An encounter with an old white man made me promise myself this one thing

This is a story about a moment that shaped my entire business journey — a moment that drove me to end up where I am today, running a multimillion-dollar business and challenging society’s ideas about Black wealth.

Keep reading to find out what happened.

Back in 2012, I had just started my fledgling law practice and landed my first corporate client — my highest paying client ever at that time. I felt like I was really starting to make strides in my business.

Months later, I completed the work for this client and was waiting for them to send over a big, fat, juicy corporate check. But the payout was taking forever. Every day, my face was pressed up against the window, watching the mailbox like a hawk.

Finally, the check arrived. I headed to the bank, belly first (ya girl was pregnant at the time), feeling like a badass. I proudly presented my check to the teller. She deposited it and told me the funds would be available…

In two weeks.

My heart sank. After waiting months for that check, I couldn’t afford to wait another two weeks. My daughter had just moved up on the waitlist for the only great childcare service town, and this check was the only way I could afford it.

I absolutely needed childcare so I could take on more clients and focus on building wealth for my family. And if I didn’t put down a deposit that day, my daughter would lose her spot.

In a moment of sheer desperation, I asked the teller if there was any way she could make the funds available immediately.

She was kind about it, but it was out of her hands. She regrettably informed me that I’d have to “take it up with the manager.”

Enter: the old white guy.

With embarrassment written all over my face, I told the manager how long I’d waited for that check and why I needed the money right away.

He nodded as I told my story and then walked over to one of the other (old white guy) bankers. They huddled over a computer screen, no doubt looking at my account and talking about whether or not they thought the check would bounce.

I stood there mortified and fighting back tears, watching myself be judged by these two men.

Thankfully, the manager did release the hold on my check that day. I left the bank and went straight to my daughter’s new daycare to pay the deposit. Then I got back in my car and sobbed like a baby.

But after that experience, something shifted in me. Those tears led to a new level of determination.

I promised myself: Never again will my financial situation be so precarious.

Never again will my daughter’s needs be at risk.

Never again will I let the future of my family be decided by anyone other than me (and maybe my husband, but mostly me).

Never again will I put my fate in the hands of an old white man.

Never, ever, again.

And we, as Black people, can’t continue to allow external forces to make our decisions for us — no matter where we’re at financially.

That’s why I created the Hello Seven Foundation — because a Black mother’s decisions should never have to depend on anyone else’s final say.

My goal through the Hello Seven Foundation is to provide funding for life-saving and life-changing resources for Black mothers in need before, during, and after childbirth.

This story shows how far-reaching this kind of support can be. While pregnant with one child and looking for childcare services for another, I desperately needed to focus my time and effort on building a business that would sustain my family.

And the childcare I was able to hire that day helped me get there — that same year, my business revenue went from $60,000 to $300,000.

See how much one check can do for one mom?

To help us achieve our mission of gathering funds for 10 Black mothers by the end of 2021, you can donate to the Foundation, or share these graphics on social media.

Was there a “never again” moment in your life that helped shape the person you are today? Let’s chat in the comments section — I’d love to hear your stories.

xo,

R