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SpeakFreeForum > Political > Politically Correct? > Oak Park couple travel far and wide to buy only from black-owned businesses |
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SpeakFreeForum > Political > Politically Correct? > Oak Park couple travel far and wide to buy only from black-owned businesses |
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| Oak Park couple travel far and wide to buy only from black-owned businesses | Rate Topic |
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| Posted: Tue Mar 10th, 2009 02:57 am |
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1st Post |
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Neo Head Loon - Original M.A.I.M. 
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http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/chi-buying-black-09-mar09,0,5889126.story Oak Park couple travel far and wide to buy only from black-owned businesses Ebony Experiment encourages other African-Americans to do the same By Ted Gregory | Tribune reporter March 9, 2009  John and Maggie Anderson read a bedtime story to their children Cori, 2, and Cara, 3, at their Oak Park home on March 2, 2009. The family is conducting what they call the "Ebony Experiment", spending this year buying all their goods and services from black-owned businesses only. (Tribune photo by E. Jason Wambsgans / February 26, 2009) Maggie Anderson drives 14 miles to buy groceries, which might seem curious given that she lives in bustling Oak Park. She and her husband, John, patronize gas stations in Rockford and Phoenix, Ill. They travel 18 miles to a health food store in Chicago's South Shore neighborhood for vitamins, supplements and personal care products. The reason? They want to solve what they call "the crisis in the black commu- nity." They want to, as they say, "buy black." The Andersons, African-Americans who rose from humble means, are attempting to spend their money for one year exclusively with black-owned businesses and are encouraging other African-Americans to do the same. It is part experiment, part social activism campaign. They call it the "Ebony Experiment." "More than anything, this is a learning thing," said Maggie Anderson, who grew up in the Liberty City neighborhood of Miami and holds a law degree and an MBA from the University of Chicago. "We know it's controversial, and we knew that coming in." But the Andersons said they also have known that a thriving black economy is fundamental to restoring impoverished African-American and other "underserved" communities, and they have discussed for years trying to find a way to address the problem. What they came up with is provocative. One anonymous letter mailed to their home accused the Andersons of "unabashed, virulent racism." "Because of you," the writer stated, "we will totally avoid black suppliers. Because of you, we will dodge every which way to avoid hiring black employees." Apart from that letter, a solid majority of comments they have received have been encouraging, the Andersons said, adding that most people see the endeavor as beneficial to all. "Supporting your own isn't necessarily exclusive," said John Anderson, a financial adviser who grew up in Detroit and has a Harvard University degree in economics and an MBA from Northwestern University, "and you're not going to convince everybody of that." The undertaking "is an academic test about how to reinvest in an underserved community" and lessen society's burden, John Anderson said. Focusing the estimated $850 billion annual black buying power on black businesses strengthens those business and creates more businesses, more jobs and stronger families, schools and neighborhoods, the Andersons and other advocates said. "When a thriving African-American or urban community is realized, certainly as a society as a whole, we all win," John Anderson said. They are using a public relations firm, have created a slick Web site—ebonyexperiment.com—have been laying the groundwork for nearly two years and have enlisted researchers from Northwestern to detail and extrapolate the impact of their spending. Still, the first two months posed challenges in finding stores that meet what Maggie Anderson called her "exacting standards." Her latest crisis is finding shoes and clothes for the couple's toddler daughters. The Andersons buy gasoline cards from black-owned stations in Phoenix and Rockford and use the cards elsewhere. After several weeks of searching, Maggie Anderson found Farmers Best Market, 1424 W. 47th St., Chicago, a black-owned grocery 14 miles from their home, and God First, God Last, God Always Dollar and Up General Store, 2243 E. 71st St., a black-owned general merchandise establishment 18 miles from their house. They moved their personal accounts to Covenant Bank in Chicago but have been unable to switch their mortgage and