The Narrative's 7053 Profile: Franklin J. Miles

Originally published 4/29/19

Industry: Finance/Consultation

Occupation: Founder/Director

Output: Inyanda Energy Group, AWE African Development

Target community: Finance

Question: Give an idea on how we can move forward as a Community?

Idea:  Immersion of African culture and investment

“I was raised in a household that revered the beauty, suffering and triumph found in African and black art, history, music and literature.  Black faces and bodies, embodied in paintings, sculptures and in books, by black artists and writers, adorned the walls and bookshelves of nearly every room in the house”, states Franklin J. Miles, Founder and Director of AWE African Development and Inyanda Energy Group (IEG). “Interest in Africa came from home as I’ve always been surrounded by positive images associated with the continent. For many black households and educational institutions, this environment does not exist.”

Miles, a lawyer educated at Yale and Columbia Law, launched IEG and AWE in 2012 and 2017, respectively, with the sole purpose to identify and facilitate business investment opportunities in select African markets primarily in energy and infrastructure. But it’s the story behind these organizations’ origins that speaks volumes to the unique tipping point black American’s share relative to defining a new narrative in the 21st century for themselves.

Through AWE and IEG, innovative ideas relative to black America, Miles is trailblazing a path for Community and business consummating the two as a way for Community to move forward; and in doing so, is able to spotlight the abundance of opportunity at Community’s feet should it choose to seize it. Yet how does one seize the opportunity that AWE/IEG encourage? Harnessing a strong sense of self by understanding Africa.

Through his upbringing and household immersion of African culture (Miles’ mother spearheaded the introduction of a high school course in pre-colonial African history in Miles’ High School, even selecting the textbooks that would form the basis of the curriculum) Miles, deliberately or unwillingly, illuminates the haunting characteristic of the black American experience (vis-à-vis AWE/IEG) which he feels can only grow in strength by honoring the estranged continent. “We have to embrace Africa. One of the most important things is we [black Americans] need to have a strong sense of self, a strong sense of blackness. This is what pulls the community together and it [Africa] has to be understood as important but it doesn’t have to be narrowly defined.” Miles goes onto state, “While we embrace Africa, we must also embrace the paradox that we are westernized. But this must be done altogether to move forward.”

History has shown that western civilization has found considerable comfort in dismantling Diasaporean descendants’ sense of self, yet his statement feeds the narrative of a fresh start for the 21st century black American, albeit an unwiring. That in order to rewrite the narrative, Miles eludes to the notion that if Community is able to have a strong sense of self by understanding more about the continent from which melanated American individuals of predominant African ancestry come from; then Community will be able to unify and connect even more in order to build. This can only be done by realizing the layers that come with our experience given our western roots and a strong desire to know more about our roots outside of this land. Then, what’s next? Opportunity.

In 2019, Sub Saharan Africa will be home to several of the world’s fastest growing economies according to the IMF (International Monetary Fund). Miles sees opportunity for black Americans not just to forge a stronger identity amongst themselves in relation to the continent, yet to do business. Citing a vacuum of opportunity, Miles states how African countries are also beginning to unwire inherited structures from western colonialism, creating space for new ideas, opportunity and connectivity. In essence, one could theorize that the distant cousins of the black American, while in no way shape or form measure up to the extremities and institutionalized racism and terrorism experienced in America, share the same renewed discovery of sense of self, erasing the false and dated structures implemented by the Old World.

“These conversations are being held in Africa as they’re emerging from colonization as they too are removing structures that no longer work. They’re going to take ownership and rewrite the narrative just like us.” Miles goes on to state, “Understanding having a need for sense of self and where we should go [Community] is a paradox given we are Western. But there is so much opportunity now more so than ever.”

Community and Africa’s shared desires of unwiring “westernized constructs” for a healthier sense of self; combined with Africa’s emerging economies, in Miles’ eyes is a recipe for success. One could suggest that we may all be on the same page; and it’s here Miles sees opportunity for black Americans to seize on not just self growth - yet business development. The real question is, will Community rewrite a much needed narrative on our own accord in the 21st century; seizing the opportunities Miles is opening for us?