HBCU Scholars Release 'Black Wall Street 2.0' Plan for Managing Global Disruptions
Washington, Friday, 27 February 2026.
Langston University experts declare economic volatility permanent, warning that AI and tariffs require leaders to build systems that absorb shock rather than react emotionally to structural changes.
Structural Volatility and the New Economic Reality
On February 26, 2026, the Langston University School of Business (LUSB) released a comprehensive set of predictions titled ‘Black Wall Street 2.0,’ designed to guide entrepreneurs through an era defined by permanent instability [1]. The report, produced by a faculty that achieved a top 1% national performance on the Peregrine Business Exam in 2025, argues that the convergence of war, tariffs, and artificial intelligence has fundamentally altered the operational landscape [1]. Dr. Daryl D. Green, Dean of LUSB, posits that business leaders can no longer view volatility as a surprise event; instead, they must accept that disruption is now ‘structural’ rather than ‘episodic’ [1]. This shift requires a departure from emotional quarterly reactions toward the construction of systems capable of absorbing continuous shocks [1].
Navigating Supply Chains and AI Integration
The report provides specific strategic counsel regarding global trade frictions and technological integration. With ongoing conflicts in Gaza and Ukraine reshaping energy markets and tariffs influencing pricing models, Dr. Charles J. Mambula I, Director of Entrepreneurship Studies & Research at Langston, warns that the current environment represents a permanent ‘realignment of trade relationships’ [1]. To survive, he advises that entrepreneurs must build resilience through ‘strategic partnerships, regional sourcing options, and pricing agility’ [1]. Simultaneously, the integration of artificial intelligence presents internal challenges. Professor Nicole B. Hickson notes that while AI will not necessarily eliminate jobs, it will ‘expose gaps in skill and judgment,’ cautioning organizations that prioritizing speed without understanding creates significant operational risk [1].
Legacy of Resilience
The ‘Black Wall Street 2.0’ initiative explicitly draws upon the historical legacy of the Greenwood District in Tulsa, Oklahoma. By 1921, this community had established itself as a beacon of economic independence, housing over 300 Black-owned businesses, including banks, hotels, and medical offices [4]. Modern scholars and community leaders emphasize that this history serves as a blueprint for contemporary resilience. As highlighted during the ‘Real Black Wall Street Tour’ commemorations in late February 2026, understanding this past is essential for creating ‘responsibility for the future’ [3]. The LUSB report integrates this historical perspective with modern psychology; Professor D. Cherrelle Cohens points out that ‘unresolved financial trauma’ often drives poor leadership decisions, urging leaders to recognize fear-based behaviors before they undermine long-term value [1].