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A friend of mine sent me a video that REALLY had me thinking. This video right here...
I wonder what would happen if African-Americans only dined in restaurants owned by Black management. If they wore clothing made only by Black designers and only watched television shows written and produced by Black writers and producers.
As of 2004, African-Americans have had $723 billion in spending power (according to bnet.com|CBS Interactive). So, something like this would have a staggering impact on the American society ...but will it be a positive one?
Would it be fair for African-American consumers to pre-emptively select where and what to consume based on the producer's race? Is this a way to reinforce the infrastructure of the Black community? Or is this blatant discrimination?
Either way, I think I want to try this. It does seem like one of those things that you end up telling a co-worker about. That co-worker tells her cousin. Before you know it, everybody is trying to get in on the action.
Hmm... this certainly would be interesting to see.
11 OF YOUR THOUGHTS PRESSED:
Yeah it's interesting...I think if someone made a nationwide database of that info so people could choose..it'd be worth trying to see what would happen.
i would consider going all-black but since black people dont own melting pot (my favorite restaurant) bebe (my favorite clothing store) or write/produce the office (my favorite tv show) im gonna need for them to step their game up first. no, seriously, even then i wouldnt go all black. im a firm believe in who cares
lmao and thanks for the blog shoutout i added you to my blogroll which i had been meaning to do anyway but i kept forgetting because quite honestly i have a hard time even remembering to blog these days
It would be interesting to see. But like someone else mentioned, there isnt alot of black owned anything these days. My favorite soul food place WAS black owned but they sold it to the china man. Black owned labels place laughable prices on their lines that look a mess, I cant support there. As far as TV, I watch alot of Tyler Perry...is that sufficient??
Warm welcomes to NightFall914, Cecelia, and Miss Karley.
Yeah, I did some research on this and there's this idea circulating about a badge or a sticker that Black business owners could place on their windows ...to indicate that it's a business managed by an African-American.
A database would be very interesting to look at --at the very least. There has to be something like that already out there. Hmm... [@ NightFall914]
That's a very good point. You know, in order for something like this to work... there has to be a VERY rich diversity of product out there. Also, it has to be economical. We're still in a recession, right?
And yeah, I saw your shoutout... very much appreciated. Especially since you REALLY didn't have to do that.
--See, I knew you had a "soft side" to you. [@ Cecelia]
Well there are plenty of Black owned businesses, but... the problem lies in convenience (not having a Black business near you) and simply not knowing WHERE the Black businesses are. You kind of have to "discover" them.
Haha, yes... you could watch Tyler Perry and know that you're giving back! Guilt-free television at it's finest. [@ Miss Karley]
ha! soft. i havent been called that since i was born.
and i was also thinking about this whole blacks buying black thing..i've actually decided its an absolutely terrible idea because what would happen if whites only buy white and chinese only buy chinese? if the world operated that way, i can assure you black people would NOT come out on top.
Interesting...
We are the biggest consumers, aren't we? How unfortunate that we live this way. I too would accept the challenge if there was more there to step to. From what I see, we spend so much our hard-earned money in 'other' businesses, that we don't take the time to initiate our own.
I was just thinking the other day about how some families have high-profile people, or just people-in-high-places, on retainer...a simple phone call away, but that exists not within our communities.
This could be a movement. I see potential. I will do my part and spread the word and see what the trickle down effect does...
Insightful and the supporting documentation to back it up...impressive.
Take care,
Good afternoon, K. Michel:
So, I think this would be a brilliant idea so that we could get to a place where we are coming into wealth and not simple riches. I think we could build our communities and our people if we took on this challenge. We could begin to see ourselves as corporations versus career consumers.
However, TRUST must be built first. Let me share a story...
My sister wrote a book about a year ago and wanted to self-publish. She wanted to give her business to solely "Black-owned" so we went to the Black Expo in our town. We managed to find a reputable, local publishing company. Condensing the story a bit, fast forward a few months and we attend a conference where we'd each purchased booths - me for my web mag, her to promote her book. No lie, she had 20 mothers approach her talking about how "wonderful" her book was. Problem was, she hadn't sold any of them to these people. All her sales had come from personal appearances, thus far. When she asked where they got the book from, the publisher's name came up. S**t hit the roof! Result: She just won a lawsuit that didn't ever have to occur. My sister's feelings now is that she will NOT take her business to black business owners anymore b/c not only had she experienced deceit firsthand, she'd been pre-warned from others who felt they'd been dogged by black business.
Way too long, so I'm going to end here. I do think it would be a nice movement to get going though and would, myself, support it.
Til next time,
Traci
Welcome back to Cecelia, I knew you couldn't stay away ...and very lovely evenings to both Passion's Daughter and Traci Lavette.
Hmm... what WOULD happen if Whites only bought White? Chinese bought only Chinese?
I think it would force each race to reinforce their own communities and really discipline those in their own race, not out of civic duty... but to simply survive. Racial tension would just about snap because there'd be SO much emphasis on racial pride, almost like a game of comeuppance.
All in all, I don't think it'd be an ideal situation. However, you do have Jews who ONLY shop at Kosher delis ran by Jewish people. So it does happen here and there. [@ Cecelia]
I believe this is your first time here (if I'm not mistaken), Miss Passion... welcome, welcome, welcome.
You brought up the idea of networking, and this really IS something that puts the majority of African-Americans at a disadvantage. Because outside of college fraternaties and sororities, we don't know anybody.
We don't know anybody from jump street, because the people who actually own things aren't usually in our immediate family. As opposed to some kid in the Hamptons who happens to be a legacy to Yale (via his parents).
So this could add more jobs to the Black community which would have trickle down effects of all kinds.
--And thank you for that "impressive" comment. That made me feel really good about myself. Haha, that sounds funny for some reason. [@ Passion's Daughter]
Hey Traci! It's ALWAYS nice to see you.
That is SUCH an unfortunate story you told. Not necessarily for your sister, because she got hers in the end... but she did have her heart SET OUT on giving back and they tried to take advantage of it.
This is the kind of behavior that is tearing us apart. It comes down to trust (as you said). [@ Traci Lavette]
@ cecilia you made a good point but what you fail to realize is that is already happening. plenty of whites by from white, chinese basically by from their own and so does the jews. the only group of people who are not doing the same are blacks and more specifically african americans. we rather support other businesses and not our own. i think this will be great and i myself will try it. anyway i can pump money back into my own community i will. we need to build or businesses and our communities, if not for ourselves for our kids and their generations because soon they will have nothing for themselves, nothing to fall back on.
oh and k. michel keep up the good work i always enjoy your blog... always keep me thinking. <3
Warm welcomes to xxxx. Hey babe.
Someone mentioned Black Wall Street on my Facebook page and I couldn't believe I didn't bring it up. There was a time in this country's history where African-Americans brought their money to ONLY Black businesses ...and it worked quite well for the short while that it was established.
So this has happened before, and successfully so.
However, there was corruption in the form of "running numbers" by a select few (which wasn't exclusive to the Black communities at the time) ...and of course interference from those who didn't like Blacks much at the time. But the fact that it has worked BEFORE shows us that it is possible and can be done again if it's what we want.
--And thank you! I always enjoy your company... and I'll have to check you out in a bit. [@ xxxx]
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