Black Wallstreet Part II

The margins of capitalism berthed racism. Hatred for non-whites was provoked by the need to subjugate labor out of a people considered inferior. After centuries of this exploitation, the American economy was created. Subsequently, a class hierarchy based on ethnic groupings would become the basic foundation for that economy and mature into modern day racism.

It becomes evident that race and the economic construction are interwoven. What I will attempt to do is show how Blacks should separate their cultural identity from mainstream economic principles, values, and beliefs to become independent from White control. The economic system which Blacks have readily embraced since being freed from slavery has done nothing but help to enslave in another manner.

It is in the nature of African Americans to work collectively; an age-old tradition of building a village that is self-sufficient by reinvesting in your neighborhoods and communities so they flourish instead of border on extinction (Oglesby, 42). Through white supremacy, individualism has consumed the natural inclination in our community to share amongst one another and we no longer seek each others’ business. We have allowed for slavery, capitalism, Willie Lynch, Jim Crow, and American racism to overshadow our cultural bond. The bond allowing us the ability to spend our dollars where we live and work.

I-Reasons Black Economy Suffers

White Product/ Service Dependence

African-Americans have “earned” their rights to be considered American citizens and have progressed through struggle. They no longer are considered by majorities as being inferior beings but are now given slightly more consideration in regards to civil equality.

Blacks have positioned themselves in America to play the child scripted in a movie who is grown but too afraid to seek independence from their parents. White culture has raised us through Europeanization. Whereas we once were considered heathens and uncivilized sub-humans, we are now viewed for the most part as equals. With the training Blacks have received over the past 100 years (period when we could somewhat freely pursue education), the community has developed a unique dependence on Whites. Chris Rock describes it in his stand up comedy show Never Scared:

“America is like an Uncle who pair your way through college, but molested you”

The greatest gift in history to African-Americans was Civil Rights. Since receiving those Civil Rights, Blacks have become content with their status in America. It can be argued that in this postmodern society, the community does not seek civil change with the same vivacity it once did due to a sense of “arrival.”¹ Fighting racism in the 21^st century has been reduced to tactical compromises. No more attempts at reform through the militant or revolutionary methods of the 50s, 60s, and 70s. Blacks have become content with the status quo. Because of the content, they don’t seek independence. Over the past 30 years a strong dependence of White products and services has formed. Blacks consume the most in this country while producing the least. African-Americans willingly shop for products and services which are manufactured by another race, they allow for their kids to get educated by a system created by another race, and give political representation to individuals from another race.

“It is through the institution of a race that the civilization and culture of the race are built.”

-Garvey

Desegregation/ Integration At The Root

Desegregation and rapid increase of public state-owned, 2-year institutes during the 70’s are the leading factors to the decline of support for Black schools. The educative reform which took place after the civil war and before 1910, was successful due to the surge of Black intellectual talent choosing education from their own culture over other peoples’. What majority schools would not allow Blacks to gain from their institutions, was gained from HBCUs. Somewhere down the proverbial progression line, though, Blacks lost the desire to send their children to rich institutes of color that had taught (not trained) them. As White schools desegregated and allowed Blacks the opportunity to attend, the same Howard and Fisk alumni would then encourage their children to get their degree from schools like Harvard and University of Pennsylvania. Once access was granted to something which was barred from reach in the past, Blacks thought very little about the consequences of their actions. They took up the money that had been circulating in the HBCU circle and diverted it into another community. Was that not the purpose of desegregation, to expand target markets thus increasing profits and revenues across industries? Why then, has the Black community not attempted to mimic that strategy for our benefit? Would we rather watch as our community collapses while subsequently helping build up another? It doesn’t make ethnic, cultural, cultivating, economical sense that something so blatant would be allowed!

II-Benefits of Black Capitalism

Economic Freedom As A Means Of Political Freedom

Economic freedom makes way for political freedom and true democracy. Establishing an independent commercial and industrial enterprise would not only benefit the well-being of financial stability, but would also influence political representation. Politics in America have everything to do with economic wealth. Minority groups are disproportionately represented in politics because we lack the money to influence representation. With the Black community gaining economic independence they become free to make decisions regarding representation in politics. Imagine the advantages that could have on social issues concerning the Black community?

