"It's Not Racial Barriers That Keep Blacks From Prospering."

Reprinted on the web from Issues & Views, Summer 1991; introductory comments added ^ | December 6, 1963 | SB Fuller (with commentary by Luke Skyfreeper)

[Luke Skyfreeper]

Do you think the book might be:

Colored People’s Blue Book and Business Directory of Chicago, Illinois 1905. Chicago: Celebrity, 1905. Call # F89621.N318.

?

[Luke Skyfreeper]

Black folks did that in Tulsa, OK in 1921. The dollar circulated in the community 26 times before leaving. Blacks owned and operated every conceivable legitimate business imaginable. The community was highly prosperous until white envious rednecks burned the community down, killing hundreds. Anyone else know about this story? I saw a documentary about it on TV. You can do a google search and read about it. Extremely interesting.

Unbelievable. What's also unbelievable is that everybody in America doesn't know this story.

[Luke Skyfreeper]

Possibly also relevant:

Black's Blue Book,
F.S. Black

Names, addresses and phone numbers of colored homes with a telephone : also a classified list of colored business and professional people with other useful information.

• Publisher: Chicago : Black's Blue Book Co., ©1923.

[sit-rep]

My daddy told me years ago, "...you are where you are because you put yourself there..."

But, I guess it's easier to blame someone else...

[iconoclast]

Hi Mh. Let me run a thought by you.

The way my life has unfolded, I have had a considerable amount of contact/association with blacks. I went to schools with blacks that have been materially successful and with whom I maintain contact to this day. OTOH, I went to school with blacks (a couple were friends) who were dead before I got out of college.

Ok, that's all prologue to this (off the wall?) observation. I believe that blacks may be (for whatever reason) more risk averse than other segments of our population. I wish someone would do a study/paper on this hypothesis. It intrigues me.

[TheOtherOne]

Although I know few facts about Ms. Rice's personal politics, it would be reasonable to assume that anyone with her level of experience in government with a conservative administration, her magnificent level of intelligence and fortitude, and her lack of an amoral personality (a la both Klintons) would be excellent Presidential material.

"her level of experience in government" - You think two years as a Presidential advisor is adequate Presidential training, I do not.

[Randjuke]

Ok, that's all prologue to this (off the wall?) observation. I believe that blacks may be (for whatever reason) more risk averse than other segments of our population. I wish someone would do a study/paper on this hypothesis. It intrigues me.

Hmm, well I'm not Mh but playing Devil's advocate I would observe that with respect to risk aversion trying for a career in entertainment or sports (or playing the lottery) is hugely risky, yet young blacks will often set those professions as a goal. To me this would reflect a "shoot-the-moon" philosophy rather than risk aversion.

Maybe the problem is that the more traditional path of getting an education, working hard and grinding your way up the ladder is held in lower regard? Or, in the case of entrepeneurship (sp?) the traditional way of starting small and growing gradually is disdained?

I firmly believe the path to black success has to come from within, but how to achieve that is another story. Black leadera are not exhorting people to work hard and stop having babies so young. White conservatives (like me) generally seem to be viewed with suspicion and distrust, while white liberals will pretty much echo the black leaders. Black conservatives are often vilified by the press and academia. One other impediment is that a frank discussion on this and other race relations is rarely heard, in fact this board is about the only place I see it.

[cyborg]

I agree with both of you. There are too many examples from around the world of people succeeding under unbearable circumstances. It is easier to blame someone else instead of looking at yourself.

[Indie]

What's more important, character, or experience as a politician. I'll take character any day of the week. We have enough politicians already.

[Luke Skyfreeper]

One other impediment is that a frank discussion on this and other race relations is rarely heard, in fact this board is about the only place I see it.

Ain't that the truth!

[Luke Skyfreeper]

Maybe the problem is that the more traditional path of getting an education, working hard and grinding your way up the ladder is held in lower regard?

Success is regarded as "white," and those who succeed as "race traitors."

[Luke Skyfreeper]

Unless, of course, success is achieved in one of the accepted fields: generally sports or music. Both of which are very high-risk professions.

Or (quite unfortunately), drug-dealing, which is also a high-risk "profession."

So there is no clear socially-acceptable pathway to low-risk (i.e., widely available) success; at least not without being branded a 'race traitor.'

[TheOtherOne]

What's more important, character, or experience as a politician. I'll take character any day of the week. We have enough politicians already.

I demand both in my President. Geez, get off it. There are many people of good character with experience too. She could use some more before being elected President. She would be the least experienced person even to serve in that office with her current background.

[SauronOfMordor]

The opportunities are huge, in fact there are neighborhoods in this town, significant ones that don't even have a grocery store.... And what do these people do? Complain that the large chain in town won't open a store there and they have to trek miles away to get food... All of them in the community recognize the need, but not one among them is willing to open a store to serve the community... what is wrong with this picture?

The big chains won't open a store in a ghetto area for several reasons. The biggest is that it is much more expensive to do business there due to the increased need for security and the shoplifting losses. This means that they lose money if they charge the same prices as in the suburbs -- but if they charge more, they risk discrimination lawsuits and bad PR. So they stay away.

If it were possible to make a living running a retail place there, people would have done it. It generally isn't. It's not like there's a need for a huge capital outlay, either. Somebody could start a small operation out of their home for just their friends in the neighborhood -- get basics from a wholesaler in your pickup, sell at a moderate markup, operate as a sideline. But you don't hear about it.

[FITZ]

All of them in the community recognize the need, but not one among them is willing to open a store to serve the community... what is wrong with this picture?

Because the ones who work hard, get ahead and save up enough money to open a store are going to move out and open a store in a middle class neighborhood just like everyone else.

[reg45]

What a marvelous definition of a "race pimp".

[John Robertson]

interesting, and thanks for it. but why would you change "Negro" in a speech given in the 60s? You present it in historical terms and perspective, then proceed to Bowdlerize the text--or, as we say nowadays, politically correct it. Otherwise.

[FITZ]

I believe that blacks may be (for whatever reason) more risk averse than other segments of our population.

I think it depends on which blacks you meet --- the military is full of blacks who aren't risk averse and are doing what they can to pull themselves up. When you look at intact black families, their kids are doing pretty well --- at least as well as any others even if they aren't wealthy. Inner city or welfare blacks have some pretty bad problems that makes it hard for them to get ahead even if they wanted to. It's got to be very difficult to raise kids in some of those neighborhoods with the drugs and crime ---- but some do seem to manage.

[autoresponder]

I posted a comment on a FR thread last night referring to the higher education interests of blacks before FDR in the 1930s and 1940s.

Also the higher Republican voting levels then among blacks compared to now.

More blacks in business then.

FDR and LBJ introduced the "New Plantation", especially in large urban areas.

The rest is history.

Criminal agenda of the democrat party.

[autoresponder]

I guess we would have been considered "poor" too when I was a kid in south Florida.

My father had a plant nursery and small landscaping service and also "truck-farmed" winter vegetables.

My older brother raised 50 hens for eggs and Sunday dinners in a coop he built in the back yard.

My mother made my sister dresses from print chicken feed sacks.

Ny brother and I raised $1-$4 heifer and bull (temporarily bulls!) calves from dairies up for milk cows and freezer steers for sale.

I worked after HS classes days plus Saturdays at a grocery store and made more tips as a bagboy then 3 others combined.

I raised coconut trees and Royal Poinsiana trees which my mother sold from a sign out front of our home; made as much from that as my father's nursery did.

I bought my own used Plymouth convertible in HS. Red. Of course.

My parents finally went into real estate and we started making much more income.

Someone forgot to tell us we were "poor" I reckon.

Or were we.