Black Baltimore, where are your institutions and businesses??! (hotels, restaurants)

[Infinite_heights77]

Check this out:

Black America is in DEEP TROUBLE!! by Dr. Claude Anderson

Black America Is In DEEP Trouble !..Dr. Claude Anderson

Black America Is In DEEP Trouble !..Dr. Claude Anderson - YouTube

[bmoregrimey]

Originally Posted by Infinite_heights77

The other issue is the "support your local black business" mantra has sort of faded.. with most african americans patronize whatever store/business that is convenient and economical.

Sadly, this is true especially in this city. The previous generation have sold out and bought into this whole Meism instead of institution building, constructing economic infrastructure in your own communities. We are looking at the last days of the Black American in my humble opinion.

Why would anyone go out of there way to support a business if it is not economical or convenient for them. Thats what business is all about providing a service that you feel is economical and convenient. Thats like going out of your way to give away money. Many people do not have the extra time or money to spend to buy a simple product. People are on a budget and people have families that are more important then traveling from west to east baltimore to buy a chicken dinner or whatever the product may be because its just not feasible. But if there are black businesses that are convenient and economical people of all kinds, not just black people, will patronize them.

[Infinite_heights77]

"..Why would anyone go out of there way to support a business if it is not economical or convenient for them..."

Good point!! But, your statement needs be stretched out..

When my stepfather moved to Baltimore from rural Va. in the 1950's, he would always elaborate on how Blacks didn't have to beg for anything, because everything was practically in the neighborhood. There were Black owned restaurants, doctor's office, gentlemen lounges and clubs, hardware stores and other good and services. After integration, many of these entities faded into oblivion..so now, look it what's left???!!

Originally Posted by bmoregrimey

Why would anyone go out of there way to support a business if it is not economical or convenient for them. Thats what business is all about providing a service that you feel is economical and convenient. Thats like going out of your way to give away money. Many people do not have the extra time or money to spend to buy a simple product. People are on a budget and people have families that are more important then traveling from west to east baltimore to buy a chicken dinner or whatever the product may be because its just not feasible. But if there are black businesses that are convenient and economical people of all kinds, not just black people, will patronize them.

[bowian]

Originally Posted by Woodlands

Back when hip hop fashion was sort of underground.. many black businesses sold "urban fashion" because no one else would. This was quickly ursurped by Asians and others that now corner the market on these types of stores. Additionally, now some mainstream department stores like Macy's et al... carry these same products in their "young adult sections" they have the ability to seasonally fire sale items which is often beyond the bottom lines of many independent retailers though some may be owned by LLCs or by many overseas interest that can get import these same brands or "knock off" versions and sell them at a discount and still turn a profit.

That's because, instead of building a brand, the businesses were just selling generic hip hop "gear." However, FUBU is an example of a brand that (apparently) was sold, or licensed, to mainstream stores back when it was still relatively popular. I think that's why we hear so much about "building your brand" among younger people today. They want to build businesses that lead to building wealth. To me, that means producing something that people really want, that can't easily be usurped by generic mass production. I think many young people look beyond the mom and pop businesses, although they are valuable.

[bmoregrimey]

Originally Posted by Infinite_heights77

"..Why would anyone go out of there way to support a business if it is not economical or convenient for them..."

Good point!! But, your statement needs be stretched out..

When my stepfather moved to Baltimore from rural Va. in the 1950's, he would always elaborate on how Blacks didn't have to beg for anything, because everything was practically in the neighborhood. There were Black owned restaurants, doctor's office, gentlemen lounges and clubs, hardware stores and other good and services. After integration, many of these entities faded into oblivion..so now, look it what's left???!!

That is a good point, when black people with money and/or means moved out of the hood they left behind many people who were working class or even worse off economically, educationally, and family wise. So my question to you as why try to bash people whom barely have a ladder to climb up in society? People of the lower class especially if they are black dont have the resources to start and sustain a business especially if you are living in a poor neighborhood. Most businesses in the hood are not industrial type or corporate businesses, except maybe a fast food restaurant, business and customers have to coincide basically. You should check out this local book i beleive its called Not in My Neighborhood, kinda illustrates the point im tying to make.

