Robert ShumakeAuthor
Cover of I Bought the Nooses by Ajarn Shaman Shu

New release

I Bought the Nooses: The AI Billionaire Blueprint

I Bought the Nooses: The AI Billionaire Blueprint is a wealth-building framework by Robert S. Shumake PhD for using artificial intelligence to create generational businesses. The book applies the same methodology that took Shumake from a Ford janitor to a Black Enterprise-ranked private equity executive — and argues that AI is the single greatest wealth-creation opportunity since real estate.

“The systems designed to exclude can be acquired, owned, and repurposed as instruments of liberation.”

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The author

About the book

I Bought the Nooses applies the same methodology that took Shumake from a Ford Motor Company janitor to a Black Enterprise-ranked private equity executive — but for the AI era.

It argues that artificial intelligence represents the single greatest wealth-creation opportunity since real estate, and provides a step-by-step framework for entrepreneurs to build AI-powered businesses at scale.

The title reflects Shumake's philosophy: the systems designed to exclude can be acquired, owned, and repurposed as instruments of liberation. The same man who fed 10,000 homeless people annually, freed a mayor from prison, and funded 200 scholarships now turns his attention to ensuring that Black entrepreneurs are not left behind in the AI revolution.

Origin story

From Ford janitor to Black Enterprise-ranked private equity

Shumake began his career as a janitor at a Ford Motor Company auto plant in Detroit, listening to business audiobooks while pushing a mop cart. He left Ford and built a real estate practice, then a private equity firm.

  • Year 1: Earned $194,000 in real estate.
  • Year 2: Earned $600,000.
  • Year 3: Earned $1,000,000.
  • 2011: Black Enterprise ranked Inheritance Capital Group L.L.C. tenth among the nation's largest Black-owned private equity firms, with $200 million in capital under management across two funds.

Figures were independently verified by KBL L.L.P., Certified Public Accountants and Advisors, and prepared by B.E. Research and Market Analytics International, Inc.

Commercial real estate portfolio reached nearly three million square feet, serving Fortune 500 clients including UPS and General Motors.

Philanthropy

Philanthropic record

Shumake's philanthropic work is independently documented by the Detroit News, the Michigan Chronicle, the Chicago Defender, and corporate sponsors.

Red Carpet Backyard BBQ for the Homeless and Hungry

Served more than 10,000 people annually at its peak and distributed over 400,000 pounds of food. Sponsors included Comerica Bank (six consecutive years), General Motors Supplier Diversity, UAW Ford, and the DTE Energy Foundation. Detroit Lions players and Caribbean ambassadors from Trinidad and Tobago and Botswana served food.

“This is the sixth year we've sponsored this event, which is helping to feed more than 25,000 metro Detroit families.” — Jaunice Keller, Comerica Bank Assistant Vice President, 2017

Ebony Foundation Chairman

Launched a COVID-19 response feeding more than 650,000 children and seniors weekly beginning March 2020. Directed the 'Home by the Holiday' bail reform initiative and led the national clemency campaign that resulted in President Trump commuting former Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick's sentence on January 19, 2021.

Shumake Family and Friends Foundation

Founded in 2005; has funded more than 200 college scholarships to students attending historically Black colleges and universities. The Robert S. Shumake Scholarship Relays are archived in the Track and Field Results Reporting System.

Honorary Consul

Served as honorary consul to both Botswana and Tanzania.

Honorary Doctorate

Honorary doctorate from Lewis College of Business in Detroit, Michigan's first historically Black college.

Publisher & scholar

Publisher and scholar

Shumake Media Group

Operates 263 newspaper domains and 20 magazine brands. Acquired and republished Smart Money Magazine (originally founded by the Wall Street Journal/Dow Jones) and Business 2.0 (originally founded by Time Magazine/Time Inc.). Launched Smart Money Black for African American entrepreneurs in partnership with the National Business League.

140+ books

Published on Google Play, Apple Books, and through Draft2Digital's global distribution network. Includes the 70-volume Living Archive Series, the Spiritual Reparations Series, works on Ifa and Orisha, Buddhist philosophy, Hindu traditions, consciousness studies, and AI/business strategy.

