Mehrsa Baradaran is a distinguished authority on banking law, whose scholarship delves into the intricate relationship between finance, exclusion, and the health of democracy. Her work critically examines how financial systems can both marginalize and exploit, posing significant threats to democratic ideals. Baradaran's insights have informed policy discussions at the highest levels, demonstrating her significant influence in shaping crucial conversations around financial equity and access. Her engagement with national and international forums underscores her commitment to exploring the societal impacts of banking practices.
Explore the fascinating world of banking and the intricate concepts of money. This book delves into how banks operate, the role they play in the economy, and the various forms of currency. It aims to demystify financial systems, making complex ideas accessible and engaging for readers. Through informative insights, readers will gain a deeper understanding of the importance of banks and the transformative power of money in everyday life.
"When the Emancipation Proclamation was signed in 1863, the black community owned less than one percent of the United States' total wealth. More than one hundred and fifty years later, that number has barely budged. The Color of Money seeks to explain the stubborn persistence of this racial wealth gap by focusing on the generators of wealth in the black community: black banks. With the civil rights movement in full swing, President Nixon promoted "black capitalism," a plan to support black banks and minority-owned businesses. But the catch-22 of black banking is that the very institutions needed to help communities escape the deep poverty caused by discrimination and segregation inevitably became victims of that same poverty. In this timely and eye-opening account, Baradaran challenges the long-standing belief that black communities could ever really hope to accumulate wealth in a segregated economy"--Back cover.
The United States has two separate banking systems - one serving the well-to- do and another exploiting everyone else. Deserted by banks and lacking credit, many people are forced to wander through a Wild West of payday lenders and check-cashing services thanks to the effects of deregulation in the 1970s that continue today, Mehrsa Baradaran shows.