Disclaimer: This article reflects the author's personal opinions and should not be construed as representing the official views or policies of BlacIntellec. Readers are encouraged to conduct their own research and form their own informed conclusions."
This is a Black Stream of Thought
From: Joseph R. Hudson Date: August, 2024
Founder and Chairman
BlacIntellec, Org
Overcoming the World of Flapdoodle
You know, the real deal in Atlanta and across the U.S. is more about cash, poverty, and class than it is about race, police, and the whole color thing. Don't get me wrong, racism and other issues are still hanging around and might be at the root of some stuff. However, how they impact the Black community has shifted and is still shifting. Much of today's racism is built into the systems, sometimes on purpose, other times inadvertently. In either case, the hurdle of racism is merely one of the challenges that Black businesses and communities must face. In my view, there is something even more cruel at play. According to Mr. Tom Alberta in his book "The Kingdom, The Power, and the Glory: American Evangelicals in the Age of Extremism," he says it is POWER!
Here's how I see the whole situation. The issues we're dealing with are deeply ingrained in how our country runs. But get this: a lot of the mess wasn't cooked up to hold Black folks back just because of their skin color. It's more about some power-hungry folks chasing after wealth and success, drawing up the roadmap, you know? It would help if you remembered that slavery had a basic economic rationality. Sure, we have to tackle the racism problems. Still, if we don't get to the root of the money, power, and greed game, we'll keep dealing with the symptoms, not the real absurdity of it all, Flapdoodle!
So, they've set up these hurdles and barriers to keep the power and money gang comfy in their seats. The worry is always when new players, especially Black ones, enter the game. And surprise, plenty of Black folks have cracked the code of the capital system, proving they can hustle just as well as anyone else.
But here's the kicker – they want us bickering over stuff that doesn't matter, getting used to the same old problems. It's like we're stuck in a world of "Flapdoodle"! Take Black businesses in Atlanta, for example. We've got Box checkers, Pontificators, Groundbreakers, Survivalists, Black stars. Everyone tries to show their own value instead of illustrating Black culture together. We're so into ourselves that we forget about what's happening. to our own, and that's a real distraction from the economic angle. It's about me and mine versus we and the good of the order! Many so-called issues are merely distractions that keep us from dealing with the real opportunity for change.
And when some Black entrepreneurs finally get a slice of the wealth pie, they switch from liberal politics to conservatism to guard their gains. It becomes all about individual success, leaving the community affection behind. The big question is, how can they help bridge the economic wealth gap between middle-class and lower-income Blacks, not just the Black versus white version?
Now, let's break it down. In this "Flapdoodle" world, folks mindlessly check boxes without thinking about what they represent. Pontificators act like they know it all, but they're just repeating the same old stuff. And don't get me started on the solo Groundbreakers and Black Stars – celebrated but not treated as equals.
Communities get the same treatment. What defines a middle-class community? Is a new one better than an old one? Is it all about big businesses and solid leadership? Black businesses are popping up everywhere, not just in the traditional Black spots. But here's the kicker: Many Black business owners are setting up shops around but not in the Black community. So, the white community enjoys support from both whites and Blacks. In contrast, the Black community does not routinely enjoy increased revenues from whites.
Blacks are throwing 95% of their money into white communities, and Black businesses are following suit, not really helping the Black community thrive. It's like we're all in on boycotting our own neighborhoods. So, we clearly need a fresh strategy to uplift and strengthen this new wave of Black businesses and communities. How do we grow the greater good while ensuring each Black business gets a piece of the pie? That's the real puzzle we're trying to solve.
So, the big question is, what's the game plan to push Black businesses and communities forward? It's disheartening that the struggles I faced when diving into Black business and community development 50 years ago are still kicking around today. Back then, Black folks had only ½ of 1 percent of the wealth compared to our white counterparts, and guess what? It's still the same story today. But we can change this. We can create a new narrative, a narrative of empowerment and unity. We need a fresh strategy, and we need your help to make it happen.
