Office of the President
The Black Wall Street Movement Leader
The Black Wall Street Movement Leader
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Dr, Micahel Carter, Sr., Th.D., is the globally recognized leader of the Black Wall Street Movement. A son of the Lone Star State, he was rescued from the doorstep of the late Mary Carter in Houston, just two weeks after his birth in 1970. After Mary Carter's transition in 1978, he was lovingly taken in by Mother Viola Wright. Throughout his life, Dr. Carter never met his biological mother or father, yet he found purpose and identity through faith and service.
Since he was fourteen years old, Dr. Carter has devoted his life to preaching the Gospel. His ministerial journey has taken him to over 60 countries, sharing his message of faith and hope with countless people around the world.
Dr. Carter is an alumnus of Arkansas Baptist College and received his theological training under the mentorship of Dr. Anthony E. Darrington, Sr. at Piedmont Theological Seminary in 2009. Inspired by Dr. Larry Moore, founder and president of Moore University of Theology, Dr. Carter pursued and completed his doctoral studies in theology. His dissertation, titled "The Effects of Crucifixion on the Human Body: The Crucifixion of Jesus Christ" (2014), reflects his deep scholarly commitment to understanding the physical and spiritual significance of Christ’s sacrifice.
Dr. Carter Sr., is the founder and national president of Black Wall Street USA, a nonprofit organization established in 1998 with the mission to promote economic development and community edification within the Black community. Inspired by the legacy of Ottawa "O.W." Gurley, who was instrumental in developing Tulsa's Greenwood District into the original "Black Wall Street," Dr. Carter aims to replicate that success by fostering urban areas where 50% to 70% or more of businesses are Black-owned.
Under Dr. Carter's leadership, Black Wall Street USA has initiated several programs to support Black entrepreneurship and economic empowerment. One notable initiative is the Black Wealth Initiative, which leverages real estate entrepreneurship to help Black families achieve economic independence. Dr. Carter emphasizes the importance of focusing on the big picture and leaving the small things small.
The impact of Dr. Carter's work is recognized by other leaders in the community. Kuma Roberts, interim president and CEO of the Black Wall Street Chamber of Commerce, has expressed enthusiasm for invigorating the organization's mission of economic development, stating, "As we move forward, we will foster a culture of robust entrepreneurship. Our commitment to inclusive economic development will not waver." Additionally, efforts are underway to have the Greenwood District designated as a national monument, with Tulsa Mayor G.T. Bynum writing to President Joe Biden that "this monument would highlight a historically-forgotten-about event in American history and serve as a warning that this moment in history must never be repeated." These initiatives underscore the ongoing commitment to honoring the legacy of Black Wall Street and ensuring its history informs future economic development.
Dr. Michael Carter Sr.'s leadership and vision have been instrumental in the recognition and establishment of Black Wall Street Districts in Chicago, Illinois. In 2006, his efforts culminated in House Resolution 1257 by the 96th General Assembly of the Illinois House of Representatives, officially recognizing Stony Island Avenue as a Black Wall Street District. This designation honored the area's rich history of African American entrepreneurship and aimed to promote economic development within the community. Building upon this momentum, on August 29, 2009, the Illinois State Senate passed Resolution SR0432 , acknowledging 75th Street east of the Dan Ryan Expressway as a commercial corridor where 80% or more of the businesses are owned by African Americans. This area serves as a prime example of a Black Wall Street District in Chicago, featuring a variety of flourishing businesses, including family-owned establishments, restaurants, clothing stores, and beauty shops.
Beyond Illinois, legislative efforts to honor and preserve the legacy of Black Wall Street have been initiated at both federal and state levels. In 2024, the U.S. Senate passed the Historic Greenwood District—Black Wall Street National Monument Establishment Act, introduced by Senator James Lankford (R-OK) and Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ). This bill aims to establish the Historic Greenwood District—Black Wall Street National Monument in Oklahoma as a unit of the National Park System, preserving and interpreting the resources associated with the Historic Greenwood District and the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre. The bill awaits consideration in the House of Representatives. Additionally, various state assemblies have pending legislation focused on reparations and economic development for African American communities, reflecting a broader movement to address historical injustices and promote economic empowerment nationwide In recognition of his tireless service, Dr. Carter was awarded the Joe Biden Presidential Volunteer Award in 2021 by Dr. Angela Harris, in honor of our ancestors who were tragically murdered during the Tulsa Massacre in 1921.
Dr. Michael Carter Sr.’s vision transcends the limitations of time, culture, and circumstance. His life’s work stands as a theological and sociological thesis in motion — a divine experiment in faith, economics, and justice. One hundred years from now, the blueprint he has drafted will have matured into living cities of spiritual and economic sovereignty — communities governed by truth, justice, and divine reciprocity. Two hundred years from now, historians and theologians alike will cite the Carter Doctrine of Faithful Reconstruction as the turning point when the children of the diaspora reclaimed not only their history but their destiny. And three hundred years from now, when nations gather to define civilization’s moral center, they will trace its foundation to a people who believed that God’s promise was not bound by geography, but awakened through divine order. For the Holy Qur’an affirms: “Indeed, Allah will not change the condition of a people until they change what is in themselves” القرآن الكريم Surat Ar-Qur’an 13:11, and the Word of God declares, “Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it, Habakkuk 2:2.
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Office of the President
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