I usually do not write about subjects that may have the possibility of becoming racially charged, but this time, I must make an exception. As reported on Fox News.com this morning, a Chicago family has begun what they are quoted as calling an “Empowerment Experiment”. Maggie and John Anderson of Chicago vowed four months ago that for one year, they would try to patronize only black-owned businesses. This “Empowerment Experiment” is why John had to suffer for hours with a stomach ache, Maggie no longer gets that brand-name shampoo to wash her hair and a grocery trip is a 14-mile excursion.
Mrs. Anderson was quoted as saying ”It’s like, my people have been here 400 years and we don’t even have a Walgreens to show for it.” The Andersons are following up with 4,000 people who signed up to join the experiment on their Web site to gauge their commitment and set up online accounts to track their spending. Hundreds have also joined the experiment’s Facebook page.
Dallas Smith, who owns a commercial real estate firm in Atlanta, said “We’ve still got that ‘the white man’s water is colder’ mentality,” he said. “We can’t take us for granted. When we go to our establishments, it’s almost like we’re doing a favor. That ought to be a given for us.”
Maggie Anderson says “ The response has been so huge. “We think so much can come out of this. We’re in movement-making mode now.”
I have to agree with Maggie Anderson. They are in a making mode now. Making the United States even more racial and making it a worse place to live. I’m sorry, but I thought the whole point of being in American was to help each other and do away with things that make us different. This couple and the people who follow their example seem to revel in the things that make them stand apart. They make the argument that their is not enough black businesses. I took this as meaning that there are not an equal amount of black businesses as there is white owned businesses. According to what I have read, however, blacks only make up 12 to 13% of the current U.S. population, so how could is it possable to have equal representation?
I personally frequent my favorite market that is owned by a very nice, professional Iranian gentleman who has gotten to be friends with my whole family. His patrons are an equal mix of whites and blacks. We go to our favorite Chinese restaurant probably once a week. Their customers seem to be mostly white and Hispanic. I get my nails done at a shop that is owned by Vietnamese. Most of her customers are an equally white and black. And I purchase beauty supplies from Sally’s which is black owned and most of her customers an equal mix of black and white.
That being said, what if white people were to start an “Empowerment Experiment” and only made purchases from white owned business? Wouldn’t that just hurt the people that are of Asian, Hispanic and Middle Eastern decent that came to America to work hard and make a better life for themselves and their families? Wouldn’t this also hurt the black community? After reading this article and noticing all of the references to “the white mans water” and “white stores” I do not believe that the intentions of this “experiment” is about black empowerment at all. I think its more about hurting businesses that are not black.
Read it for yourself: http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,519965,00.html
Mrs. Anderson was quoted as saying ”It’s like, my people have been here 400 years and we don’t even have a Walgreens to show for it.” The Andersons are following up with 4,000 people who signed up to join the experiment on their Web site to gauge their commitment and set up online accounts to track their spending. Hundreds have also joined the experiment’s Facebook page.
Dallas Smith, who owns a commercial real estate firm in Atlanta, said “We’ve still got that ‘the white man’s water is colder’ mentality,” he said. “We can’t take us for granted. When we go to our establishments, it’s almost like we’re doing a favor. That ought to be a given for us.”
Maggie Anderson says “ The response has been so huge. “We think so much can come out of this. We’re in movement-making mode now.”
I have to agree with Maggie Anderson. They are in a making mode now. Making the United States even more racial and making it a worse place to live. I’m sorry, but I thought the whole point of being in American was to help each other and do away with things that make us different. This couple and the people who follow their example seem to revel in the things that make them stand apart. They make the argument that their is not enough black businesses. I took this as meaning that there are not an equal amount of black businesses as there is white owned businesses. According to what I have read, however, blacks only make up 12 to 13% of the current U.S. population, so how could is it possable to have equal representation?
I personally frequent my favorite market that is owned by a very nice, professional Iranian gentleman who has gotten to be friends with my whole family. His patrons are an equal mix of whites and blacks. We go to our favorite Chinese restaurant probably once a week. Their customers seem to be mostly white and Hispanic. I get my nails done at a shop that is owned by Vietnamese. Most of her customers are an equally white and black. And I purchase beauty supplies from Sally’s which is black owned and most of her customers an equal mix of black and white.
That being said, what if white people were to start an “Empowerment Experiment” and only made purchases from white owned business? Wouldn’t that just hurt the people that are of Asian, Hispanic and Middle Eastern decent that came to America to work hard and make a better life for themselves and their families? Wouldn’t this also hurt the black community? After reading this article and noticing all of the references to “the white mans water” and “white stores” I do not believe that the intentions of this “experiment” is about black empowerment at all. I think its more about hurting businesses that are not black.
Read it for yourself: http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,519965,00.html
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