student loans to black-owned financial institutions. Their utilities payments will continue going to the companies collecting those now. Maggie Anderson said she has struggled to find financial support for the Ebony Experiment's grander plans, and she lamented the campaign's low national prominence. Lawrence Hamer, associate professor of marketing at DePaul University, called the Andersons' project "brave and courageous" and said its logic was "exactly right." But it probably will be futile in achieving meaningful impact in the black economy, he said. "It's just so hard for a small group of individuals to have an impact on something that's so huge," said Hamer, an African-American. "It's almost like a viral marketing campaign. It only works if enough people catch the virus." Even if they do catch the virus, he said, it is extremely difficult "to get people's attention to change their behavior in any significant way." Maggie Anderson conceded that "it's still little by little and it's still a lot of work, but I'm still very committed to this." Although it may be one of the more well-organized and monitored projects of its kind, the Ebony Experiment is not the only buying black venture, said James E. Clingman, a prolific writer on African-American economic empowerment who teaches a class on black entrepreneurship at the University of Cincinnati. African-Americans have been buying black for more than a century, Clingman said. Booker T. Washington, long an advocate for African-American economic power, was an early proponent, and African-Americans have been forming black-buying cooperatives for decades, Clingman said. But thriving black businesses began dissolving in the mid-1960s, when African-Americans focused on political power and civil rights and began patronizing white-owned businesses under the misconception that buying white signified blacks' upward socioeconomic mobility, Clingman said. "Unfortunately, many black people abandoned their own businesses and supported others, thinking that politics was the way out," he said. "Politics still will not get you anywhere unless you have an economic base. Quite frankly, I'd rather have more black businesses than black politicians." In June, Karriem Beyah opened Farmers Best Market, which he calls "the only African-American grocery store in Illinois that offers a full line of fresh market products." Since being featured on the Ebony Experiment Web site, Beyah said, he has experienced "incremental increases in the customer count" and received numerous e-mails and phone calls of support. He said he believes in the mission. "We, as African-Americans, support everyone," he said. "The Ebony Experiment is saying, 'Listen, let's pay attention to us. Let's give some support.' "The Ebony Experiment can bring awareness, and in that awareness comes better profits and better services and better opportunities. It just grows from there." tgregory@tribune.com Comment: Once you get through all the bullshit in this article justifying racism against Whites, Asians, Latino's, etc...what you get is it's a racist. Plain and simple and if a white couple did this or any other ethnic group did this the ACLU and the Black Congressional Caucus, along with Farrakan, Rev. Wright, and all the usual suspects would be up in arms.
____________________ (Avatar created by OMNT.) “Socialism is a philosophy of failure, the creed of ignorance, and the gospel of envy, its inherent virtue is the equal sharing of misery.” Winston Churhill |
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| Posted: Tue Mar 10th, 2009 03:45 am |
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2nd Post |
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AgentOregon Lead Administrator 
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Heck...I like the idea! If we could just get Negroes to self-segregate in all phases of everyday life, maybe we would all be a lot better off. Did you know that 1% of the US population commits 52% of all the murders? That 1% are black males from 14-24 yrs old.
____________________ Youth is fleeting but immaturity can last a lifetime. AO Democracy is the theory that the common people know what they want, and deserve to get it good and hard. H.L.Mencken |
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| Posted: Tue Mar 10th, 2009 04:16 am |
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3rd Post |
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Neo Head Loon - Original M.A.I.M.
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AgentOregon wrote: Heck...I like the idea! Did you know that 1% of our population pays over 50% of our tax burden? I'd be willing to bet they're not black males from 14-24, nor blacks in general for the most part. I'd also bet that they're not liberals since the rich ones shelter their dough off-shore while asking everyone else to pony up, but I could be wrong. 
