The Hip-Hop Summit Action Network did their part to stress financial responsibility in the Greensboro community.

From current stars in hip-hop and TV, to legends in the industry, political figures and financial experts, The Hip-Hop Summit Action Network covered all bases, but was the message received?

Ignoring the obvious blasphemy that was rapper Jim Jones receiving a larger ovationthan millionaire mogul Russell Simmons who created the Hip-Hop Summit Action Networkand organized the free event, many of the very people this event was designed for showed up ready for a concert and not to receive knowledge. But then again, I guess it’s hard to take financial advice from a guy who tosses dollars and pushes $400,000 vehicles in videos.

Throughout the summit, displeased individuals got up and left Corbett Sports Center, throwing their free “Get Your Money Right” books and materials under the bleachers and calling the whole day a bust because Jim Jones didn’t scream “Ballin!” All this was just fuel for the conscious crowd to their turn their noses up to their own people, labeling them ignorant for not seeing the opportunity this event offered, but before I bash those people, I’ll make this plea.

It may not matter now, it may not matter five or 10 years from now but getting ontop of your finances is the only way to succeed in America.

Young people, especially in the black community, have a diluted vision of what wealth actually is.

Wealth isn’t measured in material things at all, it’s measured in things like your assets and net worth and when they see their favorite rapper today, broke and doing reality shows in 20 years maybe then they’ll get it.

Maybe then they’ll remember this summit, go pick up a book and look up the nuts and bolts of managing their personal finances hopefully before they have been sucked in by the credit cards with low APR, missed rent for an outfit and are in debt up to their neck.

I won’t condemn the people who left for being upset that their favorite rapper was talking finance instead of performing their latest single because the media and other people who covered this event weren’t worried about financial empowerment,theyjust wanted a drop for their show, a chance to pass on a DVD or business card to a “celebrity” who would probably toss it on the ground three steps later.

I had to convince smart and talented individuals that they should probably talk to the Chrysler Financial representativesbecause the event was about money and who would know better than them, but in the midst of a red carpet, I’m sure that sound bites from a person who hadn’t had hit since ’02 is way more entertaining than a guy who could probably buy their ass.

The media did a disservice to everyone who will see footage from this event by not asking these people, whose sole purpose was to put a name and face along with financial empowerment, serious questions about finances that we all knew wouldn’t be touched on inside.

As a member of the media, I’ll apologize for that (even though my line of questioning dealt exclusively with financeexcept for Anthony Hamilton, who’s from my hometown). But we wasted an opportunity to get one-on-one insight on financial issues from the horses mouth.

As strange as it sounds, money has never been a major priority of mine. I see people all the time who are majoring in somethingthey hate just because they can make $70,000 right out of college. No amount of money in the world can make you love something (unless you’re a groupie marrying a professional athlete). You should do something that you are passionate about, (unless you’re passionate about marijuana or cocaine, let’s keep it legal), somethingthat, in theory, you would do for free just because you enjoy it and something that keeps your interest.

For me, that is journalism and I don’t worry about the money because when I do get my money right, you can’t tell me nothing! Ballin’ is all well and good but driving home in a Mercedes-Benz from a job you hate will take it’s to toll on your health and quality of life. And what’s worse than a rich, unhappy person.

I just hope they get the message.

• Mike McCray