Thread by @TracyJan

Racism don’t care if ur the nation’s wealthiest black person. At a NYC dinner w/senior Wall Street types, incl a high-level investment bank exec, Smith moved to pick up the check, but the senior banker stopped him. “I can’t have a black guy buy me dinner.” forbes.com/sites/nathanva…

He was also the 2nd largest private donor to @NMAAHC, after Oprah.
washingtonpost.com/national/who-i…

From WaPo 2016 profile of the low-profile billionaire: Even his company’s website does not have a picture of him. Better, he thought, that investors & execs know him 1st by his abilities. If they saw only the caramel skin o/an African American, he might lose out on opportunities.

Smith says he’s often reminded he is still a black man in this country. 3-7 times a year, he is stopped by police as he drives himself to the airport in Texas. The officers run his tags, check his license, tell him he’s speeding or changed lanes w/o signaling. Then send him off.

“You shouldn’t have to be fearful of your life,” he said. “You should be able to drive to the airport and not be stopped three to seven times a year.”

But Smith never worries about missing his flight. His private plane won’t leave without him.