“Our nation has our faults, but don’t ever be ashamed of growth and that’s what America does… Let’s put aside our differences, acknowledge each other’s pains and move forward together.” – Fred Reed

Today on the Contract CFO Podcast we are joined by Fred Reed. Fred is a father of quadruplets, has a master’s degree in wartime history, and is a history professor. Fred and I break open and inspect the socioeconomic history of America. We talk about race as well as the structural and racial inequality that our country was built on.

Fred and I take a look at some uncomfortable facts and events throughout history that have led us to where we are today as a country. Fred tells us why he has hope for our country and what we can do, moving forward, to make sure we all can continue to learn and grow together. Join us for a conversation that will educate, enlighten and inspire!

Enjoy!

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Show Notes

Intro & Drinks:

Going live [1:35]
Main Topic is the socioeconomic gaps in America [3:16]
Our past is the greatest indicator of the future unless we adapt – MA [4:00]
A divided country is not good for business [4:35]
Michael introduces guest Fred Reed [5:00]
Fred has a master’s degree in War-Time History and is a Professor of US History [5:51]
Watch and subscribe on YouTube [6:20]
Fred is a father of quadruplets [7:15]
No news channel is fair and balanced – MA [8:00]
Thank you for sharing and growing the show [9:00]
Michael asks you to share this podcast with your friends [9:23]
Tag your friends and share this episode [9:45]
The goal is to get to 1k subscribers [10:15]
Follow us on Instagram @michaelanthonytv [11:00]
Michael invites Fred to take a from the Pod Deck cards [12:44]
The Contract CFO should know how to count – MA [12:45]
Michael asks Fred: “If you were stranded on a desert island and you could choose one person to keep you company who would it be?” [13:40]
Fred would choose his father [13:57]
Fred talks about what it would be like if he had an opportunity to ask his father why he left him and his family [14:24]
Fred talks about wanting to understand why his father left him [14:51]
Fred is the 2nd guest on the podcast that doesn’t drink [16:00]
You can’t be drunk with four kids running around – FR [16:05]

Cheers To You Segment [16:10]
Michael talks about celebrating the small wins [17:00]
It’s critical to celebrate the small wins and cultivate as spirit of gratitude – MA [17:15]
Michael talks about a listener who tagged the show in their post [18:51]
Michael is drinking his usual Tequila [19:00]
Fred is drinking Skittles flavored water [19:15]
Fred discusses trying to be healthier and his goal to drink more water [19:30]
Fred toasts the 42 million people who voted in America [21:00]
If you’re sitting on the sidelines, what the hell are you complaining for? – FR [21:31]
Go download Michael’s ebook [22:33]
Ebook is available on MichaelanthonyTV.com [23:27]

Main Topic:
Socioeconomic history of America [23:45]
Poverty doesn’t see race – MA [24:31]
I’m going to say some stuff that will make black people uncomfortable – FR [25:00]
We owe it to ourselves to simply become aware – MA [25:21]
Once we become aware, we can become empowered – MA [25:25]
I am not moved by need; I am moved by empowering and ambition – MA [26:15]
Brookings Institute Study [26:40]
Instead of punishing the wealthy, let’s help people who are poor make money – MA [27:00]
2017 the average net income of a white household was $171k [27:31]
2017 the average net inform of an African American household was $17K [28:00]
When white America catches a cold, black America catches the flu – FR [29:21]
Racial and structural inequality exists in America and we’ve got to do something about it – MA [30:00]
In business planning, everything is black and white until you start to apply the plan – MA [30:40]
It’s time to put yourself in the shoes of a black American right now and really consider how it might feel – MA [31:47]
Fred talks about the circulation of a dollar within different race communities [33:50]
Circulation of money = purchasing items [35:00]
Black communities don’t own their own businesses, which does not allow them to invest in their own communities [35:22]
Fred talks about how to enrich your own community [35:42]
When a community isn’t able to own their own businesses, they remain poor – FR [36:00]
Fred talks about discrimination within his own community [38:23]
How can you get ahead when you’re not allowed the opportunity to get ahead? – FR [39:29]
The Homestead Act of 1862 [39:59]
I’m a white dude and I grew up in the mother fucking hood – MA [40:15]
Diversity improves America [41:51]
“The same crime element that white people are scared of black people are scared of. While they waiting for legislation to pass, we next door to the killer…” – Tupac Shakur [42:17]

