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The Power Within Us (2668 hits)


I was reading a post about Black Wall Street and I wanted to share a few personal stories with you all: http://www.blackwallstreet.freeservers.com...

Although the media would have us believe that Blacks don’t work together, I have first hand experience of the opposite. A few years back, I had the privilege and honor of working with one of the greatest minds of our day. I partnered with a Brother (KM) in Europe to offer Black Hip-Hop entertainment in Europe: Germany, England, Spain, France, Netherlands, Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Portugal, Italy and Poland. Our company (JAK Promotions) partnered with mostly other Black organizations. Like many of the rap songs suggest…we often heard that Blacks didn’t work together…while we were working together with other Blacks. NOTE: Even now, most Black entertainment in Europe is lead by African-Americans…R&B, Soul, Hip-Hop, Gospel, etc.

In more recent times, I partnered with powerful Los Angeles brothers and sisters in the real estate game to growth wealth. I’ve helped brothers from the hood buy mansions in less than a year. I’ve seen former gang members become multi-millionaire franchise business owners. I’ve seen very private, highly successful brothers and sisters secretly finance efforts of other Blacks so they could get ahead. I work with a group of brothers that partner with a group of Jewish brothers to start small business.

No one likes to give handouts, but I haven’t met or worked with a single successful brother or sister who doesn’t want to help another brothers or sisters trying to do good things. Often, these deals are done in private…but please know they we do in fact LOVE TO HELP EACH OTHER.

I my own recent business ventures, I decide to make a specific real estate different. Being from Richmond, VA…I went home and started acquiring concentrated rental property. I have been blessed to own enough property in prime areas be able to effect meaningful change. Partnering with other property owning brothers and sisters…we have made community improvement demands on local officials that get answered immediately.

Sadly, descendent of slave African-Americans are one of the few groups in America that are taught to move out of the community when we achieve success. We are told to stop speaking and writing in the Black vernacular. We are told to move to the affluent non-Black neighborhoods. We are told that Blacks will hold you down. But human beings need to connect with people like themselves. So secretly, we buck the training and work together. Note: If professional Black don’t talk to (rather than talk at) the Black youth who do we expect will provide them the insights?

As an ethnic group, we have everything we need to prosper. If we can simple come to understand that the secret to our success is in shattering the poor learned behaviors….we can have Black Wall Streets in every city. If we can STOP the belief that successful Blacks shouldn’t talk like “us”…they should be professional (as if our ethnicity is less professional that other groups). If we can value our achievements, we can be the greatest story of recovery American or the world has ever seen.

Black Wall Street started when a small band of people learned how money worked and sought to make the system work to their advantage. That means we need Black grocers, Black retailers, Black MDs/DDS/hospitals, and Black professions in Black neighborhoods. Just like the tremendous work Magic Johnson and D Johnson (name withheld) are doing in Compton & Baldwin Hill, CA…YOU can help start a Black Wall Street where you are located.

“A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.”
Lao-tzu, The Way of Lao-tzu
Chinese philosopher (604 BC - 531 BC)

So let’s get started…
Posted By: Dr. Ahmad Glover
Saturday, September 6th 2008 at 10:18AM
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MJ,

Start looking for sources of funding: local small banks works best. I would also suggest that if you are just starting out...try to find revenue generating properties (rental income). If the asset has a high enough gross rent multiplier (and current tenants)...you may not need money to get started!

Sure, banks are tight with their loans in this market…but they still know a good thing if it is presented correctly. If you find a hot deal and can’t meet the funding conditions…look for partners. Although some of us have been trained to believe otherwise…FAMILY MEMBERS make the best partners. Just like education…they key to wealth in America is persistence and sticktoitiveness.

Saturday, September 6th 2008 at 10:45AM
Dr. Ahmad Glover
Hi Dr.Glover: there is another blog that made reference to Black Wall Street and like I informed him, this was such a major historical event in America, yet it was not recorded in the history books, nor was the fact that it was destroyed by our own government. The entire story of Black Wall Street needs to be told, because alot of people including many on this site probably have never even heard of it.
Saturday, September 6th 2008 at 11:05AM
Marquerite Burgess
I agree,

Please see my comments to that Blog. But its not all about the past...there are a lot of Black folks doing big things today. Wouldn't it be great to not only tell the story, but also to relive it?

