The Southern Truth: “Brother Ray Fauntroy Says “Hold Your Money, Christmas is Coming” for Economic Empowerment
By Gloria Zuurveen, Editor-in-Chief
The Wisdom of Brother Ray Fauntroy
Brother Ray Fauntroy, the brother of Congressman Walter Fauntroy and former driver for the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
One of the timeless messages I’ve often heard from my friend and 2022 Parent Action Coalition for Education (PACE) GLORY Award recipient, Brother Ray Fauntroy, speaks to a profound truth about economic repair in the Black community. In conversation, he frequently repeats the mantra: “Hold your money. Christmas is coming.”
His words echo a deeper call for Black Americans to resist the cycle of excessive consumption and instead save, invest, and support one another economically. Brother Fauntroy’s wisdom reminds me of the late Muhammad A. Nassardeen, who founded the organization Recycle Black Dollars. Nassardeen, like Fauntroy, urged the Black community to direct its financial power inward, to invest in Black-owned businesses, and to repair the systemic breaches in our economic framework.
Brother Fauntroy’s message—“Hold your money, Christmas is coming”—is not about withholding joy during the holidays but rather about resisting the pressure to spend our last dime on fleeting trends and consumer goods. It is a reminder that by pooling resources and investing strategically, we can shift from being the greatest consumers to becoming the most powerful producers.
The Fallacy of the Dream
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s dream of racial harmony has long inspired hope, but we must acknowledge the darker truth behind its legacy. In the wake of his assassination, it became clear that the Civil Rights movement, as impactful as it was, had been co-opted to serve broader agendas that sidelined the economic empowerment of Black Americans.
Instead of solely addressing the systemic inequities faced by Black people, the movement became a gateway for others—immigrants and minorities included—while Black Americans remained marginalized. King himself realized, in his final days, that economic liberation was the true battleground.
This shift in focus may have contributed to his untimely death, as many believe his growing advocacy for economic justice posed a threat to entrenched power structures.
The Power of Collective Action
The Southern Truth is this: Black Americans have an immense capacity to transform their economic realities, but it requires a shift in mindset and unified action. Brother Fauntroy’s call to “hold our money” during the Christmas season is not about deprivation—it’s about prioritization. It’s about redirecting spending toward investments, savings, and support for Black-owned businesses. The late Muhammad A. Nassardeen championed this philosophy through Recycle Black Dollars, an initiative that urged Black people to patronize and sustain Black enterprises. This was, and remains, a powerful strategy to foster economic growth within the community. Dr. King, too, envisioned economic empowerment as essential to true freedom, recognizing that civil rights without financial strength would never yield lasting change.
Dispelling the Myth of Disunity
A persistent myth suggests that Black people cannot unite to achieve common goals. Yet history proves otherwise, and Fauntroy’s rallying cry is a reminder of the potential we hold when we come together. By breaking the cycle of excessive holiday spending and redirecting those resources toward collective growth, we can dismantle the narrative of disempowerment and replace it with one of self-determination and resilience.
Brother Fauntroy’s wisdom challenges us to reimagine our relationship with money—not as an end in itself, but as a tool for empowerment. By doing so, we can create the greatest story ever told: a people rising above imposed limitations to chart their own course toward prosperity.
The Time for Action is Now
Image from www.nielsen.com
As we approach another holiday season, let us heed the Southern Truth. Let us embrace Brother Fauntroy’s wisdom and recognize the power in holding onto our money—not to hoard it, but to invest it in our communities. By doing so, we honor the legacy of leaders like Muhammad Nassardeen and Dr. King while forging a brighter economic future for generations to come.
The time is now. Let’s rewrite the narrative, shatter the myths, and take control of our financial destiny. Christmas is coming—but this year, let it bring not just celebration, but transformation.
