PAGE 30 PROGRAM SUCCESS – SPRING 2013
Is the Lord Amongst Us or Not?
Today our country is engulfed in decision making that will
inevitably affect and change our prospective by others and our
position in history. It is a good time today for us as a Black people
to reflect and regroup to intentionally reposition our status in
America, the world, and in history for the better. Let’s be real with
where we are and where we need to be.
As a People, there are many of us who have faired well. We own
businesses, live in affluent neighborhoods, and have membership
in prestigious clubs. You might even say, these people have for
themselves a reserved seat at the “table of success.” Be not
deceived my friends, those of us who have achieved high levels of
success and are privileged to special inner circles, are viewed by
Whites as being “Special” and “Different.” Interpretation… you
are still Black - but your special-ness and difference means that
your accomplishment don’t count nor attributed to the status of
regular Blacks, it is therefore discounted just as a teacher cast out
the very high score on the grading curve.
The White community does not accept us individually but as a
whole. Whatever connotation applies to Blacks as a whole applies
to you regardless of your financial success and level of
achievement in life. When Black are seen on the news throwing
people out of cars, beating the elderly, and portrayed as salvages,
that stroke of the brush paints us all. Fair or not, we succeed as a
group, as one race of people. We were one in Africa, one in
slavery, one in the civil rights, still one today – all good or all bad.
Blacks today must accept the same challenges as other races do.
We must love one another. Do for one another. Help and
encourage one another. Patronize one another. Help to improve
one another. Only our ability to build our communities, raise
properly our children, save and multiply our money, and solve our
own problems will ensure us a seat, as a people, at the table of
success. Let’s get busy.
Let improve our Businesses. There was a time in our history
when our businesses strived. Mainly because we had no other
choice but to do business with one another because of segregation.
Integration proved that we couldn’t wait to give our money to
anyone other then ourselves. For years we have done just that. In
the business community it is rumored that the first million dollars
anyone makes, regardless of race or foreign origin, is in the Black
community, money given by Black people.
We brag of the trillions of dollars Blacks have as an economic impact, not
realizing we are laughed at by the world for doing so little to help ourselves.
The Black dollar barely circulates once in the Black community before
leaving to go to other communities, while other communities circulates their
money seven to ten times among their own people.. It’s time for us to
support one another. Make it a point to spend your money with someone
Black. It may not be convenient, but it’s essential for the success of our
community. You may not eat lunch at a Black restaurant everyday, but at
lease twice a week make it a point to do so. Seek out a Black mechanic, a
Black printer, a Black accountant, a Black realtor, a Black painter, a Black
yardman, a Black doctor, and so forth.
Let us invest in Black businesses, not the stock market. Wall Street don’t
need our money. There are many Black businesses in our communities that
we can invest our money in and even receive greater dividend. As a people
we have been trained to educate ourselves for the sole purpose of getting a
job. We need more of our young people using their
expertise to start businesses, become self employed
and employing other Blacks. However, this becomes
impossible without the investments of older and more
successful Blacks, who may have worked
traditional jobs for years, and now have
the financial means. Banking Institutions
will give a Black man $40,000 for a car
but won’t give him $40,000 to start a
business. The car cost you money and
keeps you further in bondage, while
the business makes you money and
liberates you and your family.
Let’s improve our position in Politics.
The election of President Obama was not
the end, just a new beginning. We need more
Corrine Browns elected. Blacks who are not
afraid to lay it on the line for what is right and
conducive for our betterment as a people.
Corrine Brown’s slogan is that she delivers
and she really does. Because of it, she is
slandered daily by the media and her
opponents. Let’s support her more by rallying
in great numbers to the causes she fights for
us. Let’s make it a mandate to register to
vote and a mission to vote in numbers in
every election.