____________________ (Avatar created by OMNT.) “Socialism is a philosophy of failure, the creed of ignorance, and the gospel of envy, its inherent virtue is the equal sharing of misery.” Winston Churhill |
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| Posted: Tue Mar 10th, 2009 07:03 am |
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4th Post |
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n8lhf Administrator 
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Neo wrote:AgentOregon wrote:[Heck...I like the idea! Unlike rich white men who NEVER shelter their money in off shore accounts. Oh, I get it........sarcasm. 
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| Posted: Tue Mar 10th, 2009 12:44 pm |
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5th Post |
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Trinity Member 
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In general, I don't have a problem with this. It's their money, their time, so they can do whatever they want with it. But it is incredibly racial, given the fact that if there were an "Ivory Experiment" the outcry from Rev. Jackson and Sharpton would be ear-splitting. There would be rallies, protests and possibly riots. This is an example of wanting your cake and eating it too. America is supposed to be this big melting pot, as it were, but the ones who cry loudest about segregation want to do it on their own terms. Don't make no sense atall.
____________________ "I know why you're here, Neo. I know what you've been doing... why you hardly sleep, why you live alone, and why night after night, you sit by your computer. You're looking for him." |
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| Posted: Wed Mar 11th, 2009 04:07 am |
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6th Post |
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Neo Head Loon - Original M.A.I.M.
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n8lhf wrote: Neo wrote: Last time I checked, there are A. A LOT of rich white men who are Liberals and B. It isn't the Conservative ones telling Americans that paying taxes is "patriotic" while avoiding THEIR responsibilities. There IS a HUGE difference in that one group LOVES to take OTHER peoples dough while shielding their dough (Liberals) while the OTHER group (Conservatives) believes in people KEEPING their hard earned dough. Nice try at deflection though!
____________________ (Avatar created by OMNT.) “Socialism is a philosophy of failure, the creed of ignorance, and the gospel of envy, its inherent virtue is the equal sharing of misery.” Winston Churhill |
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| Posted: Wed Mar 11th, 2009 04:30 am |
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7th Post |
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Neo Head Loon - Original M.A.I.M.
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Trinity wrote: In general, I don't have a problem with this. Absolutely WELL SAID! Apparantly someone "gets it" (the double standard involved). Bravo!
____________________ (Avatar created by OMNT.) “Socialism is a philosophy of failure, the creed of ignorance, and the gospel of envy, its inherent virtue is the equal sharing of misery.” Winston Churhill |
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| Posted: Wed Mar 11th, 2009 09:25 pm |
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8th Post |
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GravyBoat Moderator 
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AgentOregon wrote: Heck...I like the idea! THAT'S RACIST!
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| Posted: Wed Mar 11th, 2009 09:30 pm |
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9th Post |
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GravyBoat Moderator
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Here's the rub to this story. If it was a White couple buying only from Whites, they'd be lambasted nonstop as "racist" and "hateful". But because it's a minority, they're somehow "brave" and "wonderful".
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| Posted: Fri Mar 13th, 2009 05:15 am |
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10th Post |
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Neo Head Loon - Original M.A.I.M.
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GravyBoat wrote: Here's the rub to this story. If it was a White couple buying only from Whites, they'd be lambasted nonstop as "racist" and "hateful". But because it's a minority, they're somehow "brave" and "wonderful". Welcome to "Change We Can Count On", Chimp-In-Chief style.
____________________ (Avatar created by OMNT.) “Socialism is a philosophy of failure, the creed of ignorance, and the gospel of envy, its inherent virtue is the equal sharing of misery.” Winston Churhill |
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| Posted: Sat Mar 14th, 2009 04:10 pm |
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MountainMan Member 
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I wonder if the bedtime story is about little black Sambo?
____________________ Shoveling the ashes Chiseling the surface Firing the furnace Hammering the anvil |
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| Posted: Sun Mar 15th, 2009 12:52 am |
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12th Post |
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Moggie Member 
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How about just buying local...and supporting local business' and communities regardless of race?