[EdwardA]

Originally Posted by sittilove

This common and untrue narrative that immigrants are willing to work hard and that blacks are somehow the only group that aren't is lazy thinking at best, and at worst...(*sigh*) Its much deeper than that. Tighter family networks, yes, but also they have greater access to capital and cheaper supplies/commodities overseas and are typically part of more than just a family network--they are connected to national and transnational networks where they can receive all the necessary start-up costs and supplies through who they know and what ethnic group they belong to. They also bring capital, education, skills from abroad, as immigrants who were able to immigrate here legally through our pipelines are generally highly skilled, educated labor from the upper echelons in their home countries.

To expect blacks--a group with very different historical circumstances, lower levels of education/skills or access to good education, and little capital and resources circulating in their own communities (there is barely any intergenerational anything in the black community)--to compete in the same way is a little unrealistic. And any Lebanese, Korean, or Jewish businesses are highly likely to pass their batons on to more Lebanese, Korean, or Jewish individuals (maybe within their families, maybe not). Blacks were squeezed out early on by a variety of factors and its been a struggle to get back in. They would put in the hours if they had resources necessary for it to amount to anything but stress and a heart-attack. I don't think I need to explain the role that white-owned corporations have historically played in addition to all of this.

Woodlands makes some great points! But I would add that many immigrant businesses also very much screw customer service and look terrible, but people go there because their products are cheap many times--also a benefit of their business networks.

So you think some corner store has some great access to capital and secret sources of commodities abroad? Also immigrants that come with great access to capital aren't investing in low margin corner stores or takeout joints in dangerous impoverished areas of cities.

I agree with you on your other points African- American culture simply cannot compete with immigrant cultures, it's simply too damaged by the points you made and large swaths of it are utterly dysfunctional.

[EdwardA]

Originally Posted by Woodlands

The other issue is the "support your local black business" mantra has sort of faded.. with most african americans patronize whatever store/business that is convenient and economical. Other ethic groups or immigrant populations still have this tie because often products/foods that they are looking for are only offered at businesses owned and operated by folks from their native countries.

Back when hip hop fashion was sort of underground.. many black businesses sold "urban fashion" because no one else would. This was quickly ursurped by Asians and others that now corner the market on these types of stores. Additionally, now some mainstream department stores like Macy's et al... carry these same products in their "young adult sections" they have the ability to seasonally fire sale items which is often beyond the bottom lines of many independent retailers though some may be owned by LLCs or by many overseas interest that can get import these same brands or "knock off" versions and sell them at a discount and still turn a profit.

Exactly the buy Black campaigns sound nice but Black consumers are no different than any other consumer, they want the best products for the lowest available price and opportunity cost.

[Infinite_heights77]

You don't get it!

Originally Posted by EdwardA

Exactly the buy Black campaigns sound nice but Black consumers are no different than any other consumer, they want the best products for the lowest available price and opportunity cost.

[Infinite_heights77]

Black America Is In DEEP Trouble !..Dr. Claude Anderson - YouTube

[HandL]

Originally Posted by sittilove

This common and untrue narrative that immigrants are willing to work hard and that blacks are somehow the only group that aren't is lazy thinking at best, and at worst...(*sigh*) Its much deeper than that. Tighter family networks, yes, but also they have greater access to capital and cheaper supplies/commodities overseas and are typically part of more than just a family network--they are connected to national and transnational networks where they can receive all the necessary start-up costs and supplies through who they know and what ethnic group they belong to. They also bring capital, education, skills from abroad, as immigrants who were able to immigrate here legally through our pipelines are generally highly skilled, educated labor from the upper echelons in their home countries.

To expect blacks--a group with very different historical circumstances, lower levels of education/skills or access to good education, and little capital and resources circulating in their own communities (there is barely any intergenerational anything in the black community)--to compete in the same way is a little unrealistic. And any Lebanese, Korean, or Jewish businesses are highly likely to pass their batons on to more Lebanese, Korean, or Jewish individuals (maybe within their families, maybe not). Blacks were squeezed out early on by a variety of factors and its been a struggle to get back in. They would put in the hours if they had resources necessary for it to amount to anything but stress and a heart-attack. I don't think I need to explain the role that white-owned corporations have historically played in addition to all of this.

Woodlands makes some great points! But I would add that many immigrant businesses also very much screw customer service and look terrible, but people go there because their products are cheap many times--also a benefit of their business networks.

All too real.