrity from others.
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Prioritize convenience over community infrastructure.
Dr. Roberts teaches that economic empowerment requires discipline.
Not emotion.
Discipline.
What Real Circulation Looks Like
When money circulates within a community:
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A grocery store pays local employees.
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Employees spend at local restaurants.
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The restaurant hires local vendors.
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Vendors bank locally.
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The bank funds local development.
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Development creates property ownership.
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Property ownership creates political leverage.
That is how power compounds.
That is how other communities build multigenerational wealth.
Dr. Roberts’ Core Message: Become Actionaires™
Dr. Roberts doesn’t just preach theory.
He teaches action.
He coined the term “ACTIONAIRE™” to describe individuals who move beyond conversation and into disciplined implementation.
Because wealth is not created by hashtags.
It is created by habits.
The Solution: How We Extend the Six-Hour Dollar
If we are serious about changing this narrative, here is the strategic framework:
1. Build More Black-Owned Infrastructure
We cannot circulate money where no businesses exist.
We need:
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Black-owned banks and credit unions
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Black-owned grocery chains
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Black-owned manufacturing companies
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Black-owned tech platforms
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Black-owned logistics and distribution companies
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Black-owned real estate development firms
Small businesses are important.
But infrastructure is transformational.
2. Shift from Emotional Support to Economic Strategy
Support must be intentional.
Create personal rules:
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Spend a percentage of your income monthly with Black-owned businesses.
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Bank with Black-owned financial institutions where possible.
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Invest in Black-owned startups and funds.
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Refer Black professionals first.
Make circulation a habit.
3. Elevate Standards and Excellence
Support does not mean lowering standards.
It means raising them together.
Dr. Roberts built his empire on excellence, not sympathy.
Competitive quality creates sustainable loyalty.
4. Teach Ownership Early
Economic literacy must be taught to children.
Teach:
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Equity over employment
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Assets over liabilities
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Ownership over branding obsession
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Investment over consumption
If we change how the next generation thinks, the dollar will stay longer automatically.
5. Collaborate Instead of Compete
Fragmentation weakens circulation.
Partnerships extend it.
Strategic alliances between Black-owned businesses create ecosystems — not isolated storefronts.
The Bigger Vision
The goal is not simply to “buy Black.”
The goal is to:
Turn the six-hour dollar
into a six-day dollar
into a six-week dollar
into a six-generation dollar.
Dr. Michael V. Roberts represents what is possible when ownership, discipline, and action replace excuses and emotional reaction.
His life demonstrates that wealth is not accidental.
It is constructed.
And it is protected by structure.
Final Question
Will we remain powerful consumers?
Or will we become powerful owners?
As Dr. Roberts’ philosophy reminds us:
Action has no season.
The time to circulate is now.
