Blacks: Do you think the reason we are not real supportive of each other is because we do not know what Black?

Question

businesses are out there?

breg: Racism or discrimination? Also, if you want Blacks to stop complaining then you should just back off a couple years with those kind of remarks. It is called taking responsibility. Blacks alone spend $245 billion dollars a year, but how come we never see any of it? Sorry you got so upset.

Yes, Anais...it is okay and drop the f'n attitude. My only purpose is to help out low income schools and communities. I'm not trying to make you feel guilty because you support all races. Good for you! But personally, I do know if I knew more about Black businesses I would definitely give them the support.

Gloria: If it doesn't matter to you that is OKAY, but it matters to me. I guess we just have a different perspective of life.

I agree to disagree so I'm not going to knock you for supporting other people's business. Do you!

E M: And that is all I want, a REALITY CHECK. Thank you. You will more than likely get best answer.

I agree with your answer too soulflower. E M brought up some good points, though I'm not sure if the majority of Blacks react this way. If so, then what is our top priority?

syllylou: Okay...

Seamus and I care because?

Answer 1

I support my people and my people ONLY!

Answer 2

I think people on here took it the wrong way.The question did not state to support black business only. To answer this question is all about awareness.You right some people are different areas in the country that don't have many access to support a black business.Its a large Hispanic community in Tampa and they support each and so do Asians.I think over there years of assimilation caused such a problem and generation gap. We as the Black community forgot about how we were so close do to Segregation and how we were force to go only to black business.Time progress in society we have a freedom to go anywhere and any place. We as the Black community forgot strongly about unity.Hispanic are the largest self own business in America and its steady growing.It is not racist or any way or form of separatism its just cultural difference and unity.

Answer 3

I own a business and I am African American. My issue with a few of my fellow business owners is that they do not handle business professionally. A great instance: A friend of mine and her husband own a dry clearners. I take an armful of garments there at ten in the morning and the doors are locked. I go back the next day, around noon and the door is open, but there is NO ONE in the place. I cannot support this shop just because it is Black when they are not handling business. This is not an indictment of other Black businesses, simply my reason for not dealing with this particular establishment. Perhaps others have had similar experiences and don't wish to spend their money for inferior service.

Answer 4

Not really. We have a history of hating on ourselves sometimes. What we in Louisiana call the crawfish effect. Basically when you put a bunch of crawfish in a bucket, you can almost put them up to the rim and they will never make it out. Because everytime one is close to climbing out, the others pull it back down. That's one problem...

Another problem is that black businesses don't often price things competitively. They usually don't have the means to take a loss or break even on many items and also do'nt really have the resources that others might from their suppliers. Some also don't understand you don't HAVE to make back your investment in the first year. Often businesses don't get debt free for years after opening.

We are also not going to open up in a very "black" part of town if we are selling commodites. This is because we are fully aware of the chances of our businesses being vandalized and broken into in those neighborhoods. Asians are more apt to put a business there than we are. So blacks already have to take the bus or drive to your neighborhood to get to your business, AND they have to pay more for it, AND we don't like to see someone that looks like us doing better than us... No question why we don't shop from our own people.

You definitely are going to have those stores not patronized by whites if they know it is black owned, so it would be nice to have the same amount of dollars and economic spending power that refuses the store to embrace it. People don't realize there are people in the world that won't shop somewhere because it is black owned. Seems to be the problem with the above answers. They think it is a level playing field. Nothing is ever a level playing field unless you are at the top looking down.

Just speaking truth...

Answer 5

I have said for a very long time that if the communities supported black business, it would make all the difference. It is important to be huge economical reckoning force. To do that we do have to support black business. In turn, black business have to give back to the community.

I do not believe that your question had any racist intent. It is no different than someone saying that they will only buy American made merchandise.

Answer 6

Whites often don't support whites so why would color make a difference? I've had good & bad bosses both black, white, male & female. I've also shopped in places owned by the same. It's customer service, price, etc. I look for. Not the color or gender of the owner.

Too many spend so much time worrying about predjudice nothing much gets accomplished beyond the status quo for either.

When MLK was alive his fight was for dignity, respect, a decent living, etc. for all. Read some American history. Almost every major change for the better came when blacks & whites united & stood up to the powers that be. The unions were created, veterans were given benefits, the list is endless.

As long as both sides point a finger at the other while never knowing let alone uniting with the other side nothing gets done & no one gets help.

You know what the biggest fear in the government in the 70s was? That as whites & blacks came together there would be a overthrow of the government in favor of the masses instead of big business. There was a lot of talk about it especially in your larger cities. It never came to be because the government started thinking of new ways to divide & conquer.

What you're talking about is racism of the same nature you abhor among the non-blacks. United we can stand-divided we ain't got a shot in he!!

Answer 7

bregweidd, your comment would have been welcome but aren't you also overlooking the fact that this has been the rule of the game. People have been taking care of their own first and have had to justify the isolation of others through the usage of different theories/explanations for excluding or exploiting. This is what gave birth to racism in the first place. We categorised in order to be able to exclude those who did not fit in the group. Now that the war on money and riches is "over (let's just use that word)" the classifications lose importance and are therefore discarded.

Answer 8

What exactly is a black business? This question is fueled by racism. I patronize businesses that are professionally ran and convenient for me, regardless of who the owner is.
Your racism is showing

Answer 9

I seriously doubt that is the reason. In my city there is a directory that lists black owned businesses and it is found everywhere. Of course I patronize whatever businesses I choose regardless of the ethnicity of the owner. I agree with the poster who said it is 2007...does all that really matter?

Answer 10

yes girl this is part of the problem

i tell many of my friends who wish to invest about Ariel Capital which has mutual funds and such

they are a black owned business that invests billions of dollars

the CEO is a black woman...Mellody Hobson

i have worked with her personally and she is professional as they come

i used to work in the financial industry

also there are others....i don't think we need to discriminate against other businesses of course but we do need to support every positive endeavor any of our people are making

i think if the word was out more about what was out there more people would try to patronize Black businesses

Answer 11

no. I support my people even if I shop at a so-called "white" store.
I get my hair done at a black salon, but I buy my cars from a dealership owned by a Jew. I go to a Mexican store sometimes to get groceries. We are all people and just because I am black, I am not going to limit the places where I go to just being "black stores".

It's 2007 now- it's okay to drink from the public water fountain, alright?!?!