With Blacks throwing 95% of their money into businesses in white communities, we add insult to injury: many Black business owners are sidestepping the Black community when it comes to starting and growing their ventures. This whole deal has turned into a weird boycott loop – whites avoiding Black businesses, and Black consumers and businesses unintentionally joining in.
So, the real challenge is getting Black folks to make decisions based on the past and present, steering towards what's best for the entire community. Traditionally, Black history has some success stories, right? But since integration, we've been tailoring our goals and behaviors to fit white standards, even though it doesn't necessarily bring financial or political gains for us.
McKinsey's dropping some truth bombs, saying black-owned businesses could be the key to closing the wealth gap, projected to cost the U.S. trillions by 2028. The pandemic hit Black-owned businesses harder, thanks to some shaky pre-pandemic positions. McKinsey suggests we need supportive ecosystems for Black-owned businesses and policies similar to those that boosted white wealth post-Great Depression.
We've got to kickstart a pipeline for Black business growth, starting from elementary school through churches and community groups. Black Atlanta's history shows we can overcome obstacles, so strategic actions are needed to back the Black community.
It is an economic fact that 66% of the employees of a Black business will be Back. So, it doesn't matter where a Black business sets up shop as long as they recognize their role in providing job opportunities, entrepreneurship models, economic empowerment, networking, mentorship, and promotion of cultural values for the good of the Black Order. The impact of a Black-owned business in a primarily white area can vary, but they can still play a role in empowering the community, no matter where they are located.
So, where a Black business sets up shop isn't the big deal. What matters is getting them to see their role in a few key areas:
Job Opportunities: These businesses can support Black communities with job opportunities, helping out economically and pushing people up the ladder, even if they're not living right next door.
Entrepreneurship and Role Modeling: A successful Black-owned business in a primarily white area can be an excellent example for Black folks looking to jump into some business ventures.
Economic Empowerment: What money these businesses make can be brought back into the Black community—support other Black-owned businesses, community organizations, and projects pushing for economic growth.
Networking and Partnerships: Business owners can use their connections and resources to build partnerships and networks that help the broader Black community locally and beyond.
Mentorship and Support: Business owners and their employees can get involved in mentoring and supporting Black individuals trying to get into the business world, boosting economic growth.
Promotion of Cultural and Social Values: These businesses can fly the flag for cultural and social values that align with the local Black community, adding to that strong sense of identity and pride.
Remember, the impact of a Black-owned business in a primarily white area on the broader Black community can be an additional economic engine for the local Black community. It depends on the situation, how big and successful the business is, and how much it's getting involved with and investing in the Black community. But no matter where they are, these businesses can be at the forefront of the Black economy, making moves to fix systemic Black community economic issues such as the wealth gap. We can't let all that symbolic flapdoodle about racism push us aside—it's time for us to become our power brokers.
BlacIntellec, The Atlanta Black Think Tank, stands as a formidable force within the Black community, recognized as a 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to addressing economic challenges. Amidst a landscape where such initiatives are often absent, BlacIntellec boldly steps into the breach, wielding a diverse arsenal of platforms. Beyond mere advocacy, BlacIntellec assumes the mantle of protector, safeguarding the hard-won gains of Black economic development. Fearlessly championing fair treatment and equitable opportunities within the business ecosystem, BlacIntellec serves as a staunch sentinel against the insidious encroachment of systemic inequalities and discriminatory practices that threaten the prosperity of Black enterprises. Through meticulously crafted focus groups, incisive opinion papers, strategic collaborations, groundbreaking research, and decisive actions, BlacIntellec confronts head-on the multifaceted challenges confronting Black businesses and communities. At the heart of BlacIntellec's mission lies a commitment to amplifying the voices of the Black community, ensuring their perspectives resonate powerfully in the corridors of influence. Every endeavor undertaken by BlacIntellec begins with the harmonious convergence of diverse, experienced voices from within the Black community, fostering a collective strength that transcends individual challenges.
Its core function is to “Collect and Utilize the Intellectual Capital of the Black Community to Support its Advancement.”
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