Revitalizing The Neighborhooods

Ghettos were created by the Germans during the Holocaust. Ghettos are the inner city area designated to confine the Jews before execution. The power measures taken by the Germans to assume total control over the Jews were skillfully executed. By relegating Jews to confinement in the most underdeveloped part of the town, they had control over physical and emotional comfort. The Germans made sure that the ghettos were overpopulated, without adequate food and water, and underdeveloped and unkempt. The same attributes signature to the Jew ghettos is evident in African-American populated ghettos in America. By being in these confined inner-city sites, control over freedom entitlement can be controlled just as easily as flipping a light switch. Everything that happens in the ghetto can be monitored and controlled from a distance by adding and subtracting necessities, threats, and decoys. What happens oftentimes in the ghetto has a lot to do with external forces. The place in which Blacks have come to identify as home, really serves as a means of confinement and control from Whites.

Blacks have not embraced this fact and attempted to improve the community they consider home; instead, individuals come up with a little money and move out to Whiter neighborhoods. Investing money into our community is what is needed in these instances. Onyeani states, “We continue to chase after “other” good neighborhoods when we could make our own neighborhoods better and increase our property values and in the process increase our equity in the home-which translates into more money from our investment.” When the dollar changes hands within a community, more wealth is established. Chinese, Indians, and Jews understand this logic and use it in their communities in America. Gaining independence is gaining control. African-Americans should use their economic worth to control what comes in and out of the communities in which they live. Producing and consuming amongst a particular group will only serve to benefit the community. Blacks must consider their communities little countries and attempt to export goods more than they import them. By doing this, Blacks will create the power to raise taxes on the goods that come into the community and sell their goods to others for exorbitant costs. The money gained by doing this should be pumped back into the community producing. Black America could live better as a whole with more investment into community through economic freedom.

Improving Our Education

Black America cannot complain about an education system that was not created to educate us in the first place. Economic freedom would allow for African-Americans to choose African private schools for their children. Government funded schools teach what they want to be taught while private K-12^th grade schools serve a higher purpose. They can develop children at faster rates than public schools, introduce topics never discussed in public schools, and ultimately give young Black children confidence and self awareness that they wouldn’t get from public schools.

Dependence from a government provided education leads to disaster. Knowledge of self and the past is the key to the future. When you allow for someone else to teach you everything, you can’t expect for them to teach you everything which may benefit you. Just as other groups have found it beneficial to teach their kids about ethnic/cultural history of self and how to become better representations of ancestry, Blacks need to do the same. Contributions from the community can work towards improving the African private school sector.

Black Wealth As The Next Reform Movement

Black reform has taken place in segments. We have seen Black Revolution which was categorized by radical transformation of means of production and political apparatus. This period was an effort that took place during the 1800s to the early 20^th century. Militant and Gradual Reform were the Blacks’ form of resistance during the period in history deemed as the Civil Rights Movement. Prolific figures like Martin Luther King, Jr. and Malcolm X were leaders of these developments. During this period, progressive transferal of power to the oppressed without a seizure of state power took place. It was a slow and steady attempt at creating change to existing systems and proved successful. The next reform movement in the Black community was Accommodation and Conservatism. This restructuring saw tactical compromises, conciliatory rhetoric, and covert activities against racism in the 1980s and 1990s. It was also during this time frame that Blacks developed content for status quo. There hasn’t been a forceful push to improve the quality of living for the Black community since the Militant and Gradual Reform movements of the 50s, 60s, and 70s. Black economic independence could serve as the next reform movement. Gaining economic freedom from the dependence of White products and services would have the makings of the next freedom movement.⁴

III-Solutions

There are ways in which Black economic power can be developed within the next 5 years. The Black community must lose its integration mind set and become Pro-Black. A concern for the survival of the Black community must take root.

