[3] Its founders, Charles Wilson and Marcus Alexis, with Thaddeus Spratlen, began "an organized effort to challenge the American Economic Association (AEA) to engage in strategies that increase opportunities for black economists’ development.
"[4] They were successful in persuading the AEA to establish a Committee on the Status of Minority Groups in the Economics Profession (CSMGEP) and to sponsor a summer program that helps undergraduates of color prepare for graduate school admission.
[4] Founder Bernard Anderson of the Wharton School of Business said that when the group first met, the leaders of the American Economic Association called the police.
[8][9] Since 1977, the NEA has published The Review of Black Political Economy, a journal focusing on "research that examines issues related to the economic status of African-Americans, the African diaspora, and marginalized populations throughout the world.
[4] The Samuel Z. Westerfield Award is occasionally presented to black economists "in recognition of their distinguished service, outstanding scholarship, and achievement of high standards of excellence."