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Beyond the Rhetoric: Get Ready for Serious Black Economic Empowerment
Something was taken for granted with the Trump Transition Team. It was assumed that Omarosa Manigault was the point person for African Americans. Just about everyone thought that. As time went on it became apparent that she didn’t know it.
Beyond the Rhetoric: When the Obama White House attacked the NBCC -Part 2
Yes, it was quite a victory for business organizations. We stopped the Cap and Trade Bill dead in it tracks. This would be the start of a pro-business movement knocking down the majority of President Obama’s Environmental and Regulatory Platforms. His view of an economic agenda for the Black middle class was expanding welfare and Medicaid – even free phones. Ours was to solidify our economic infrastructure and, therefore, create growth in business development and attractive jobs.
Beyond the Rhetoric: Congressional Black Caucus – Time for a Game Plan
The new 116th Congress has more Black participation than ever before. There are 55 members of the Congressional Black Caucus. There are two Black elected officials who chose not to belong – Senator Tim Scott of South Carolina and Congressman William Hurd of Texas. They see the Caucus as a Democratic association and they are Republicans. We wish they would reconsider. It is important that the Caucus is bi-partisan.
Beyond the Rhetoric: When the Obama White House Attacked the NBCC – Part 3 (final)
In reflection of the Obama Administrations there appears to be a constant flow of deception, immorality, and plain out corruption. Oh, I guess you can add heartless too. We, the strongest and most economically viable nation in the history of mankind would tacitly sit on the “side lines” and tried to lead from behind. Russia, North Korea, and a plethora of terror groups had a field day during the Obama years. They saw the weakness in his reasoning and played it like a finely tuned piano.
Beyond the Rhetoric: Trump’s Power Africa Initiative – Part I
Finally, we have a White House that has decided to call out China for the sleezy things it does while doing business in Africa. To the Chinese government the African Continent is a big, whore to be abused and pimped at every opportunity.
Beyond the Rhetoric: Trump’s Power Africa Initiative – Part I
Finally, we have a White House that has decided to call out China for the sleezy things it does while doing business in Africa. To the Chinese government the African Continent is a big, whore to be abused and pimped at every opportunity. You can travel to any nation within Africa and there will be one thing that is constant. China trading interests and influence is there at every airport, many construction projects, railways, dams and various other infrastructure projects. There practices are plain and simple: “Rape, hustle, steal, swindle, corrupt at every opportunity that is presented.” Theirs is to take from Africa – not improve or advance it. If challenged – sling cash, be arrogant and keep on trucking. No one is going to stop them.
Beyond the Rhetoric: What Is the Importance of the Congressional Black Caucus?
“The Congressional Black Caucus is a racial political organization made up of the African-American members of the United States Congress. Although they claim race and party affiliation are not official requirements for membership, no white person has been allowed to join and most of them are Democrats. Its chair is Representative Cedric Richmond of Louisiana,” according to Wikipedia.
Beyond the Rhetoric: Pittsburgh Falls for the PLA Hustle
The city of Pittsburgh is one of the most progressive cities in the United States. The development of the city over the last few decades is most impressive. It has gone from a dirty, steel plant invested town where the smog would overtake the sunshine by 3:00PM every day to a bustling city with fresh air and one of the most impressive skylines in the nation. Most people who go to Pittsburgh for the first time come back with positive remarks about the city built where the three rivers meet (Allegany and Monongahela rivers meet to form the Ohio River).
Beyond the Rhetoric: Aretha Franklin – Perhaps the Greatest Singer Ever
The first time I learned that there was a singer by the name of Aretha Franklin it was uneventful. My high school sweetheart, Brenda, showed me the Columbia album cover with this 16-year-old girl they claimed to be “The Next Nancy Wilson”. Big deal! Did we really need another Nancy Wilson when the one we have was just beginning her long career?