Four steps will assist in creating Black Capitalism: 1) Word of mouth (an old African tradition) 2) Learn each others trades and skills-local action 3) History lessons on Black Wallstreet and areas where a lot of Blacks populate (Birmingham, Prince George County, New Orleans, Cincinnati, Atlanta, Little Rock, Jacksonville, etc.) 4) Change the function of HBCUs to produce entrepreneurs and Black business professionals.

The last step is especially worth noting. HBCUs produce nearly 60% of all Black college graduates in the country. What the HBCUs do though, is teach them how to get a job from large corporations and majority companies. There are thousands of African American industrial/service companies in America and their growth over the past thirty years has mirrored Black colleges. The top 100 Black-owned businesses in the country collectively grossed more than $27 billion in sales. This is where HBCUs should focus on gaining corporate sponsorship. The potential for creating an all Black corporate network is something that could help increase African-American wealth. As an HBCU this should be a major goal.

References:

Garvey, Marcus. “Message to the People: The Course of African Philosophy”, Lesson 12 and Lesson 18. The New Marcus Garvey Library, No. 7. 1986 by Charles L. James Preface Copyright.

Oglesby, Thomes K. “What Black Men Should Do Now: 100 Simple Truths, Ideas, and Concepts”, p. 41-43 and Copyright by K. Thomas Oglesby 2000.

Graham, Lawrence. “Member of The Club”, chapter entitled The Shame of the Black Middle Class. Copyright 1995 by Lawrence Otis Graham.

Marable, Manning. “How Capitalism Underdeveloped Black America: A Critical Reassessment”, Copyright 1983 and 2000 by Manning Marble.

Onyeani, Chika. “Capitalist Nigger”, chapter entitled Degeneration of Black Communities and Black Dependency. Copyright in 2000 by Chika Onyeani.

what if

what if light were dark. trees were water. or i didnt love you. i dont recall this many wrinkles on my hands. you kept me young. vision is blurry, windshield wipers not working. who? trust doesnt exist. i dont believe in santa clause. try the next sucker, love drunk. doomed fool.

the room is dark. emptiness is breathing. shadows have retreated. damn shadows. good for nothing. do i exist? why doesnt god love me? is it cause he lost my shadow?

the chandelier is out of place amongst the abyss. the black. the black. i cant see my skin. or is it the other way around? what if, my skin cant find me? retreating self. lost in the emptiness.

Actor's Guild

Inside the Actor's Studio is a show popularized for its interviews with the film industry's brightest actors, screenwriters, and directors. What makes the show so good is that its filmed in front of a live audience and isn't set up in a traditional interview fashion. The questions are personalized and personal making it easier for guests to disclose a bit more of their personalities for the world than we normally see. James Lipton, the host, ends each interview by asking the same 10 questions:

1. What is your favorite word?
2. What is your least favorite word?
3. What turns you on?
4. What turns you off?
5. What sound or noise do you love?
6. What sound or noise do you hate?
7. What is your favorite curse word?
8. What profession other than your own would you like to attempt?
9. What profession would you not like to do?
10. If Heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the Pearly Gates?

The questions are enthralling, thought provoking, and dispense an innocent tone worthy of honesty. I get it. I see why the answers to these questions are revered and admired so. There are no right or wrong answers, just truth as we each see it.

Man vs. Food/ Morgan vs. Weiner

Well fist of all, let me start by commending myself at attempting to resurrect this blog. In a coma for the past four years, I now want to remember what it's like to be opinionated. I'll have to sell myself on the possibility I have thought provoking material to write about again.

So let's talk about Weiner (to my amusement, pronounced Weener like the slang for penis). The undistinguished politician who gets caught with his pants down. Faces scrutiny by both parties and is repeatedly asked to step down from his position. Making a ballsy move , the man apologises publicly (protocol) and even made an apology to his wife and constituants. Phew! Now with that out the way....Weiner stands firm (lol) and declares that he will not resign from the House. He has every intention to stay and continue to do his job. Refusing to bow out early. I like it!

