Harry C. Alford & Kay DeBow
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Beyond the Rhetoric: Do Not Mess with our Football!
I fell in love with the sport of football as a young boy (four years old). My father bought me a football uniform for Christmas. Of course, it was a Los Angeles Rams uniform. We would attend most of the Rams home games with my cousins and uncles. It was truly a family tradition. By the time I entered high school my body was muscular and coordinated.
Beyond the Rhetoric 869: Why can’t They shut ANTIFA down?
Our hearts are so heavy. George Floyd was a brother living an everyday life when he was spotted by a racist police unit in Minneapolis, MN. Is Minneapolis known for its racism? We lived in the city back in the 1980’s. Our recollection was a city void of typical racism and hatred. In terms of race relations, we remember Minneapolis as one of the most race neutral cities in America. Therefore, the latest events unraveling around this city boggles our minds.
Beyond the Rhetoric 864: The Latest Medical Challenge – Is the Cure Coming?
Who discovered the cure for polio? In 1952, an American medical researcher named Jonas Salk became the very first person to discover the cure for polio. In April 1955, he announced the medicine, which is basically made up of an injected dose of dead or inactivated poliovirus.
Beyond the Rhetoric 86: COVID-19 is Scary
Our son, Harry, came to our home to bring us fresh fruit – red apples, bright yellow bananas – and rustic wheat bread. Thomas brought huge boxes of Gatorade and sparkling water. That’s not unusual. But the circumstances had changed. We met outdoors in the driveway, we stood 6 feet apart. We didn’t hug or kiss. We called out “I love you” above the noise of the wind.
Beyond the Rhetoric: This Time We are Going to Costa Rica
In our quest to unite Black entrepreneurs throughout the world we have found many surprises. We, descendants of Africa, are in every corner of this earth. One of our first excursions was the gigantic nation of Brazil. That was the “jackpot” on the first try. Brazil is over 53% Black and only Nigeria has a greater Black population than this nation.
Beyond the Rhetoric: Year 2020 – The Beginning of a Great Decade
The state of Black Business is challenging. The political environment, international challenges and malcontent is making “Peace in the Valley” an escaping concept. Black entrepreneurship began to evolve at a noticeable pace during the 1960’s. From a few seats on the local city councils to the Oval Office in the White House and practically all board rooms in between.
Beyond the Rhetoric: Chinese Trade Hustles in Africa and Beyond
Little did we know that when the Africa Growth and Opportunity Act - AGOA – went into law to support increased free trade between the African Continent and the United States that many other nations would profit from it. The fact is that the biggest beneficiary of AGOA is China. AGOA is a virtual tool for trade enhancement of China and the economic exploitation of our Mother Africa. Chinese entrepreneurs are pimping America and Africa with their blatant hustles that happen right before our eyes. Let’s look at some of the horrors we have witnessed in our travels to the Motherland.
Beyond the Rhetoric: Project Rebound – To make a Better Society
Project Rebound’s mission is to inform the small business community about prison employment training and programming to increase their willingness to hire and place former offenders into meaningful jobs thereby improving their circumstances and expanding their opportunity for success. We change their lives and make society a better place.
Beyond the Rhetoric: The Evolution of the National Black Chamber of Commerce – Final Part
It was the late 1980’s, and life was great for the Alford/DeBow family. In such a short time Kay and I had developed quite a portfolio: Military Officer experience, Big 10 graduates living in Big 10 Country, Fortune 100 corporate experience, real estate brokerage training and entrepreneurship experience.
Beyond the Rhetoric: The Evolution of the National Black Chamber of Commerce – Part 3
My adult life was off to a great start. I was a football star and educated from a Big Ten university (Wisconsin) with leadership training and experience as an Army officer. Sales management in a Fortune 100 company was a natural for me. I just loved it and all the perks that came with it. My family friends feared I was becoming a womanizer. They were right!
Beyond the Rhetoric: Meet National Black Chamber of Commerce in Atlanta
The NBCC is dedicated to economically empowering and sustaining African American communities through entrepreneurship and capitalistic activity within the United States and the Black Diaspora. NBCC provides resources to support the development of startups and established minority & women owned businesses.
Beyond the Rhetoric: Bernie Sanders – Mysterious and maybe Dangerous
Bernie Sanders just won’t go away. He stays in the political limelight no matter who wins the presidency or which party, Democrat or Republican controls Congress. He is a declared Independent, yet he caucuses with the Democrats.
Beyond the Rhetoric: Green New Deal – Wisdom of the New Democratic Party
This is not your grandparents’ Democratic Party. Nor is it your parents’ Democratic Party. This is a group of socialistic, inexperienced “hotshots” who believe they have it all figured out. One of the rising stars is a 30-year-old aggressive (beyond progressive) from The Bronx.
Beyond the Rhetoric: Blacks Need to Challenge the Shutdown
When America gets a “cold” Blacks will come down with “pneumonia”. That is why we are going to suffer from the current federal shutdown more than any other segment of the United States population. Yet, Blacks in general look at this calamity like it isn’t any of our business. Our people, we better wake-up i.e. SNAP OUT OF IT! While our elected officials on Capitol Hill are playing games like it is fun, millions of families – particularly Black families are heading to financial disaster. A disproportionate number of federal employees are Black. A major portion of Blacks doing government business is the sector doing federal contracting and subcontracting. They are in the way of this “Economic Freight Train”.
Beyond the Rhetoric: We did not Die, We Multiplied
It is without question. Blacks, as a race of people, are the most resilient human beings walking on God’s earth. Starting in the 1500’s, Europeans began the greatest holocaust known to history. The enslavement of Africans would last for over 350 years. A good portion of the captives died within weeks during the passage across the Atlantic Ocean.
Beyond the Rhetoric: Trump’s Africa Power Initiative – Part 3 (final)
China has strong ambitions regarding the continent of Africa. It wants it as a type of “Bread Basket” to provide food for its 1 billion+ citizens. They are stealing the precious minerals that God has blessed our Motherland with. The aggression seems to be growing exponentially. Recently, China established a naval base and an army outpost in the eastern nation of Djibouti. These are strategically located at the mouth of the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden.
Beyond the Rhetoric: Trump’s Africa Power Initiative – Part 2
The Trump Administration is wisely addressing the dismal situation in Africa. To let China come in and economically exploit this continent would directly be a national security problem for the rest of the world – especially the United States. Chinese exploitation is alive and real in every one of the 54 nations within the continent. Allow us to give you a few examples that we experienced from our journeys to the Motherland.
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.
