Pay Up! Unapologetically Owning My Worth: The African Businesswoman's Struggle Against Undervaluation.

Redefining Value and Voice in the Global Marketplace

As an entrepreneur of African descent, I consistently find myself having to justify my “price tag”—the value of my products, time, and talent. I have experienced firsthand how society is conditioned to undervalue anything connected with Africa, often expecting lower prices or dismissing the worth of African products and services. I think this bias, though often unconscious, stems from a long history of exploitation where Western countries built their wealth on the backs of African labor and resources, often without paying a fair—or any—price. For centuries, European “colonizers” and American “settlers” extracted human labor and raw materials from Africa without compensating at value. This exploitation has entrenched a global economic system that systematically undervalues African products, labor, and by extension, African-descended people. Then when African descent seek fair compensation for their worth, they face a world that has never been accustomed to paying the true price for Africa's contributions and resources.

Just think about it, European colonization of Africa was driven by the quest for free or cheap labor and raw materials. African countries were carved up, their resources extracted, and their people enslaved to fuel European industries and economies. The riches of Africa—gold, diamonds, rubber, and human lives—were shipped to Europe, with little to no compensation to the people or the land from which they were taken. This exploitation was not just an economic transaction; it was an act of dehumanization, as African lives were considered less valuable, their labor and resources seen as free for the taking.

Then in The United States, the transatlantic slave trade brought millions of Africans to the United States for 400 years, enslaved Africans built the wealth of the United States, creating an economic foundation that still benefits the nation today. This legacy of slavery shows that United States does not have a true cost of building America. If you build a business with stolen resources one does not really have a true value for what it cost to build the business. It’s a false economy- I recall in graduate school class telling a professor perhaps Africa need “Africa” to colonize (I know what you're thinking — but if exploitation is a key ingredient for economic development, then what options does Africa have?)

The impact of this historical exploitation is evident in the current global economic system. European countries and the United States have long enjoyed the benefits of cheap labor and resources from Africa or its descent. As a result, they have never had to pay the true market value for these products and services. This has created a distorted economic reality where African-descended people and their contributions are undervalued.

When people of African descent demand fair compensation for their work and products today, they often face resistance. The world struggles to grasp the concept of paying market value for something it has historically received for free or at a steep discount. This resistance goes beyond the issue of cost; it is rooted in a deeply ingrained belief that African labor and resources are worth less. This is not just an economic struggle but a fight for recognition, dignity, and justice. It is a battle against a global system that has never properly valued African lives and contributions.

This fight isn’t about asking for special treatment; it is about demanding what is rightfully owed. It is about correcting the historical wrongs that have devalued African labor and contributions for centuries. It is about establishing a new economic reality where the worth of African-descended people and their products is recognized and fairly compensated.

There is a need for paradigm shift in how African labor and resources are valued. This requires acknowledging the historical exploitation that has led to current economic disparities and committing to fair compensation. It also demands a change in mindset, where the contributions of African-descended people are seen as valuable and worthy of fair pay.

This shift will not be easy but necessary. It challenges deeply entrenched beliefs and systems that have been in place for centuries. As Black people and those of African descent continue to assert the value of their work and products, the world must adapt to a new reality: one where fair compensation is not a privilege but a right.

Bottom line: When people of African descent put a price tag on their products, time, and talent, PAY UP. There are no discounts. The price is the price, and yesterday’s price is not today’s price. PERIOD.