By Dr. Frances “Toni” Murphy Draper
AFRO CEO and Publisher
Every holiday season, we search for the perfect gifts for the children in our lives. We want the joy and the surprise. But most of what we buy doesn’t last. Sneakers lose their shine, video games get replaced and toys are forgotten by spring. As families stretch their budgets, this year offers a chance to give differently—and more meaningfully.
During my years as a stockbroker—one of the few Black women in that field at the time—I learned a lesson I’ve never forgotten: consistent saving and steady investing work. I saw investment clubs and community groups put away small amounts month after month. They relied on discipline, not windfalls and their persistence paid off.
That instinct toward preparation didn’t start with us. It lived in the habits of our elders—people like my Aunt Sis, born in 1914. She lived through the 1929 market crash at just 15, the Great Depression, and an era when Black families had little reason to trust financial institutions. So she kept a $100 bill—or two—under her mattress. That was her safety net. Her way of staying ready in uncertain times.
Her method reflected the wisdom of her generation. Today, we honor that same spirit while recognizing that we now have more tools to help our resources grow.
This Christmas, instead of gifts that fade, we can give children something with staying power. Opening a 529 college savings plan, a custodial brokerage account or even purchasing a single share of stock in a recognizable company can plant a seed that matures over time. And when teenagers work part-time or earn income, some families explore long-term savings tools for minors. One example is a custodial Roth IRA, which legally requires the child to have earned income. I mention this only as general information—not as investment advice—but to highlight that families today have more options than earlier generations ever did.
And we do not have to do this alone. Black families have always relied on the village. Grandparents, godparents, aunts, uncles and close family friends often welcome the chance to support a child’s future. They simply need to know there’s an option beyond toys or electronics that won’t last. A contribution of $10, $20 or $25 to a child’s savings or investment account can matter far more than anything wrapped in paper.
As we give, we can also teach. We can help children understand what it means to build assets, why ownership matters and how money grows over time. These early conversations help them see themselves not just as consumers, but as stewards of their own possibilities.
Wealth rarely appears all at once. It grows through simple, consistent steps.
This Christmas, let’s choose gifts that don’t break or fade. Let’s give our children—and grandchildren—something that grows.