Rebuilding Our Community

Hello Everyone! Usually I vent and express my opinions about particular topics especially relative to the condition of my people. However, I want to do the same thing but I am going to give statistics to support the challenge that I am going to impose upon you. African-Americans are the largest consumer market in the US, spending $600 billion per year in products and services, however, we make up only 13% of the population. And what is worse is that 27.4% of us live below the poverty line. Now, with the amount of money that we spend on clothing, jewelry, electronics, etc., we could use half of that money and change the face of our communities. African-American communities desperately need recreational centers, financial assistance for the unemployed, emergency funding, and expansion of education. We can make a brighter tomorrow for our children if we become more responsible with our money and sow seeds in our own communities. Support black business. Many of us have a disdain for others of us who were resilient enough to start our own business. If they are providing quality goods and services, we should be their most loyal customers. The large corporations of this country are not without fault either.We need to hold these corporations accountable and make them responsible to support our communities. They need to reinvest the monies we spend into our communities. We need to restructure and rebuild. Our children deserve safe and loving environments and it is not an impossibility. As long as there is life, there is hope. Let us look back at our past and use the lessons that our ancestors taught. Did they march in vain? Is there no love in the hood anymore? Are we not sistren and brethren? Don’t our kids deserve more? I have a vision and a passion to do what I can with the cooperation of others to improve the future of Afrikan people in this country. It can be done—one community at a time! Stay tuned!

 

One Love,

Andréa