Posted on 07/17/2009 7:46:19 PM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet
In 1960, Ezell Blair Jr., Franklin McCain, Joseph McNeil, and David Richmond walked into a Woolworth's store and sat at the lunch counter. With money in hand, ready to do business, they ordered coffee. They were refused service. These young men refused to be refused. Because of their efforts and the efforts of countless others, African Americans are free to do business where ever they please in America. These young men fought the fight of that day. Today is a new day...and a different struggle.
Last year, African Americans spent approximately $600 billion in goods and services in the United States. What if 55% to 65% of that money was spent in African American owned businesses? What would that do for the Black economy? What would our streets and neighborhoods look like? How would that change the scope and perception of our "Martin Luther King Avenues?"
Research studies have shown that when we travel, we spend somewhere in the neighborhood of $700 per trip. Imagine being able to leave more than half of that $700 with African American owned businesses in that city. What would that do for their community?
The "Spoils" of the Civil Rights Victory of 1964
This isn't a sweeping indictment of any group of people. However, we do have a challenge and the opportunity for a solution exists.
Prior to and during 1964, we had African Americans who were active in the civil rights campaign. We had a group who nonviolently boycotted and marched for freedom. We also had a group who fought for our freedom by any means they thought necessary. Yet there were others who sat on the sidelines, in the safety of their homes and jobs, and simply watched.
When the Civil Rights Act was passed, some of our misguided activists and most of those who sat on the sidelines proceeded to take the spoils. The "spoils" being, among other things, the right to go into a department store and "try on" a suit before buying it. Another spoil would be the right to walk through the front door of any establishment serving the public and do business. As we learned when the Israelites sacked Jericho; not all spoils should be taken back to the camp! As a result, a mass exodus began in the black business district in the mid to late sixties.
A couple of things occurred as a result of this mass exodus from the black business community. The one's who left gave the impression that the grass was indeed greener on the other side. They claimed the stores were cleaner, there was more selection, and prices were better than in the black businesses. As the allegations grew, a dislike for black business also grew. Suddenly the black businesses were viewed as "trying to do business" and not really as accomplished business men and women. Black business folk in return, developed a hatred for the black consumer. The Black consumers' treacherous acts were neither forgiven nor forgotten. Worst of all, both sides taught their virulent and insensitive views to their children. Today, we see some of those children [now empty nesters] as consumers, still skeptically thumbing through the various Black business directories, and as business owners, refusing to specifically market to Black consumers. All of them loving the concept of community empowerment through economics, but never trusting anyone enough to ever achieve it.
Now that this particular problem has been stated, what will YOU do to solve it? What will YOU teach your children through your actions? Will you remove the "spoils" from the camp so that the community will be blessed?
wonder why so many Jews are in Howood?.....many untalented or special in any way other than they're related to someone?...
look at the string of small hotels and motels and gas stations owned by Indians/Pakistanis/etc....they didn't buy those businesses in a vaccuum....they interconnect and relate to their ethnic cousins thru some kind of grapevine....that's what I think......
to be honest, I do business where I want to...I would not go to an inner city hotel or restaurant ( whether white or black owned) being a white person because I think its unsafe....
I would think most smart black people visiting other cities would go for the safest environment...and I think they do.....
racism is alive and well in America....we might as well all acknowledge it.....
YOU are absolutely correct- The promoters of BLACK SHOP ONLY are the racsits
It is a cryin’ shame that a business owner has to have a color.
Why is this?
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