prologue

   Suddenly, Herman stood up, grinning, “Hey, everybody! It’s official!”  His voice boomed throughout the large conference room. “The United States Senate has just voted and passed legislation to grant reparations to descendants of African slaves!” All members of the Beale Group jumped up and began hugging and congratulating each other.

The Beale Group, now a multi-billion-dollar company, successfully established the first lobby group for African-American Rights and provided maximum financial support to get the bill passed.

  Herman stared at the jovial men around the room. He looked up, pointed a finger toward heaven, and whispered, “I wish you guys were still here for this moment.” Four of the group’s original twenty members had passed on to be with the ancestors.

Over the years, the members of the secret investment organization communicated with each other using code names. Today, the group finally met for the first time since they began. They felt no need to keep their identities a secret any longer.

 “Yes, we did it!

” Mike pumped his fist into the air as he closed the right eye lens monitor on the wearable personal computer (WPC), his face breaking into a huge smile. “By only three votes, but we did it!”