American assembly and timeless design with a social mission at our heart and soul. We are proud to be a company that is helping our community achieve financial equity and generational wealth.
"Money is important to live, but the real currency of life is banked through meaningful work that contributes to the greater good."
Charles Hawkins
About our Founder
Charles Hawkins, Founder & CEO, Hawk & Sole LLC
The watchful eye and encouragement of my family and community instilled in me these values.
These principles are the blueprint for building the Hawk & Sole brand.
Discipline
Excellence
Leadership
Teamwork
Growing up on Chicago’s Southside and taking summer breaks in Georgia with my family framed my upbringing. I was born in Georgia and moved to Chicago when I was still a boy.
During summer breaks, my siblings and I would visit our grandparents in Georgia where we were spoiled — lavished with plenty of love and attention.
One of my fondest memories is spending time with my grandfather during those visits. He was a man of few words and a moral compass that always pointed true north.
Whether in Chicago or Georgia, my behavior and well-being seemed to garner the attention of every adult around me. It wasn’t unusual for an adult whom I didn’t know to chide me if I misbehaved or provide encouragement when I needed it.
I’m not sure I appreciated it at the time, but I benefited greatly from being part of two communities that looked out for and were invested in me.
The fact is, people in those communities understood that it was in the moral well-being of society that we all do well.
"It is more important what you do than what you say you’ll do; to live ethically and be true to one’s word, and to always be honest (because no lie can live forever). "
Words from my Grandfather
Inequity
In Exploring the black-white wealth gap, Kriston McIntosh, et al., discuss the “staggering racial disparities” that lie just below the wealth gap in America.
Opportunities for Black Americans to build wealth have historically been fewer.
The obstables include >>>
- Jim Crow
- New Jim Crow
- “Black Codes”
- Redlining
- Unfair housing and lending practices
- Subpar education
The Black-white wealth gap “reflects a society that has not and does not afford equality of opportunity to all its citizens.”
Wealth observes McIntosh, is a safeguard that helps protect against the short-term economic shocks of job loss or a healthcare crisis; it affords people the opportunity to take career risks knowing that they have a buffer when success is not immediately achieved.
Wealth affords people opportunities to be entrepreneurs and inventors. And the income from wealth is taxed at much lower rates than income.
The Solution >>>
Family wealth begets more wealth because it enables people – especially young people entering the workforce – access to housing in safe neighborhoods with good schools, thereby enhancing the prospects of their own children.
"When you do nothing, you feel overwhelmed and powerless. But when you get involved you feel the sense of hope and accomplishment that comes from knowing you are working to make things better."
Maya Angelou, Poet, memoirist, and activist
