The
National Black Business
Trade Association is among the foremost Black business organizations in America.
It was in established in 1993 by Black entrepreneurs who wanted to create an association
that would deal with addressing the many problems facing the Black community –
Supporting, encouraging, training,
inspiring,
uplifting and empowering those in our
community who are in business, as well as
provide a Black business opportunity to those
who want to be in business.
In
order to have
Black economic development,
our PLAN is to have individuals,
families,
churches, community groups and the media
accent and
reinforce Black business ownership and entrepreneurship, so that there will be an increase in the
number of men and women who will consider entrepreneurship as much of a
viable financial
option as working for corporate America. We as a people
need to change our thinking and
behavior patterns
on how we spend money, establish trust and do business.
Take time to read our primer on the
internet, "The Rules".
This country is strictly about business. Every
ethnic group arriving to its shores, comes primarily for a myriad of financial reasons and
seeks opportunity on every corner once here. It is our belief that the problems facing Black America
can best be addressed by the
establishment of a
strong and viable Black business sector.
According to
Dr. Jawanza Kunjufu, author of
BLACK
ECONOMICS, Solutions for Economic and Community Empowerment:
1.
We need to increase Black businesses in
the
African American community. For every 1000 members there are nine businesses, while in the
larger White community there are 64 businesses per 1000.
2.
We need to have our best African American minds involved in starting these
businesses. Research has shown that in the African American community people who start
businesses primarily have the least education and less capital and are primarily involved
in the retail industry.
3.
We need to improve the environment for Black business development and stimulate and
encourage participation. Presently, we have too many parents telling their children to get
a “good education” to secure a “good job”. There is also the image
that Black businesses are marginal and as a result the illusion is that it’s better
to be a professional than to be an entrepreneur.
4.
We need Black institutions i.e., churches and civil rights organizations to begin
emphasizing economic development and placing it higher on the agenda. For some reason, we
are the only ethnic or racial group who has developed a political base before developing
an economic base.
5.
We need to stop waiting for governmental assistance and reparations to eradicate
the deplorable conditions that presently exist in the African American community.
6.
We need responsible business owners who will be responsive to the needs of the
masses. We do not need the Black elite to encourage the masses to “Buy Black”
for their aggrandizement, nor do we need Black business owners who have no responsibility
to give back to the masses that supported the growth of their business endeavor.
7.
Lastly, we need to study successful economic ventures historically and presently in
our community. We have seen too much research painting a victim analysis. At this juncture
in our history, we need more case studies of how families and companies in spite of racism
and monopoly capitalism became successful.
Dr. Kunjufu continues,
“I accept the fact that the majority of our community will be consumers not business
owners, therefore, we need a more committed and educated Black consumer base that will be
loyal to Black businesses, committed to saving money, and more astute to marketing
practices that affect consumer expenditures.
From the African perspective, our goal should not be how
wealthy anyone of us can become, but what we can do for the benefit of the 35 or 40
million Africans in this country, ultimately 900 million to a billion around the
world.”
According to Lee Green, Chairman,
"Now in this new
millennium, we have over
900 billion dollars or more available
each year to build a better life for ourselves. Our actions
should put us in position to
enjoy the benefits of the 400 years of labor our ancestors
invested in helping to build this
country.
If we don't, we will steadily loose more ground.
Especially in light of the recent trend towards, what we like to
call "Affirmative
Re-Action" in retaliation against the progress made during
the Affirmative Action
and Civil Rights era.
To combat this and other issues, its time now, more than ever, to “Reap the
harvest”! It’s time for us to take “Re-Affirmative
Action” steps forward from now on!"
No more back-biting and crab-in-a-barrel, limited belief system,
thinking and behaving. We have to make changes when we can and
where we can and its a process."
The National Black Business Trade Association invites
you to help us do our part by building what will
ultimately become the largest and most
effective Black business and consumer network ever established on the face of the earth.
Ordinary Black people doing what's
right. Spending money among themselves.
Our goals are
lofty, but with a sizable organization, we can provide
funding,
distribution,
training and
technical support to a
vast number of Black businesses, their employees and families.
We look to you to join today!
It only takes a moment for change to
take place. Its already happening, we just have to continue
forward in spite of the forces that we allow to so easily beset
us. We must act in our own best interest. The timing is right.
The need is now.