Beyond the Rhetoric: Black Federal Procurement Levels Have Yet to Bounce Back
As the George W. Bush Administration ended Black procurement was coming in at 8.0%. During the Obama Administration levels fell consistently. As President Trump entered the White House levels were at 1.8% and falling. Today, the levels have yet to turn around. For first half of Fiscal Year 2019 (October 1 – March 31, 2019) the average is 1.3%. Hopefully, we have now hit bottom and the subsequent reports will show an upward trending consistent with an improved economy.
Beyond the Rhetoric: Homestead Act of 1862 – Closest Thing to Reparations, Part III (FINAL)
As we stated in the previous two parts, American descendants of the vicious American Holocaust known better as Slavery gathered immense portions of land. The great Booker T. Washington would encourage freed slaves to work the land that they owned and invest profits from it and build an economic infrastructure to help empower ourselves after slavery. It appears that too few listened to his advice or admonition. Most freed slaves and their descendants who received these precious acres of land by way of the Homestead Act of 1862 and through means of inheritance were destined to lose the land.
Beyond the Rhetoric : The Night I Met Fred Hampton
It was a typical Monday afternoon during my senior year at the University of Wisconsin when my fellow linebacker, John Borders, prompt down next to my seat. John informed me that he had made another deal with Professor Rosenstein.
Beyond the Rhetoric 353: Stop the Whining and please go to Work
“There are not red states or blue states. There is the United States of America!”, Barack Hussein Obama (2004). Oh, did he have us at that point. We were all going to work together and build a greater America. Something happened along the way. Here we are in 2017, and we are as divided as we were in 1968.
Beyond the Rhetoric: 25 Years and Going Strong, Part I
Starting and running a Black business association during the early 1990’s was more than a dream or a challenge. It was almost impossible. The concept was hardly credible back then.
Beyond the Rhetoric: It is Time to get Real about Black Business
It dawned upon me back in 1992, that there was no sincere movement or interest in developing Black owned businesses. Even though Booker T. Washington wrote books about it there was no sincere movement to push forward the thought and reality of “BLACK BUSINESS”.
Beyond the Rhetoric: Obama Presidential Center – How Black Will It Be? – Part 2
This monumental piece of construction and architecture is well into the planning phase. The architects have been named and the interviewing phase for the Construction Management should be announced within the next couple of months. So far, I see nothing that would lead me to believe that diversity is going to be a focus point for this $1.3 billion project.
Beyond the Rhetoric: 2017 Is Going To Be Fantastic!
Look forward to the new year, 2017, as light years better than 2016. The former year’s economy was challenging. Here in Chevy Chase, Maryland, one of the wealthiest communities in the nation, high end department stores closed their doors in mass
Beyond the Rhetoric: Just How Corrupt Were the Obama Regimes
“There is not a scintilla of corruption in my administration” said Barack Obama. “I am not a crook” said Richard Nixon. Such were the claims of two American presidents who history will score in very low and despicable terms. There are plenty of books and movies about “Tricky Dick” but the stories of the troubled times during the Obama years probably have yet to be written and portrayed in the movies.
Beyond the Rhetoric: The Days of Booming Black Business, Political Clout and Braggadocio – Part II
It can be quite comical at times when you see public relations splashes about perceived successful entrepreneurs. 90% of these so-called tycoons are fakes. The fact is most successful Black businesses are rather “stealth”. The modesty comes from many examples of attacks, conspiracies and mountains of adversity put before them and others simply because they are Black. Most successful Black entrepreneurs that I know would never publish themselves in the so called Black Enterprise Top 100 Black Businesses. To many it is perceived as a “target list” for the IRS, large competitors, and others with bad intentions. Allow me to discuss a few of the horror stories that successful Black entrepreneurs have experienced.
Beyond the Rhetoric: Our Plan for Improvement
We did not start the National Black Chamber of Commerce to be a social organization full of entertainment conferences and political correctness. Ours was to disrupt the contentment/status quo and demand equal opportunity and commitment as it relates to business participation. There was great opposition from the start.
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