Sen. Tim Scott Hosts Black History Month Event Focused on Economic Opportunity
- Feb 27
- 2 min read
WASHINGTON / February 28, 2026 / BPALiveWire — Sen. Tim Scott marked Black History Month with an event on Capitol Hill that highlighted economic empowerment, faith and public private partnerships, urging attendees to build on the legacy of past generations by expanding wealth creation opportunities.
Scott opened the program by reflecting on the cost paid by earlier generations of Black Americans and the progress made in recent decades.
“What we should do in my opinion, is to build upon the amazing legacy of people who paid such a high price for us to be here,” Scott said. “If you don’t remember the pain, the misery, and the struggle to get to where we are, sometimes you look to the future with jaundiced eyes.”
Scott spoke about his upbringing in poverty in a single parent household and the mindset he said he had to overcome to succeed.
“As a kid growing up in poverty in a single parent household, I always saw myself as a grasshopper in my mirror and so I assumed others saw the same thing,” he said. “Too many of us, generation to generation have been told what won’t work. And so if you embrace what won’t work, it won’t work.”
Drawing on scripture, Scott cited Deuteronomy 8:18 and emphasized wealth creation as a key pathway to lasting change.
“That God has given us the power to create wealth,” Scott said. “What I hope from this Black History Month event into the future, that those of us in the room, particularly of African descent, would make the decision to major on green while minoring in Black.”
Scott outlined what he described as three primary ways to create profit in America: real estate ownership, equity investment in the stock market and small business ownership. He said expanding participation in those areas would help more families achieve the American dream.
“The more you understand our markets, the more you understand the importance of generating a return while you’re sleeping,” Scott said. “The body needs rest, but the market doesn’t.”
The event also featured remarks from Scott Turner, who emphasized the importance of collaboration across sectors and levels of government.
“To have a leader from a legislator in the Senate and to have the administrative and the private sector coming together, this is not random,” Turner said. “It’s a divine appointment.”
Turner said partnerships between lawmakers, the administration and private sector leaders can help deliver generational impact, particularly for vulnerable Americans seeking economic mobility.
“We have to capitalize on these partnerships to have a generational impact,” Turner said. “To make sure that we use these platforms and the authority that we have and the influence that we have in order to make a generational impact.”
Throughout the program, speakers returned to themes of faith, resilience and economic self determination, framing Black History Month not only as a time of remembrance but as a call to action focused on opportunity and ownership.
Scott closed his remarks by encouraging attendees to reject limiting beliefs and pursue long term success.
“You have to get yourself in a position where you believe that no matter the obstacles, no matter the challenges, no matter how high the mountain and how low the valley, at the end of the day, I win,” he said.
