OneUnited Bank Launches 'Who’s Your Ma Honey?' Podcast to Tackle Racial Wealth Gap Through Stories of Resilience

OneUnited Bank, the nation’s largest Black-owned bank, is expanding its mission to close the racial wealth gap by launching a groundbreaking podcast and video series titled 'Who’s Your Ma Honey?'. Premiering May 5, the 10-episode series aims to uncover hidden stories of shame and transform them into powerful narratives of resilience and success.

This initiative goes beyond traditional banking services, addressing the psychological barriers that prevent financial empowerment in Black communities. By spotlighting personal histories and cultural reckoning, OneUnited hopes to inspire a new path toward generational wealth and community growth.

A Bold New Approach to Closing the Racial Wealth Gap

For over five decades, OneUnited Bank has focused on more than just financial products—it has challenged systemic barriers that keep wealth out of reach for Black communities. As a Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI), the bank has financed nearly $1 billion in loans, primarily in underserved neighborhoods like South Central, Compton, Liberty City, and Roxbury.

The 'Who’s Your Ma Honey?' series extends this mission by tackling the internalized shame that often blocks personal and financial growth. The bank emphasizes that addressing these psychological hurdles is essential to empowering individuals before they even step into a bank.

The Story Behind the Series: Ma Honey’s Legacy

Co-hosted by OneUnited’s President and COO Teri Williams and marketing expert Suzan McDowell, the show draws inspiration from Williams’ own family history. Williams shares the story of her great-grandmother, Annie Coachman—known as Ma Honey—who was a pioneering Black entrepreneur in the segregated South, owning multiple businesses long before such opportunities were widely available to Black women.

Williams’ revelation about Ma Honey sparked a powerful response, inspiring others to reflect on their own hidden stories of strength. This personal connection became the foundation for the series, inviting guests to confront shame and reclaim their narratives.

Powerful Voices Join the Conversation

Season One features a compelling lineup of guests including Sybrina Fulton, mother of Trayvon Martin; Marc Morial, President of the National Urban League; Congresswoman Frederica Wilson; Miami-Dade Mayor Daniella Levine Cava; Sheena Meade, CEO of The Clean Slate Initiative; and Felicia Hatcher, CEO of Pharrell Williams’ Black Ambition Prize.

"Shame can completely derail people from achieving financial success. It can stop them from asking questions or reduce their expectations of what they can accomplish. I hope we can make the feeling of shame taboo.",—Teri Williams, OneUnited Bank President and COO

Looking Ahead: Transforming Shame Into Strength

OneUnited Bank’s new series is a bold bet that financial literacy alone isn’t enough to build generational wealth. By confronting the shame embedded in personal and cultural histories, the bank aims to unlock a deeper level of empowerment and community development.

The legacy of Ma Honey—a Black woman who built business equity during Jim Crow—serves as a blueprint for this mission. Through 'Who’s Your Ma Honey?', OneUnited invites descendants and communities to remember, reclaim, and rise.