It's gut check time again. Same rules: If you are not ready to explore your inner feelings and beliefs...leave now...don't read another word! AS ALWAYS YOU'VE BEEN WARNED ------ Part XVI- Black on Black Shame- by Dr. Ahmad
I swear, I learn so much from reading your comments on this site. I was reading a response about Black folks doing business with Black folks right after I read an email from a business colleague (Cyndey) on the same topic.
Cyndey owns a property holding company in Los Angeles CA. Single handedly, this sister has created a few hundred Black millionaires. No I’m not exaggerating, during the tip of the housing boom she financed and/or provided financing for “residential and commercial real estate: and allowed Black folks to share the wealth. As if that wasn’t enough, she also provides support and assistance for Black & Brown people about to lose their primary residence to foreclosure. But, she didn’t stop there…to take Black folks to the next level, the sister also started a private investors- mortgage financing company.
Let’s take a step back for a moment. Do you understand the significance of what I just said? Cydney opened the doors and allowed the average brother and sister to pool their monies and serve as the private investor on home loans during the heat of the LA housing boom. Investment options once reserved only for folks in the know…were made available to the public. These loans were in turn sold on the secondary market and a lot of paper changed hands. Most Black folks have never heard about this wealth building process…let alone participated. And ONE lady opened the door.
Okay…let’s fast forward to the housing market bust of today. The housing market went sideways. Property values out west lost mass amounts of equity and investors were left holding the bag. And worse, the creditors who bought and sold mortgages began to fold like pizza boxes. Sadly, Cydney was unable to pay her investors…so she ask everyone to wait…just take a break and wait!
Wouldn’t you know it…the same folks who wanted to bottle and sell Cydney’s bath water and/or named their children after her…now see her as the anti-Christ. Once the well dried up…the usual accusations started to be hurled to and fro. You know the ones I’m talking about:
Don’t do business with Black Folks
Black folks will cheat you out of your money
You can’t trust Black people to keep their word
I’m not saying that Cydney is an angel. Heck, you can’t turn that kind of money and not get a little dirt on your hands. But when other investments tank…do we say…”White folks took my money?” Do we berate non-Blacks for being victums of normal circumstances?
Don’t get it twisted, Cydney’s investors aren’t the only folks lighting the torches and gathering up the pitched forks. On this very site (yesterday) I saw a post where the author suggested that Black business owners don’t treat Black patron right.
Well stop the presses…respect is a two way street.
The same brother or sister who has no problem standing in line for 45-minuttes at Wal-mart to return a broken $200 item…wants the Black business owner to come to their home to fix a $5 broken part. The same person who will wait all day (9:00 am – 5:00pm –service call times) for a telephone or cable person to come out (the next day) to fix a wire…is pissed because Ray-Ray’s plumbing was 15-minutes late.
When the fries are cold at McDonalds folks don’t claim that “Those_____folks” always make cold fries. But let, Boomkesha’s vehicle detail service miss a spot when they wax and wash your ride…and you want to act the fool.
I’ve seen horrible treatment of new start-up Black business from Black patrons. The very folks who should be trying to help build Black Wall Street are the very folks tearing it down. We claim to want to spend our money with our people…while publically saying…we will never spend our money with our people.
I know what you’re going to suggest. Yup, I’ve have bad service from Black folks. I own a considerable amount of rental property and I’ve had Black folks leave me hanging more than once: sheet rock guy didn’t show, painter showed up drunk, tenant couldn’t pay rents.
But news flash! I’ve had every other ethnic group dork-up just as bad if not worse.
On the flip side…I’ve had brothers give me hook-ups that I never would have gotten if I weren’t Black. I’ve had sisters (elected officials) pull me into their office and show me step-by-step what needed to get done to correct some error I had made…again…all of this was due to Black folks helping Black folks.
If you want a brighter future for our people…but you don’t want to spend your money with our people…check yourself!
Sure, you may get burned…tough! Sure, Ray-Ray may be a few minutes late…get over it! Sure, the service from a start-up Black business may not be as good as a 30 year multi-million dollar professions…deal with it! If we are going to grow…you have got to participate.
Now to the Black Business Professional
Treat me like I’m paying you. Although we look the same…I’m not your cousin, brother or dawg…when it comes to this paper. Doing a half butt job will not cut the mustard. If I’m lowering my standards “to help a brother out” treat me like I’m helping a brother out. And to the more seasoned Black business owner, if you claim to be a leading professional in your field act the part. Don’t show up at my job site like your brother owns the company and you can do whatever. Treat men like you want me to treat you. Make every effort to show me that you want repeat business.
We all have some work to do to get back on track. I’ll do my part if you’ll do yours. And if ever I’m slipping or bump my head…check me! And if every you find yourself saying ort thinking that you shouldn’t do business with folks who look like you…check yourself!
Posted By: Dr. Ahmad Glover
Tuesday, September 16th 2008 at 2:55PM
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