By JuJuan Buford
Warning. This is not a reindeer story. It is free writing rant.
There are very few things I find more enjoyable than walking through the doors of a business concern in one of our communities. I can recall my last visit to Philadelphia like it was yesterday. A good friend of mine left me to my own devices, and I took a stroll. And I kept strolling.
It was exhilarating to walk block by block and see black enterprise in motion. A small grocery store here; a leather repair shop there; a small accounting firm, adjacent to a small law firm; then a book store…etc., etc. Notice, I didn’t mention gas station, liquor store, church.
Some, particularly those who are especially, intellectually obtuse may inquire why is that something to get excited about? So, here we go. All of these business concerns were small businesses, probably employing between five to twenty individuals. Each enterprises probably generates between $150,000 and perhaps a 1.5 to 2 million dollars in gross revenues apiece. Let’s say the average income of the owners and employees spanning the couple blocks I commuted on foot was about $30,000 annually. Multiply 8 businesses times 5 employees times $30,000 and you get $1,2000,000.
At minimum.
The importance of the aforementioned estimation seems more telling when you spell it out: one point two million dollars in net income concentrated on a couple blocks.
The neighborhoods that I traced across were not rich by any stretch of the imagination. I didn’t see Cadillac Escalades, Hummers, and Mercedes Benz emblems populating the driveways. No, check that, sidewalks. Philly doesn’t have driveways.
However, they were wealthy. Those neighborhoods were solvent. When the children walked down the street they saw African American adults taking agency over their lives, employing those in the community, and most importantly…they saw options.
No doubt many of them probably had jobs, and were simply scratching out enough time to run their independent businesses on the side. That’s the most practical way to do it, in the beginning.
When I looked in their eyes I saw determination, not desperation. One of them told me, “this is how you pimp the system.” I thought to myself, so true so true.
The system wants us to drop out, because prison labor is just another name for slave labor. They want us to wallow around hoping for one of those good paying jobs, whereas we can demonstrate our loyalty by committing 40 hours a week, for 40 years of our lives, and live off of 40 percent less than what was barely endurable at 100%. And then whimper when the lights get turned out just after you’ve bought that new house; ran up $30,000 in credit card debt (you have to furnish the house right!), and you’ve bought that new Cadillac.
Then of course comes the begging for some white knight (for some it’s Santa Claus) to do the right thing. You know whom I’m talking about. Santa DTE. Santa American Home & Loan (fictitious name), Santa U.S. Government, etc,….
People did we not learn the lessons from Katrina? People this is capitalism, with a little racist icing to add some extra flavor.
Yes, it is Christmas. And indeed, there is so much to be thankful for. After all, Jesus is the reason for the season. And if you’re not Christian, that’s ok too. Any opportunity to spend a little more time with family, friends, and food is definitely something to be thankful for.
And considering the aforementioned, after folks are done herding themselves into and around store counters to spend their precious currency on stuff that will depreciate as soon as it’s scanned… save a little. And dedicate a small portion of it to an idea, an entrepreneurial pursuit, or a book about becoming financially independent.
Trust, I believe Jesus will be glad you did it. Oh, I know, you gotta pray on it, eh?
Right after you scarf down some more turkey and greens, and begin stressing out about how you’re going to pay for all of this isshttt.
Question? Did you pray before you sprinted into Target? Perhaps you should have.
