DOJ settles discrimination suit with Countrywide Financial for $335 Million

The Department of Justice settled a mortgage discrimination lawsuit with Countrywide Financial Corporation (now part of Bank of America for $335 million dollars. Here.

National Center on Family Homelessness

Reading stuff on the website of the national center on family homelessness. Here. One in 45 children was homeless for part of the year which is about 1.6 million children. The publish a homelessness report card for states. Here.

Low Black-on-Black Spending in Philly.

Ayana Jones writes in the Philadelphia Tribune about the low level of spending by Black Consumers with Black Businesses: Here. The original story on the event is featured: Here.

A Link to National Association of Market Developers - Philadelphia Chapter

Nielsen Media Reseach: State of the Black Consumer

Nielsen Media Research, which is best known for TV rating, has released a reseach report on the Black Consumers. You can get a copy here or read the on-line edition here.

A lot of the information comes from the census. Here are some highlights. While we are projected to spend more than a billion dollars by the year 2015, we remain relatively poor. The majority of us earn less than $50,000 as detailed in the income section, P.6. We are heavy smartphone users. (p.12). What Blacks buy is interesting on page 18. And the complete lack of influence of men on the spending process(p.18). And, we are above average consumers of charcoal.

Forbes: If I were a poor black kid

Forbes ran an opinion piece, by Gene Marks, a contributor, called: "If I was a Poor Black Kid," here. Basically, the author suggests using technology to help poor kids, but comes off as racist and condescending. We will try an tease out some good points in our other blog: The Evil Black Economist.

Forbes: If I were a poor Black kid

Forbes ran an opinion piece, by Gene Marks, a contributor, called: "If I was a Poor Black Kid" here. Basically, the author suggests using technology to help poor kids, but comes off as racist and condescending. We will try an tease out some good points in our other blog: The Evil Black Economist.

Support for inheritance taxes

A nice piece supporting inheritance taxes as a way to support equality, merit and innovation. Here. http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/opinions/opinion/bring-on-the-death-tax/article2194710/