680. Let me repeat that number SIX HUNDRED and EIGHTY and as you read keep that that number, 680 in your mind.

The numbers 6 8 0 stands out at a time when there are more black American’s on TV as the star of their own series shows such as the record breaking series Empire, with more black American’s getting cast in major movies such as Marvel’s franchise series, The Avengers and 2017’s Black Panther, more leading black American male actors such as Anthony Mackie, Chadwick Boseman, Michael B. Jordan and Kyle Jean-Baptiste.

When you have athlete’s such as Serena Williams being consistent not only her in tennis prows but her demeanor off the court, no scandal, not tabloids, and you have up business men and women like MC Hammer, who invests regularly in Silicone Valley start ups such as Square, you know the card reader, and the app Flipboard, which Twitter may acquire.

You have investment bankers such as James Reynolds, Jr. who is the CEO of Loop Capital, Francisco L. Borges Chairman and Managing Partner of Landmark Partners; think class A office space and other real estate, Tina B. Williams founder of FIS Group and who was a senior consultant at one point of the only full service minority pension fund.

And yes even a handful of reality TV stars such as Nene Leaks who propelled her life from a reality show into the acting career she desired and branded a few products along the way.  And a few others black female reality stars who followed her blueprint and also used the reality TV platform to launch successful businesses.

680 becomes even more significant because this cross section of black American’s are the image of the “American Dream,” something everyone wants and works to attain.  Every new immigrant to America wants to achieve that elusive unwritten promise of the American Dream; work hard, dedicated your self to your goal, get your education, be smarter than your counterpart, be business minded and you to will be pursing, obtaining and living the promise, and achieve the American Dream.

Some of the names are well known and some are only known to the business people they interact with or people who look up to them as leaders in their field.   The famous and no so famous are loved, adored and sought after by white America for their talents and abilities.

But at anytime on any given day in any given month; July 123, June 80, May 83, April 102, March 115, February 85 and January 92 = 680; they too could have been part of the 680 or could contribute to increasing 680 in the future.  The number 680 will grow, expand and exceed expectations.  The number 680 will reach new levels of tolerance, new levels of shock and awe.

No this list is not a list of lottery winners.  This is a list of black American’s who have died in 2015 by the hands of the police.  These were average black American men, women, and children who were perceived to be inferior and criminal all because of the color of their skin.

Oh and don’t think the rich, famous or affluent black Americans are immune.  In 2013, an actor, Robert Brown, who was shopping, for a graduation gift for his mother, was harassed and detained by Macy’s security guards and the NYPD.  Fortunately Brown did not get strangled to death like Frederick Finley did at Lord & Taylor’s, in Dearborn, MI.  No, Robert Brown was merely racial profiled and accused of shopping lifting and using fake credit cards.

Black America needs to learn from the Latinos who rapidly deployed and flexed their economic superpower instantly toward Donald Trump.  They took decisive action, aimed, fired and never looked back.

No more marching, no more candle light vigils, no more forgiveness and no continuing to accept and wait for America’s heart to grow. SIX HUNDRED and EIGHTY is the human sacrifice black America has paid in 2015. It’s time to stamp that note paid in full and start flexing.