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I didn't know he was still around, after he went to prison Willimina Roulark took his place on the democratic ticket. He got out of prison and ran against her on the republican ticket with a resounding win, why anyone would listen to him is beyond me.
It is interesting how racists always have another group to blame for their failures (white, black, brown, whatever). If feel the same about dittoheads blaming liberals for everything. Lame.
Back in college I always felt all the black kids studying African-American studies just inflamed their sense of the importance of race. Sure it is important, and definitely worth a survey course or two, but as a major? Come on. Imagine a kid from W. Virginia majoring in Hillbilly Studies or an New York Jew studying American Judaism. Get a skill and get over it.
While I don't agree with the way Marion Barry said what he said....I agree with his sentiment.
I was born and raised in DC (Ward 8) and most of the beauty supply, convenience, etc are owned by Asians. They are INCREDIBLY rude and racist towards their black patrons. The products are sub par, but many people are poor and can't afford to go further for necessities. These stores take advantage of this. The stores are usually dirty and the ones that sell food items are routinely closed for health code violations (only to be reopened under a new name).
I recall black-owned stores coming in and trying to have a presence. I remember one in particular that sold really good soul food. For whatever reason, the store did not make it long-term. Many of these Asian-owned stores have a network of people helping them, so they are able to make it long-term.
I would LOVE to own a beauty supply store, but it is INCREDIBLY difficult to get this type of store off the ground. The Asians have the market cornered. If I ever win the lottery, I would love to start a franchise that will allow more Black women to own and operate their own beauty supply stores.
But, yeah...don't agree with the way he said it. But, I do agree that Blacks should be owning and operating more of these stores. But, unfortunately, it's not as easy to get a business going as some might think.
There's this meme in the Black community that I've heard for 15 years or so that the immigrant store owners in the hood get special loans or grants from the government. I've heard radio DJs, talk show host, educated classmates and co-workers also repeat this yet no one to date has provided a link to this immigrant only loan program.
Marion Barry is playing to his base which is not equipped to compete and view the wealth and success of others as either ill gained or to put it more crassly it belongs to them.
WRONG. Many know that those who own these stores do so with the support of family, especially Asians. Many Asians will pool money and resources together to get a store off the ground. You'll even find the kids working at these stores.
My husband works at a bank and he says that many of the Asian members that come in for loans aren't actually getting loans for themselves, but rather for their family to get a business started. So, you'll have multiple family members getting loans to go towards one venture. With those sort of resources, it's much easier to get a business going. This is not always an option for black Americans.
It is interesting how racists always have another group to blame for their failures (white, black, brown, whatever). If feel the same about dittoheads blaming liberals for everything. Lame.
Back in college I always felt all the black kids studying African-American studies just inflamed their sense of the importance of race. Sure it is important, and definitely worth a survey course or two, but as a major? Come on. Imagine a kid from W. Virginia majoring in Hillbilly Studies or an New York Jew studying American Judaism. Get a skill and get over it.
It never fails that something like will pop up and remind me why I'm glad I don't live in DC
Does this so-called "leader" think that store owners protecting themselves with plexiglass is more of an outrage than the high crime that is on the other side of the glass?
I've worked all over D.C. I was based in S.E. but worked everywhere.
Are you contesting that SE DC is not a poverty stricken cesspool???
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