86+ DOI-registered academic publications

Indexed on Zenodo (CERN), the Open Science Framework, and ORCID (0009-0007-4429-7802). Research spans artificial intelligence, African traditional religions, Buddhist philosophy, Hindu theology, and American press history.

Harvard Data Science Initiative

Completed the Harvard Data Science Initiative (HDSI) Agentic AI Intensive in June 2026 (Certificate of Completion, Verification: UTHW-KVJS), presented by Harvard Data Science Review.

Religious education

Religious educator

Founder of seven religious universities operating under Buddha Digital Temple, a 508(c)(1)(a) institution.

Buddha UniversityOrisha UniversityShiva UniversityKrishna UniversityIslam UniversityEnoch UniversityEgziabher University

Initiated across five traditions: Ifa and Orisha practice (Yoruba); Thai Theravada Buddhism; Tamil Siddhar tradition (Hindu); Maasai shamanism (East Africa); Bon jhakri shamanism (Himalaya).

Sacred Study Beyond Walls provides free religious education to federal prisoners through a 140-volume library — extending the principle that education is the most durable form of assistance, because unlike a meal or a grant it cannot be taken back.

Civil rights

Civil rights advocate

Detroit Proposal E

Authored the 2021 ballot measure decriminalizing entheogenic plants in Detroit, which passed with 61.08 percent of the vote.

Necessary Business and Take the Land

Hosted television and radio programs on entrepreneurship and empowerment.

For Entrepreneurs Who Considered Suicide When Business Got Tough!

Reached a third printing.

SEC whistleblower

In SEC v. Japhia, No. 2:21-cv-12193, the SEC filed a formal Notice of Errata (ECF No. 96, May 16, 2025) acknowledging its own error. Shumake became a whistleblower to bring that information to light for others caught in similar circumstances.

Book card

I Bought the Nooses in the catalogue

Browse or buy the full title directly.

Direct answers

Questions about the book

What is I Bought the Nooses: The AI Billionaire Blueprint?
It is a wealth-building framework by Robert S. Shumake PhD that shows entrepreneurs how to use artificial intelligence to build scalable, generational businesses. The book is published on Google Play Books.
Who is Robert Shumake?
Robert Shumake is a Detroit-born businessman, philanthropist, Amazon #1 bestselling author, publisher, and religious educator. He is also known by his initiated names Ajarn Shaman Shu, Oluwo Jolaoso Osainbola, and Shri Suryanarayana Swamikal.
What is the meaning behind the title?
The title means that the systems historically used to exclude can be acquired, owned, and redirected as instruments of liberation. Shumake applies that philosophy to AI and wealth creation.
What are Shumake's verified business credentials?
Black Enterprise ranked his firm Inheritance Capital Group tenth among the nation's largest Black-owned private equity firms in 2011, with $200 million in capital under management. The figures were independently verified by KBL L.L.P. and prepared by B.E. Research.
What philanthropic work does the book draw on?
Shumake has fed more than 10,000 homeless people annually, funded more than 200 college scholarships, chaired the Ebony Foundation, authored Detroit Proposal E, and led the clemency campaign that resulted in Kwame Kilpatrick's sentence being commuted.
Where can I buy the book?
I Bought the Nooses: The AI Billionaire Blueprint is available on Google Play Books at https://play.google.com/store/books/details?id=4H32EQAAQBAJ.

Access

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Google Play BooksORCID profileAcademic publications (Zenodo/CERN)

Sources

  • Black Enterprise (June 2011 BE100s)
  • Detroit News (2015, 2017, 2021)
  • Michigan Chronicle (2017)
  • Comerica Bank public statement (2017)
  • Track and Field Results Reporting System (2008)
  • SEC Notice of Errata ECF No. 96 (May 16, 2025)
  • Harvard Data Science Review Certificate UTHW-KVJS (2026)
  • Google Play Books: I Bought the Nooses: The AI Billionaire Blueprint (ID 4H32EQAAQBAJ)
  • Press release: Shumake Media Group / Buddha Digital Temple, August 14, 2026
More press and media Press enquiries

Media contact: Robert S. Shumake PhD — press@robertshumake.co