As I'm sure you are aware, Baldwin Hills areas of CA (Los Angeles County) is a lot like the Black Wall Street? Hundreds of Black millionaires living together: Doctors, athletes, lawyers, musical artist, actors, and business folks. Note: Altanta, Chicago, VA, and Detriot have simular communities. But at the grass roots, middle class and below these communities aren't prospering.

I am all for telling the story from the mountain tops...but IMHO let's also get busy rebuilding.
Saturday, September 6th 2008 at 11:32AM
Dr. Ahmad Glover
This story needs to be told, not because of the past but because of what it represents. The possibilities. Yes Baldwin Hills, is a lot like Black Wall Street and we do have many communities that are indicative of BWS.

I think the story itself can be used as a blueprint, sort of like a how to.

I have attempted to get a coalition of the business owners in my community to come together to purchase their products in bulk (barbershops, hair salons) they use alot of the same products anyway and it makes more sense to buy in bulk, which is cheaper and still get what is needed from black owned compaines, just a start , in order to help recycle the black dollar, continue to provide their services and help to keep black businesses thriving, especially in the billion dollar hair care industry. The Koreans have cornered this market by coming together. I saw a report maybe a year or so ago where they made it very clear that they did not want Blacks to have a large hold in that industry.


Saturday, September 6th 2008 at 11:52AM
Marquerite Burgess
God Bless and good luck brother.

It is not going to be easy...but stay focussed and you will do anything you set your mind towards. Oh yeah, one more thing...don't be suprised if new/different opportunites you haven't considered present themselve; they may fit you better...go for them.

It's funny how things will work that way. It have been my experience that when you make the initial effort all sorts of stuff will come you way:)

Enjoy your new life!

Saturday, September 6th 2008 at 11:53AM
Dr. Ahmad Glover
Marquerite,

I would be very interested in starting a nationwide Black Hair Salon: like supercuts.

I agree with you whole heartedly that we need to see synergies when possible and look for backers and investors in our future. Yes...BWS stories of the past are the blueprint.
Saturday, September 6th 2008 at 11:57AM
Dr. Ahmad Glover
This site is starting to look like Black Wallstreet to me and the information that has been given is already starting my wheels to turn. To quite you you "Wouldn't it be great to not only tell the story, but also to relive it?" The anwer is YES!!!

Saturday, September 6th 2008 at 12:16PM
Emmanuel Brown
Dr. Glover,

If we could just get the current owners to come together to purchase their products from Black owned companies and in bulk would be a start.

I works like this:

Once a month each owner comes together for the regular meeting, bringing a copy of their inventory sheet. This helps to identify what products they use, have in common and the amounts needed to have in supply. They also get to see if they are currently using the same vendors. It also helps them to see if any of the vendors they use are black owned, if not , it does not take much to google the information to find out.

Now that the needed products have been identified and the vendors, the cost comparison can begin, they can see the savings and the needs are still being met.

They could even create jobs, by having people do the inventory count, distribution of the products and maintaining the records, there by freeing up the owners to continue to run their respective businesses, providing for their clients and helping with the economic and human development growth aspects at the same time.

Just a thought.
Saturday, September 6th 2008 at 12:43PM
Marquerite Burgess
Marquerite,

Might I suggest that a middle person mentality may work to get this started. By that I mean make it as easy as possible for them to see the value. Hand out and conduct surveys of their current products, prices, and expenses each month.

Next, do the leg works to determine the cost savings for specific item bulk buy items.

Instead of asking them to attend meetings...ask them to save $250 per month by not changing a thing that they do now...with details based on their individual surveys.

People want more for less. Meet that need and you will have your BWS in the haircare world.
Saturday, September 6th 2008 at 12:58PM
Dr. Ahmad Glover
Sounds good.
Saturday, September 6th 2008 at 1:06PM
Marquerite Burgess
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