Same newspaper, different section....we now have a comedian in hot water for his poor choice of words during a recent stand up act. Tracy Morgan has been in trouble before but this time we find him stepping in the arena of gay bashing. Not the best way to gain attention by the media these days but he's making headlines nonetheless. He must have a movie about to come out. Again, protocol after being admonished in public light is to apologize. He did so. Aaannnddd that's it. Everything is ok now.

If you look at these two isolated (and unfortunate) situations we can find some similarities. At the end of the day these two men are stuck on opposite sides of the same boat. Male chauvinism at its best. On one end you have your black guy (who doesn't have a staggering amount of followers on Twitter) bashing the newest member of the disenfranchised groups. He made a very strong appeal at being funny and failed horribly by offending a whole slew of people-even the Weiner skeptics. On the other end of the boat we see an adulterous politician (who also lacks the Twittering following of a righteous individual like Lady Gaga as well). How did they go from Barak 2008 to Barak 2011 so fast? The societal macho man must do two things at all times. Affirm their sexual prowess by converging as many females as possible to meet behind closed doors and also, maintain a masculine image by using homophobic tirades. The tirades are good for show and they make sure there is no question surrounding sexual preference or testosterone levels. Man whores like Weiner are created out of the same oven. If you don't have mistresses then what kind of "man" are you? Two social outcasts now sitting in detention together. A homophob black man (befitting label, no surprise) and a lying politician (befitting label, no surprise). Wouldn't it be something if it came out that both of them were gay? While that might debacle the man code, it might be worth a shot to gain everyones forgiveness at being male.

Video Games To Blame...Pshh, My A%*!

Video Games
What’s a little violence really going to do? Mortal Kombat kills, Grand Theft Auto kills and robs, and even Mario kills. The games are fictional. The video game industry has placed censorship on its games for a reason. The fact that people blame video games for the increase in violence levels found in children has everything to do with parenting. I believe video games are the scapegoat to bad parenting. “Oh, my son just killed ten people!! It must have been the video games that taught him that because I certainly didn’t.” I didn’t know what Mortal Kombat was till I was in High School. Not because I hadn’t heard of it, not because my friends didn’t play it when we were younger, but because my mother refused to let me play the game in her household when I was younger. Parents ultimately decide what their child will be exposed to and should be held responsible for allowing children access to things they shouldn’t. There are game ratings very similar to movie ratings. If you wouldn’t let your child go and see the R-rated horror movie then you shouldn’t allow them to play the M-rated video game with guts and killing and robbing.

Video games can’t be the reason for high aggression in children. That existed before video games started their violent themes.

