Cortico has been developing a rich partnership with the Tampa Bay Times, aimed at bringing under-reported stories and perspectives into their local news reporting. A piece by Ileana Najarro explores the issue of generational wealth as experienced by Black residents of St. Petersburg, Florida. 

Under the headline, “We Weren’t Wealthy, But We Were Rich.’ Black Residents of St. Pete Reflect on Generational Wealth, Najarro summarizes, “Generational wealth — financial assets passed down through generations of a family — has traditionally been more difficult to accumulate for minority families.

Many factors go into that, including access to education, good-paying jobs and the ability to start businesses and own real estate.” 

As heard in the voices of Lou Brown and Esther Eugene, among those interviewed for the story, this abstract economic concept develops meaningful depth and personality. The story title comes from Brown’s reflecting on the economic values of his 1950’s childhood:

It was just a different time.

Nobody was hungry. If we were playing, and you were at my house, you ate. If we were playing, and I was at your house, I ate. That’s life. We would come home to the house on Seventh Avenue, and the neighbor would be in the kitchen, getting some sugar. And you could go to their house and do the same thing.

We weren’t wealthy. But we were rich.

Lou Brown

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