ABSTRACT
African Americans continue to be vulnerable to economic changes, but for some, it is not just about how much money they earn, it is how they spend it and what they spend it on. African Americans, as most Americans, get their values about money from a variety of sources. These sources include past and current experiences with racism, families, peers, religion, and society. Many people use money to give them a sense of self-worth, value, or esteem. The various kinds of wealth-building instruments include certificates of deposit (CDs), money market mutual funds, stocks, bonds, real estate, and business ownership. CDs and money market mutual funds are lending instruments. Essentially, individuals put their money in a bank and the bank pays them interest, typically higher than what the individuals would receive from a savings account. There are also real estate investment trusts (REITs), where one can buy stock in companies that invest in real estate.