Immigrants received land from the government but African Americans could not own land with the Homestead Act [43:42]
Generational wealth perspective [44:00]
Investment in land will yield the greatest ROI -MA [45:32]
Giving someone something they haven’t earned is a form of abuse – MA [46:00]
Michael talks about leaving behind an inheritance for his children [48:43]
My generation of black men are into being fathers and life insurance, it’s a new educated generation – FR [48:15]
My son talks about being President of the United States, it’s a new generation – FR [50:47]
Education in black communities was not promoted, only athletics – FR [51:54]
Black communities tend to not have the resources they need for education because it hasn’t been a priority [53:00]
Obama changed how media represents black people [53:10]
Black men can be a president and the hero in movies – FR [53:50]
I don’t want a crutch or a handout, just give me the opportunity to beat you – FR [54:10]
Fred talks about Reparations [54:56]
Fred defines Reparation [55:00]
How poor blacks stay poor – FR [55:55]
Don’t send me a check, fix up black community’s schools instead – FR [58:16]
Fred talks about understanding the divide of racism and poverty [59:00]
If you’re poor and hungry, you don’t care who’s making your sandwich – FR [1:00:00]
The media has positioned us to make assumptions about each other making us miss out on a conversation, a chance to learn and grow – FR [1:01:02]
As American’s we have to ask ourselves, is this the best we can do? – FR [1:02:12]
Stop with the labels. Stop calling me ‘African American,’ I’m an American – FR [1:03:10]
Michael talks about his experience growing up in the hood [1:03:30]
There is a trend of a rejection mentality within the black communities that hinders growth – FR [1:04:25]
Fred talks about his family’s experiences in America [1:05:56]
I love my nation because I know the history of my people and they built this nation – FR [1:06:16]
My degrees are not tattooed on my forehead – FR [1:08:21]
The ability to make amendments to our constitution shows our ability to progress – FR [1:09:51]
Fred talks about the race divided throughout history [1:13:21]
Fred discusses keeping wealth circulating in the black community by focusing on education and black business owners [1:14:22]
Tony Robbins and the stories we tell ourselves [1:15:00]
The construct of race that was created in our nation has led to a lot of the divide that we have right now, a lot of the economic divide – FR [1:15:45]
Let the shit of previous generations become the fertilizer and manure to help build your future – MA [1:16:32]
National Museum of African American History and Culture [1:17:09]
America is an imperfect union trying to become better – MA [1:18:35]
The sacrifices forced upon our ancestors have made us a better as a nation – FR [1:19:00]
Fred talks about the Confederate Constitution [1:20:20]
Setting the Record Straight: American History in Black & White by David Barton [1:21:23]
Fred tells us about the first black men whole played major roles in American history alongside Thomas Jefferson and George Washington [1:22:31]
Plessy v. Ferguson 1896 – the case that made segregation legal [1:23:51]
Lincoln’s focus was keeping the union together, not necessarily freeing slaves – FR [1:24:53]
Fred gives us an education on black history post civil war [1:25:57]
The Black Wall Street [1:26:15]
Michael talks about the discovery of oil changed everything [1:27:47]
Tulsa, Oklahoma – the richest black community in 1921 [1:28:26]
The importance of Seneca Village – now Central park [1:28:51]
Wealthy black people were seen as a threat to early America [1:30:35]
No land, not vote allowed – FR [1:31:02]
Andrew Jackson made it so all white men could vote without having to own land [1:31:47]
Land ownership meant power for a person in the South [1:32:50]
Fred talks about The Slave Bible [1:34:32]
Fred breaks down why history is important [1:35:35]
Black America has been used as a proxy throughout history – MA [1:37:01]
The reason I have a bright future because I was able to let go of my past – MA [1:38:18]
If our rearview mirror is bigger than our windshield, we’re going to crash – MA [1:38:43]
What do we do now? [1:39:12]
How great could this country be if we worked together? – FR [1:40:05]
If you disagree with me, let’s have a conversation – FR [1:41:34]
In times of war we come together because we’re all American despite our color – FR [1:42:12]
Our nation has our faults, but don’t ever be ashamed of growth and that’s what America
does – FR [01:43:28]
Let’s put aside our differences, acknowledge each other pains and let’s move forward together [1:44:26]
We realize what we are as a nation, we will then be able to stand the test of time – FR [1:45:07]
The need to be heard is a powerful driving force – FR [1:46:44]
Listening and showing empathy to someone does not require you to agree with them – MA [1:47:00]
Let’s have some real conversations that make us uncomfortable, that is how we grow – MA [1:48:46]
TEAM – Together everyone achieves more – MA [1:51:21]
United we stand, divided we fall – MA [1:51:30]
Resources: The Journey of Black America [1:51:46]
Resources: Harriet (movie) [1:52:41]
Resources: Green Book (Movie) [1:52:53]
Resources: 42 – Jackie Robinson Story (Movie) [1:55:26]
Resources: Robert (Bob) Woodson – civil rights activist [1:55:43]
Resources: www.1776unites.com [1:55:59]
Resources: Glenn Beck – America’s Black Founding Fathers [1:56:35]
Resources: Black Ice: The Lost History of the Colored Hockey League of the Maritimes, 1895-1925 [1:58:22]
Subscribe to the show on YouTube [1:59:19]
This is a message America needs [1:59:46]
We gotta start talking to each other – FR [1:00:12]
Get out of your fucking echo chamber, start having uncomfortable conversations with diverse people and grow your business – MA [2:00:23]

Links From This Episode

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