the rise and fall of the freedman’s bank: and its lasting socio-economic impact on black america

Tells the history of the Freedman’s Savings Bank, how it grew much too quickly, why it failed and the impact on Black America. This book will put the Freedman’s Savings Bank in the conversation with reparations, Baby Bonds and financial literacy.

Rodney A. Brooks, former Deputy Managing Editor/Money at USA TODAY, is author of the book Fixing the Racial Wealth Gap: Racism and Discrimination Put Us Here, But This Is How We Can Save Future Generations. The book was a winner of the National Association of Black Journalists’ (NABJ) Outstanding Book Award in 2022 and also made the shortlist for the Society for Advancing Business Editing and Writing (SABEW) Third Annual Best in Business Book Awards. A recipient of the President’s Award from the National Association of Black Journalists, he was elected to the NABJ Hall of Fame in 2021. He was named a Senior Fellow at Prosperity Now in 2022.