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| Posted: Sun Mar 15th, 2009 04:25 am |
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13th Post |
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Neo Head Loon - Original M.A.I.M.
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Moggie wrote: How about just buying local...and supporting local business' and communities regardless of race? I couldn't agree more but apparantly this couple doesn't see it that way and has to bring race into something as simple as shopping. If whites did this the cries of racism by the blacks would be enormous and loud. They'd have the ACLU and the NAACP and Lord knows what other organizations filing suits and boycotting and protesting etc... Double standard, plain and simple.
____________________ (Avatar created by OMNT.) “Socialism is a philosophy of failure, the creed of ignorance, and the gospel of envy, its inherent virtue is the equal sharing of misery.” Winston Churhill |
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| Posted: Thu Mar 19th, 2009 09:11 pm |
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14th Post |
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OMNT Moderator 
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yep.
____________________ Live the legend |
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| Posted: Thu Mar 19th, 2009 09:24 pm |
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15th Post |
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OMNT Moderator
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Blacks are a curious bunch. On the one hand they complain that they aren't getting a fair shake in America. I agree. On the other hand they were forcibly against their will wrenched from their home continent. But they don't want to go back to their home. Being here suits them fine it seems. What's up with that? Seems to me that if they really wanted to make a difference they'd take their American education and values back to Africa to better that continent.
____________________ Live the legend |
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| Posted: Fri Mar 20th, 2009 04:28 am |
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16th Post |
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Neo Head Loon - Original M.A.I.M.
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OMNT wrote: Blacks are a curious bunch. On the one hand they complain that they aren't getting a fair shake in America. I agree. On the other hand they were forcibly against their will wrenched from their home continent. But they don't want to go back to their home. Being here suits them fine it seems. You left out the part were they were SOLD INTO SLAVERY by their own Chiefs dude, it's not like they were all kidnapped. It's irrelevant anyways as that happened a long time ago and if they expect to be treated equally then it's a two way street, not just "their one way street".
____________________ (Avatar created by OMNT.) “Socialism is a philosophy of failure, the creed of ignorance, and the gospel of envy, its inherent virtue is the equal sharing of misery.” Winston Churhill |
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| Posted: Fri Mar 20th, 2009 05:18 am |
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17th Post |
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YOGI Member 
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Neo wrote: OMNT wrote:Blacks are a curious bunch. On the one hand they complain that they aren't getting a fair shake in America. I agree. On the other hand they were forcibly against their will wrenched from their home continent. But they don't want to go back to their home. Being here suits them fine it seems. NEO...Ya suggesting we got the criminal elements from Africa over 200 years ago?
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| Posted: Fri Mar 20th, 2009 05:46 am |
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18th Post |
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Neo Head Loon - Original M.A.I.M.
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YOGI wrote: Neo wrote:OMNT wrote:Blacks are a curious bunch. On the one hand they complain that they aren't getting a fair shake in America. I agree. On the other hand they were forcibly against their will wrenched from their home continent. But they don't want to go back to their home. Being here suits them fine it seems. No, I'm suggesting that they were not all kidnapped and many were sold into slavery by their Kings for either money/trinkets or just a good way to get rid of a dissident.
____________________ (Avatar created by OMNT.) “Socialism is a philosophy of failure, the creed of ignorance, and the gospel of envy, its inherent virtue is the equal sharing of misery.” Winston Churhill |
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| Posted: Sat Mar 21st, 2009 04:43 pm |
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19th Post |
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KeepOurFreedoms Administratress 
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Moggie wrote: How about just buying local...and supporting local business' and communities regardless of race? Please define local.
____________________ United We Stand, Divided We Fall. |
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| Posted: Wed Mar 25th, 2009 10:46 pm |
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20th Post |
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OMNT Moderator
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Neowell that's an arguement in favor of racism. The black kings got rid of the jerks in the tribe and sent them over to America. Sounds right. Now they're here
____________________ Live the legend |
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