Shomari "Sho" Wills

Writer, producer & author of "Black Fortunes" the story of the 1st Black millionaires. @CNN & @GMA alum. Emmy, ALA & AALA 🏆. Unearthing untold stories.

[The Wall Street Journal @WSJ]

The country’s first Black pop superstar, Belafonte shattered barriers and paved the way for a generation of singers and actors. https://t.co/4qdcrJmIxh

[Dihya @Cecilia271212]

RIP Quincy Jones... 😔

[Shomari "Sho" Wills @ShoWills]

@tjl @ThompsonJamieL I grew up in DC, and two elderly family members who lived there for over 40 years were carjacked. The increase in carjacking is linked to changes in penalties for carjacking not cultural roots.

[Shomari "Sho" Wills @ShoWills]

@trinalfletcher Thanks for the shout out!

[Shomari "Sho" Wills @ShoWills]

@AshChasinDreamz Thanks! I hope you enjoy it. Let me know who your favorite character is when you finish!

[Shomari "Sho" Wills @ShoWills]

@DaF_16Guy Thank you, Atari!

[Columbia Magazine @columbiamag]

10 books to read for Black History Month, by @ShoWills ’13JRN, @sandylocks, and other @Columbia alumni and faculty authors. https://t.co/2gBNCeimPp

[Yvette Owo @yvetteowo]

In MLK Jr's memory, I honor William Leidesdorff today, the first black millionaire in America. In 1847, his estate was valued at $1.4 million, which is over $34 million today. Such an interesting story:

1. He was an ol' school Hold Co owner.

2. He moved from Louisana to California - then a remote Mexican territory - so he could live with more freedom and privacy.

3. In Cali, he started an import-export company and used the profits from that to start a general store, warehouse, lumberyard, shipbuilding, and other businesses.

4. He was granted citizenship by Mexico because he became the most prominent resident.

5. His acquisition of 35,000 acres of land made him the largest land owner in the area.

6. His home became the de facto US Embassy in the Mexican California territory.

7. He was the U.S. Vice Consul at San Francisco during Mexican rule.

8. He built the first hotel in San Francisco and the first public school in California.

9. After the US won the US-Mexican War, he became the treasurer of the territory.

10. When died unexpectedly, flags in San Francisco were hung at half-mast in this honor.

At death, his assets were valued at $1.4M, which $38M today.

So many lessons in his story:

1. Going to an unknown place but where he could live more freely

2. Creating many businesses from only one

3. Having only 2 close friends, despite being so well known and respected in his time

4. Navigating social, political, and business
challenges.

What happened with his assets and why you need a will is a whole other story in American history.

Thank you @ShoWills for your amazing book.

His bronze monument is at Commercial and Leidesdorff in the heart of the Financial District

[Shomari "Sho" Wills @ShoWills]

@korey_matthews7 Thank you!

[Shomari "Sho" Wills @ShoWills]

My book about the US' first black millionaires comes out on 1/30.''By telling the little-known stories of 6 pioneering Black entrepreneurs, Black Fortunes makes a worthy contribution to American history'' --Margot Lee Shetterly, Author of Hidden Figures. https://t.co/3v9bc49b0G

[Shomari "Sho" Wills @ShoWills]

@reecelightner Thank you!

[Shomari "Sho" Wills @ShoWills]

Calling in to talk with Tavis Smiley for the next hour now. Check it out! #blackfortunes

[Shomari "Sho" Wills @ShoWills]

I will be on @therealtavissmiley on @kbla1580 today at 10am PST / 1pm EST talking #BlackFortunes. Looking forward to it! Tune it below: https://t.co/7PZO3C9anz
https://t.co/Z6J5j6wwk0

[Shomari "Sho" Wills @ShoWills]

I will be on @therealtavissmiley on @kbla1580 today at 10am PST / 1pm EST talking #BlackFortunes. Looking forward to it! Tune it below: https://t.co/7PZO3C9anz
https://t.co/Z6J5j6wwk0

[Tavis Smiley - on 🧵 @therealtavissmiley @tavissmiley]

Dr. Susannah Crockford 

9:00a – 10:00a – Anthropologist Dr. Susannah Crockford joins Tavis to unpack her study which reveals that Donald Trump’s rise in power resulted from America’s racial divide and not cult leadership. 

Shomari Wills

10:00a – 11:00a – Author and Emmy-winning producer Shomari Wills joins Tavis to discuss the challenges of wealth building in the Black community and sheds light on the remarkable stories of pioneering African American entrepreneurs who overcame immense odds. 

Steven Adams 

11:00a – 11:30a – Tavis welcomes Steven Adams, an award-winning producer bridging the African Continent and the Americas through film, to discuss driving representation and diversity in the global entertainment landscape.  

Kevin Ross 

11:30a – 12:00p – Tavis welcomes emerging Billboard-charting R&B sensation Kevin Ross to talk about his musical journey and his new single with Eric Bellinger "Ready For It."

[Shomari "Sho" Wills @ShoWills]

@BlackJesuscom @hiphopwritesnow 🙏🏿

[Daniel Heron @hiphopwritesnow]

📚 #BookOfTheWeek: "Black Fortunes" by @ShoWills. Uncover a journey from slavery to wealth 💪⏳📈. Delve into 19th-century socio-politics for African Americans and trace their economic evolution. A heart-stirring read! #BlackFortunes #AmericanHistory #hiphopwritesnow

[Shomari "Sho" Wills @ShoWills]

So sad to hear about Mr. Belafonte's passing, but like so many of us, I'm beyond amazed at the life he lived. He helped change the world. I was beyond lucky to have known him. May he rest in peace. My heart goes out to his family. Thank you, Mr. Belafonte, a million times over.

[The New York Times @nytimes]

Breaking News: Harry Belafonte, the barrier-breaking singer, actor and activist who became a major force in the civil rights movement, has died at 96. https://t.co/LTpfanpUDq

[DorothyBGilliamTrailblazer @DorothyBGilliam]

Books about Black success are always recommended during #blackhistorymonth. I recommend reading, ‘Black Fortunes’ by @ShoWills.

This book documents the lives of the first six Black millionaires who built their empires after escaping slavery.

Maybe you’ll be next on the list!

[Shomari "Sho" Wills @ShoWills]

@DorothyBGilliam Thank you, Dorothy. I am honored.

[NY Public Library @nypl]

In 'Black Fortunes: The Story of the First Six African Americans Who Survived Slavery and Became Millionaires' by @ShoWills, a small group of daring men and women broke new ground to attain the highest levels of financial success.

#BookOfTheDay: https://t.co/1crcFc9GpK

[Shomari "Sho" Wills @ShoWills]

@cmoreno237 @RobertLPoole Thank you, Carlos. 🙏🏿🙏🏿

[Robert L. Poole @RobertLPoole]

@ShoWills Man... #BlackFortunes is not only full of incredible stories - it's incredibly well told. The ancestors feel alive and their stories feel relevant. Kudos.