“The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.” (Psalms 23:1). Blacks are not insane, because all of us know that God works through men. Throughout our historic “survival-journey” in these United States of America, we have not economically been treated fairly. Blacks have “never” received their fair share of tax dollars paid at the local, state and federal governmental levels. The War on poverty, in many ways, was economically beneficial in helping to lift many Blacks out of poverty. However, many politicians have arrogantly declared that the “War on Poverty” was an absolute failure. But, in the words of an infamous politician: They lie.
The NAACP, a historic Civil Rights Organization, established to advocate for Civil Rights dignity for “ALL”, has launched a twenty-first century “War on Poverty” through “employment” creation under the leadership of Attorney James M. Douglas, president of the local chapter of the NAACP, and the dynamic leadership of Allen J. Provost, the chairman of the Economic Development Sub-Committee. Thank God, because many good things are on the horizon for Black contractors, supply-venders, and engineers.
The economic culture of American society is based upon exploitation capitalism, not free enterprise capitalism. In fact, federal tax dollars have been sent back to Washington rather than being spent in the Black community. Shame! Shame! Shame! But, no more, no more, and no more. For after all, Blacks were brought to America as slave-labor-capital (free-labor) in order to build the infrastructure of a capitalistic society.
Prior to the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965, Blacks learned through “redemptive-suffering” how to live in poverty and dehumanization with family-dignity. Question: What happened to change the socio-economic-dynamics in the Black community?
Unfortunately, the validation of who Blacks are as Americans has gotten lost in the corporate-greed-shuffle of the twenty-first century. Most Blacks spiritually know that life is more than drink, food, and clothing in the twenty first century. “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you.” (Matthew 6: 33).
We have had one economic disparity study after another, and nothing ever changes; economically except more poverty. Blacks do not need hand-outs. JOBS are the answer both skilled and unskilled. The economic development committee of the NAACP under the visionary leadership of Allen J. Provost is seeking to change the economic-structural-dynamics, and at the same time, help to level the economic playing field in the awarding of contracts by federal, state, city and multinational entities. Thank God for Allen J. Provost’s efforts, but more importantly, all citizens should become members of the NAACP. Without a doubt, the wicked shall not inherit the earth. King David said it best: “I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread.” (Psalms 37: 25). However, individuals will not only cause others to be poor in spirit, but poor in employment opportunities.
Far too many Blacks are glorifying a “sharecropper mentality” in a capitalistic society, and of course, this in and of itself is economic insanity. Simply put, consuming things that you do not produce, and glorifying vanity is not a creative basis for “Black” economic development. This is why the economic walls must be rebuilt in the Black community, and Blacks must come together organizationally in the NAACP. State Representative Senfronia Thompson (District 141), the longest serving State Representative in the legislature must be spiritually honored for bringing public awareness to the proposed Lake Houston Water Project, and the potential economic inequity.
The basis for wealth creation is building Black own businesses, Blacks doing business with other Blacks, and Blacks creatively reinvesting in Black–owned businesses (business structure).
The economic development committee of the NAACP has taken bold and creative steps toward rebuilding the economic walls of the Black community by:
- Programmatically instituting an economic format that positions Black culture as the basis for black wealth creation. Without a doubt, Blacks must value and appreciate their own cultural heritage (Cultural Economics).
- Formally teaching how money works (Financial Freedom Seminars).
- Helping the Black community understand that “FAITH” drives culture. The role of the Black church in community development, as well as, economic development. The Black church community is the only institution that has large sums of tax-free money for investment and reinvestment in the Black community.
- Helping Blacks to understand that family spiritual unity is the basis for ethnic-group- economic-development.
In conclusion, “Beloved, I wish above all things that you mayest prosper and be in good health, even as thy soul prospereth.” (1 John 1: 2). Selah!