In light of the myriad problems facing the Black community, both here in America and throughout the African diaspora, it is time for Black people to think in terms of economic development and self-determination. A form of predatory economics is destroying Black people, and we must begin to pursue cooperative economics in which we control our communities if we are to succeed, says Us Lifting Us Economic Cooperative, LLC, or ULU. An economic empowerment group based in Atlanta, ULU concludes that Black America has few options but to take control of its economic destiny.
“In spite of having an African-American President (the most powerful political office in the world) and nearly 10,000 Black Elected Officials across the U.S., the national Black Community is being hurled head-long into economic and political annihilation,” ULU wrote in an official statement, also noting that when President Obama was elected, “many thought his election indicated the end of white America’s need to dominate everything and it would perhaps usher in a policy of one America for all equally regardless of race. King’s dream is now concretely a nightmare for most.”
The group offers that “Black people are awakening to the truth that the system of racism-white supremacy reinforced by predatory capitalism cannot and will not work for us.”
After years of Black people believing that a good education would level the playing field, that our loyalty to corporate America would bring us security, and that holding political office would be the key to our salvation, there is a new emphasis on business success and economic empowerment.
Unless we learn to practice cooperative economics and work together towards similar interest we will be a permanent underclass. Just like Dr. Claud Anderson said.
This in no way suggests that a system of white supremacy doesn't exist or that we aren't denied access to wealth. However, our spending is one tangible thing that we can control now and today and as we all know money makes the world go round.
Now, on an individual basis many of us are struggling and trying to get by. However, collectively we have 1 trillion dollars in spending power. $1 circulates in Asian communities for approx 1 month, $1 circulates in the black community for approx. six HOURS.
First we need to recognize that the materialistic mentality is helping to destroy our community and keeping us from growing. I know many won't do this, but it helps when we find the closest black bank and put our money there. There are 21 in America.
With a sudden surge in business, they will be able to afford to offer small business loans to us more often.
We need to break this habit of buying non essentials from non blacks so much. Not saying to stop completely. But stop doing it so often, no you don't really need to buy cigs, a beer, candy bar, hamburger, etc from Habib so much. Once in awhile is ok but a lot of us go weekly, some even daily. All of our money is paid to us by non black bosses (mostly white) and then after we get it we give it right back to non blacks (business owners). We financially support people who do not put any money back into the black community.
Our paycheck goes right into our hands and right back to people who don't look like us. Right back to non blacks.
Try to shop from at least one black business at some point. There are some black businesses online that you can order from if you aren't able to drive to them.
These businesses in turn create other businesses and jobs.
Improve our current schools and eventually open new schools.
If you're a church going breh, try to get the black church to be in line with the community goals.
"93 percent of our income is spent outside the community." Lee Jenkins, author of Taking Care of Business • "Blacks on the average are six times more likely than Whites to buy a Mercedes, and the average income of a Black who buys a Jaguar is about one-third less than that of a White purchaser of the luxury vehicle." Earl Graves, Black Enterprise Magazine
Black Buying Power
African-American Consumers are More Relevant Than Ever
African-American's Buying Power To Be $1.1 Trillion By 2015
We can't continue to do the same things, but expect different results. You don't have to do any of these things if you don't want to, but if you don't, then do not complain about the lack of black businesses/jobs, opportunities, economic condition, etc. We have to think about the future generations and we will fail them if they are dealing with the same bs.





that'd be ok if it were just some but MOST feel like this. That's why we have so few black male entrepreneurs, and so many who rather work for white men.