Nintendough
#Kliq
Pride and ownership.
Vintage Black Businesses and economics (PICS/INFO)
- Thread starter cole phelps
- Start date
↓R↑LYB
I trained Sheng Long and Shonuff
In the aftermath of the civil rights movement, you can say that was the problem. But in 2014 I think it's more about not enough of us want to work for ourselves. We're comfortable getting a check.
Personally I don't know a single black person other than my father who works for themselves (scratch that, this Nigerian cat I know does as well). I've always heard people make the complaint that there's not enough black businesses, but I rarely hear black people say I decided to start my own business to fix that problem.
↓R↑LYB
I trained Sheng Long and Shonuff
I've been wondering what pictures I should hang on my wall in my office and I think these are it.
you have to be really careful with this kind of talk, because it smacks of being pro-segregation, and the promotion of this idea that blacks were "better", and more prosperous when they were being ruthlessly controlled and living under state sponsored terrorism.
The hard numbers dont support what you're saying. The black poverty rate was astronomical during the mid-20th century compared to now. Furthermore black businesses and black heads of firms have been on a significant upstick in the last decade. Cherry picking a few black businesses from the segregation era, and presenting it as a reflection of the health of black America at the time without context is irresponsible language fam (the context being these businesses would have been long since driven out of business given the recent decades long attack on small businesses by corporate america and a consolidation of resources and capital at the top...plus many of those services are out of date).
↓R↑LYB
I trained Sheng Long and Shonuff
Looking back at these images, it seems the idea of ownership was more important back then. Nowadays were told to get a degree, get a career, and climb the corporate ladder instead of get educated then use what you've learned to start a business.
That's one thing I'm going to make sure I preach when I start mentoring. Business ownership is important.
cole phelps
Superstar
Real estate office catering to Negroes. Chicago, Illinois
Newsboy selling the Chicago Defender, a leading Negro newspaper
Typesetter on the Chicago Defender, one of the leading Negro newspapers
Mr. John Sengstacke, part owner and general manager of the Chicago Defender, one of the leading Negro newspapers
I hear and agree with what you are saying. But notice i said "..why some say...".
Separated but equal isn't practical in any environment IMO. It's one of those things we SOMETIMES wish could work to avoid friction with other ethnicities but we know will not. The reason why some say it hurt the black community to some degree is because black people stopped supporting a lot of their own black businesses when desegregation took place. I understand you wanting better products that may have been mainly available to whites but I'm not going somewhere I am not wanted. Especially if i have to pay for it on top of that.
OatmealCreamPie
Banned
My grandmother, who was born in 1915, was mad as hell when segregation ended, according to my mother. She didn't look forward to mixing with White folks at all.
↓R↑LYB
I trained Sheng Long and Shonuff
We need more grannies like this.
cole phelps
Superstar
Oliver Coleman, drummer, making one of his biweekly visits to his union hall, local 208 of the Musicians' Union. He is proud of his union and of the musicians' hall. His local is one of the largest in the country and are all Negroes. Chicago, Illinois
National Negro Business League Executive Committee
The library was the place to be. Probably had kids lining up like they trying to get in the club...
You are right brother my own parents who were in the civil rights movement mentioned that black gradually stopped supporting black businesses and the ones that could afford to leave left black communities. What you had is a void where affluent blacks left those communities and some left because the people in those communities stopped supporting heir businesses. My grandmother mentioned how after integration black folks would celebrate that they had the opportunity to go shop in the white olks stores while at the same time refusing to spend those dollars in black neighborhoods.
Also what brotha bdizzle said is true. Back then many of us were encouraged to create our own because society would not give us an opportunity. Hell black colleges encouraged black people to graduate and start their own businesses. That is the reason you had so many successful black business men and women who graduated from those colleges back in the day. Now those same colleges teach kids to just be an economical slave and a cog in the system.
But sadly all of these businesses were created because their was a void to fill. Now those voids aren't there and it is non black folks on the other end of these businesses that we are handing our money to. Somewhere along the lines of civil rights we mixed up equal rights with giving up our power and disowning our own.
What killed black business is welfare&drugs and Hollywood.
cole phelps
Superstar
Detroit, Michigan. Negro business district
Slums in Negro district, with business district skyline in background. Atlanta, Georgia
Nation's Business. Negro housing I
This small store, owned by two Negroes for about forty years, is getting a last rush of business from the soldiers before they will have to move out to make room for the Army maneuver grounds. Caroline County, Virgninia
Saturday afternoon outside of a Negro store and barbershop in Union Point, Greene County, Georgia
Shoe store catering to Negroes. Chicago, Illinois
Ten-cent store catering to Negroes. Chicago, Illinois