While I travel about the city and nearby areas searching for community-based black owned businesses to frequent, I have observed that many, if not most of our local businesses are owned and operated by proprietors who are employed full-time. I understand that for many, the full time job is the consistent flow of resource fueling and funding the business venture. This is not an impossible feat, however, organization and discipline around schedules is very important. What must be avoided at all cost, and is crucial to every business, is having operating hours and not being open during those times. It ruins the trust, dependability and credibility of your business.
There is, however, another solution. It is termed “Group Economics.” This is where two or more persons come together and form a partnership. This way the investment of time and finances is divided, as well as the responsibility and of course the profits.
Before we can move into such an arrangement, we must first set aside egos and honestly assess the structure. Everyone can’t be in charge, so job functions must be set with each operating under the premise that it is a whole unit, and together we can accomplish much more than we can apart.
Here is a link to an article posted to Unite for Action’s website entitled “The Importance of Practicing Group Economics in the African-American Community.”
An excerpt:
"One of the greatest strengths of any community is its ability to identify, support, and reward the talents and skills of its members. When I was a child, I remember observing my mother go out of her way to hire African-American professionals in the community. I now realize that she understood then, and understands today the importance of practicing group economics. That is, creating and exchanging resources (e.g., currency, talents, gifts, and skills) that a group deems valuable among another. Sadly, today group economics is not being practiced as nearly as often as it could be practiced among African-Americans especially. In fact, in no time than the present have we seen so much blatant apathetic and disconnected people in the African-American community than we do today. Some fault the concept of “hyper individualism”, an overly self-absorbed concern for oneself. Others blame the educated Black community for not giving back after they’ve “made it” and succeeded in their prospective careers. And still others feel that we’re living in a “Post-Racial Era”, and we should all demand to be recognized as individuals rather than side with any one particular race…”
In order to reclaim the village, we must begin to put action behind these thoughts and suggestions.
Til next time…
Clarence Matthews
Elder's Ledger
Reclaiming the Village, One Topic at a Time!
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Keeping in step with the stated theme of "It Takes a Village to Raise a Child," and the appropriated action to "Reclaim the Village," I believe we must look at the inner workings of the village and take proper action, yes, the necessary steps to arrive at our desired outcome.
The blog post this week is directed toward the consumers, yes, the customers. We have a tendency to be very hard on the merchants in our community. We place more stringent rules and guidelines for patronage on our local merchants than on the larger stores and mall merchants we often frequent.