Black Capitalists

A Blueprint for What Is Possible

De: Rachel Laryea PhD

A groundbreaking look at how Black visionaries—from Wall Street to Lagos and beyond—are reimagining capitalism to benefit the needs of Black people and, ultimately, everyone.

“Black Capitalists is a dive into the history of how money is made and our attitudes about wealth. A must read.”—Vanessa Williams, singer, actress, author, producer, and former Miss America

To many, the term “Black Capitalists” is oxymoronic. Black people were the labor force that built the infrastructure of American capitalism through the violent enforcement of legalized slavery, so they cannot, and should not, aspire to be the beneficiaries of it. But Wall Street professional and Yale-educated anthropologist Dr. Rachel Laryea poses a provocative question: What if there was a way to thrive within capitalism without diminishing someone else’s life chances through exploitative practices? There is—and Black Capitalists are showing us how.

Told through Dr. Laryea's own compelling narrative—growing up the child of a single mother who immigrated to the United States from Ghana and rose to the Ivy League and on Wall Street—with original on-the-ground reporting and rigorous historical analysis, Black Capitalists challenges listeners to reconsider who gets to be the beneficiary of capitalism and reckons with the responsibility that comes with using the tools of our imperfect economic system to advance social good.

Dr. Laryea reveals in detail how race profoundly shapes the way we participate in capitalism—and how understanding these differences can guide us toward a more inclusive and equitable future. From newly minted undergraduates who find themselves working twenty-hour days to prove their worth on Wall Street to Nigerian startup founders working to build global credit scores, spanning the streets of Accra to the boardrooms of Goldman Sachs, Black Capitalists’ stories and analysis of innovators who are as ambitious as they are altruistic demonstrate the resilience, creativity, and ingenuity of Black people who have long been excluded from the full benefits of the American economic system. At its core, Black Capitalists shows a more productive, and more inclusive, way forward.

©2025 Rachel Laryea, PhD (P)2025 Random House Audio

Reseñas de la Crítica

“Told through a fascinating blend of history and an extraordinary personal journey, Black Capitalists is a thought-provoking exploration of how Black innovators are re-envisioning entrepreneurship. The path forward that Dr. Rachel Laryea lays out is truly singular and inspiring.”—Marcus Samuelsson, award-winning chef, restaurateur, and author of Yes, Chef

“Indispensable and riveting, Black Capitalists is a solution-oriented addition to the debate on economics and Black liberation. Thorough and informed, Dr. Laryea offers a pathway forward that is perfect for our current moment.”—Michael W. Twitty, author of The Cooking Gene

“Dr. Laryea takes on the taboo subject of Black folks using ‘the master’s tools’ to support our people and illuminates the change that takes place when it happens.”—Majora Carter, author of Reclaiming Your Community