By Asia Gore
Trinity Times Correspondent

Breaking through racial barriers in the U.S. requires a multitude of efforts for Black Americans and Kezia Williams has been promoting methods to help them build generational wealth as one approach in advancing societal equality.

Williams – an Alexandria, Virginia, resident often referred to as a teacher of Black entrepreneurship – is the founder and chief executive officer of Black UpStart, a national enterprise that educates Black Americans in how to launch prosperous businesses.

It’s a concept that really speaks to Pat Lally, a senior studying business administration at Trinity Washington University, who believes William’s cause for helping Black Americans build generational wealth through entrepreneurship is sorely needed.

“I think what she has started is great and needed in the community,” Lally told the Trinity Times. “I think this business is a much-needed service to offer, because being business literate is a valuable asset. I think it can benefit Trinity students by allowing them more access to information that can help them in the future.”

Since it’s founding in 2015, Black UpStart has trained about 200 small business creators and engaged a network of more than 66,000 Black American creatives, entrepreneurs and innovators through its social media platforms, Williams’ LinkedIn profile avowals.

Through Black UpStart, she encourages Black creators to adopt four essential concepts.

• Think Black: Learn how to brainstorm a profitable business idea.
• Build Black: Learn how to build your first prototype.
• Plan Black: Learn how to craft a business model canvas.
• Test Black: Learn how to validate your business idea.

As a social influencer – with an enormous following on platforms like Instagram and YouTube – Williams has been a guest on Good Morning America, sharing tips on how to achieve financial freedom and help people of color close the generational wealth gap.

“By the end of 2023, may every Black child own (an) LLC membership, (have an) 800 credit score, $500 in checking, $500 in 529 college savings, $500 in stocks, $500 in Series I Bonds, $1 million life insurance beneficiary, crypto, two business books,” she said in a December 2022 Twitter post. “Buy kids assets. Gift them freedom.”

This is a message that resonates with Black business scholars like Lynda Jackson, associate professor of Business Administration at Trinity.

“Educational organizations like Black UpStart are very beneficial to closing the generational wealth gap for people of color,” Jackson said. “Kezia and her team at Black UpStart are teaching young individuals how to build their businesses in a way that would be profitable and teaching them about finances.”

Williams’ challenges businesses to combat financial obstacles and to build generational wealth over the years, she told Trinity Times.

“Without financial knowledge,” she said, “it would be impossible to build and sustain their businesses.”

Lally said he is thankful Williams’ message seems to be resonating among Black Americans and likes that the content generated from Black UpStart keeps encouraging people to build generational wealth.

“I think this content is important to all Americans, especially those trying to escape the grip of poverty,” he said. “I believe it is helpful to me, simply because it is preparatory and beneficial to understanding how the world of business operates.”