Black Capitalism

The only problem I have with Black consumption in America is the fact that we don’t support our own communities! It becomes evident that race and the economic construction are interwoven. What I will attempt to do is show how Blacks should separate their cultural identity from mainstream economic principles, values, and beliefs to become independent from White control. The economic system which Blacks have readily embraced since being freed from slavery has done nothing but help to enslave in another manner.
It is in the nature of African Americans to work collectively; an age-old tradition of building a village that is self-sufficient by reinvesting in your neighborhoods and communities so they flourish instead of border on extinction (James Oglesby). Through white supremacy, individualism has consumed the natural inclination in our community to share amongst one another and we no longer seek each others’ business. We have allowed for slavery, capitalism, Willie Lynch, Jim Crow, and American racism to overshadow our cultural bond. The bond allowing us the ability to spend our dollars where we live and work. . Over the past 30 years a strong dependence of White products and services has formed. Blacks consume the most in this country while producing the least. African-Americans willingly shop for products and services which are manufactured by another race, they allow for other systems like education and politics to be controlled by other races.
I believe the goal of integration was an economical move by the Whites. They were able to expand target markets thus increasing profits and revenues across industries. Why then, has the Black community not attempted to mimic that strategy for our benefit? Would we rather watch as our community collapses while subsequently helping build up another? It doesn’t make ethnic, cultural, cultivating, economical sense that something so blatant would be allowed!
Ghettos were created by the Germans during the Holocaust. Ghettos are the inner city area designated to confine the Jews before execution. The power measures taken by the Germans to assume total control over the Jews were skillfully executed. By relegating Jews to confinement in the most underdeveloped part of the town, they had control over physical and emotional comfort. The Germans made sure that the ghettos were overpopulated, without adequate food and water, and underdeveloped and unkempt. The same attributes signature to the Jew ghettos is evident in African-American populated ghettos in America. By being in these confined inner-city sites, control over freedom entitlement can be controlled just as easily as flipping a light switch. Everything that happens in the ghetto can be monitored and controlled from a distance by adding and subtracting necessities, threats, and decoys. What happens oftentimes in the ghetto has a lot to do with external forces. The place in which Blacks have come to identify as home, really serves as a means of confinement and control from Whites.
Blacks have not embraced this fact and attempted to improve the community they consider home; instead, individuals come up with a little money and move out to Whiter neighborhoods. Investing money into our community is what is needed in these instances. Onyeani states, “We continue to chase after “other” good neighborhoods when we could make our own neighborhoods better and increase our property values and in the process increase our equity in the home-which translates into more money from our investment.” When the dollar changes hands within a community, more wealth is established. Chinese, Indians, and Jews understand this logic and use it in their communities in America. Gaining independence is gaining control. African-Americans should use their economic worth to control what comes in and out of the communities in which they live. Producing and consuming amongst a particular group will only serve to benefit the community. Blacks must consider their communities little countries and attempt to export goods more than they import them. By doing this, Blacks will create the power to raise taxes on the goods that come into the community and sell their goods to others for exorbitant costs. The money gained by doing this should be pumped back into the community producing. Black America could live better as a whole with more investment into community through economic freedom.
There are ways in which Black economic power can be developed within the next 5 years. The Black community must lose its integration mind set and become Pro-Black. A concern for the survival of the Black community must take root.
Four steps will assist in creating Black Capitalism: 1) Word of mouth (an old African tradition) 2) Learn each others trades and skills-local action 3) History lessons on Black Wallstreet and areas where a lot of Blacks populate (Birmingham, Prince George County, New Orleans, Cincinnati, Atlanta, Little Rock, Jacksonville, etc.) 4) Change the function of HBCUs to produce entrepreneurs and Black business professionals.
The last step is especially worth noting. HBCUs produce nearly 60% of all Black college graduates in the country. What the HBCUs do though, is teach them how to get a job from large corporations and majority companies. There are thousands of African American industrial/service companies in America and their growth over the past thirty years has mirrored Black colleges. The top 100 Black-owned businesses in the country collectively grossed more than $27 billion in sales. This is where HBCUs should focus on gaining corporate sponsorship. The potential for creating an all Black corporate network is something that could help increase African-American wealth. As an HBCU this should be a major goal.

My Boooddy

I like the sexy girls on the cover of magazines. That appeals to me. I can’t say that I have a preference as to what body shape “does it for me” but I think I do prefer proportioned figures. Magazines and movies make sure that their models and actresses represent that by making alterations whenever necessary to body images. I believe this influences people sub-consciously and consciously. Is this a bad thing though? This is something that takes place globally and isn’t unique to American culture. I feel like the obsession with body image is something that is driven by economic principle s. Companies advertise their products and services to people using people. The individuals who promote those products and services must look the part: Beautiful, perfect, sexy, appealing. Americans obsessed with body image and changing their image to mirror someone else can be a good thing. It could promote healthier living to the obese, could promote wearing better clothes for the fashionably handicapped, and it could even help not-so-pretty people make a turn around in their appearance.

The psychological repercussions of this on impressionable minds should be taken into consideration about 3% of the time when deciding which body image should represent a particular thing. While body image representation effects race, gender, depression, and so on, the way that we go about living our individual lives is what is most important. There is no set standard for happiness and if body image representations can make majority of people happy without causing them psychological problems, then the small percentage that do go crazy should be banned from looking at magazines and movies anything else with somebody else’s body image on it.