Lessons From the State of Black Business Event Last Week

The Dallas Black Chamber of Commerce (www.dallasblackchamber.org) had our 2nd annual State Of Black Business (SOBB) Forum last week.  A lot of people are confused, or apathetic to the mission of the organization I love, both inside and out.  There are a lot of misperceptions and ill-truths that have evolved during the 89 year history of this organization.I would like to show the Chambers “true mission” in this blog; it’s about education, support, and advocacy.

Most people ask me, “What does the Dallas Black Chamber offer to me?” or “Why do y’all exist?” or “Why does it have to be called the ‘Black’ Chamber?” or event still, “Why do you isolate yourselves and only accept black members?”.  This can easily frustrate any human being that exerts their personal and professional time to do volunteer work for an advocacy group, but I gladly entertain the questions.  Why?  Because, where there are questions, there’s curiosity, and where there’s curiosity, there’s an opportunity for me to share the lessons I’ve learned from my father and his colleagues, and contribute to the improvement of the American Economy (no, not Black economy solely, but American economy).

Some clarification, the Dallas Black Chamber is not just an organization where we can provide free marketing to your organization.  Our mission is to advocate and support entrepreneurs, business owners, and corporations that want to support the African-American community, therefore, you don’t have to be black in order to be a part of this organization, you just need to be a cheerleader or stakeholder for improving the situation (with blacks contributing $1 Trillion to the US Economy, there needs to be an organization(s) that can assist with the education and distribution of black wealth).

I can go on and on about this… This is not the purpose of this post (for more info, go to our website or reach out to me).  I’m posting this to show how the Black Chamber helps a community; by being an objective organization that helps all businesses tread the waters of capitalism.

In this clip (that’s difficult to hear) I am interviewing Hiawatha Williams, Founder and CEO of Williams Chicken.  Though inaudible, he thanks the Dallas Black Chamber for providing:

  1. Events like SOBB to provide entrepreneurs/professionals the opportunity to network and build relationships with larger businesses.
  2. To provide advice and strategy for building and growing your business, and
  3. To defend the smaller businesses, encouraging big entities to use smaller businesses to stimulate our micro-economies.

After talking to Mr. Williams, my spirit was renewed about the aims of the organization; as Chair, it’s easy to get bogged down in the politics of the organization, or the status you receive once you participate in outside programs, representing the organization.  Hearing him thank my father (who was ED of the Chamber in the 1980’s) for giving him sound advice when he was an employee at Church’s Chicken illuminated the importance in having a third-party advocate strategize to assist all people to build wealth; someone whose intent is to help all who ask for help.

This was a wake-up call; we, as an organization, need to do a better job at marketing to the masses what we do at the chamber.  I know A NUMBER of businesses who benefited from advice from our organization or ones like it (other ethnic/cultural/geographic chambers), so those business owners need to speak up as well.  Without an advocate organization, we will not be able to defend the small business, killing what we know as the American Dream.

DISD’s “the hub” posting

I’m honored to be highlighted on the DISD’s publication, sharing my experience at Townview and providing advice to the future on being proactive in networking!

AlumNow: Big “D” Band alum turns passion into building businesses

Setting The Tone Dictates Your Destiny

MLH Workout Chronicles, Day 5

My Gates Millennium Scholar Experience; APPLY TODAY!

My cousin, Deidra, asked me to say a few words about the Bill Gates Millennium Scholarship for her students at church. I thought I’d share it with the rest of the world how the Gates Scholarship changed my tragetory in life.

I will make other comments in other posts; they will be posted as I recall and remember my experiences in college and beyond. The most important take away, is to apply for the scholarship! There’s no excuse for anyone not to get a good education in America. The resources are here, it just takes work, effort, and energy to get it!   Go to www.gmsp.org for more information.

MLH Workout Chronicles, Day 1

I’m starting to write/vlog my workout experience…  Please pray for me, lol

Be Careful America, This Convesation isn’t JUST About Race….

Recently, America has witnessed acts of violence from people and law enforcement that’s tearing this country apart; from the killing of Mike Brown a year ago to the standoff at Dallas Police Headquarters, to the abuse of children at a McKinney pool, to the abuse, arrest, and death of multiple people getting arrested during a “routine” traffic stop. I’ve wondered, “What are people’s motivation? Is it hatred?  Fear?  Ignorance?  The power to exercise their insecurities?  A combination of them all?”  It seems like a complex problem. 

Well if it’s such a complex situation, why are we succumbing to a simple solution: race relations…   I love how in the last year we are placing this conversation in the race box, and nothing else; we’re not talking about privilege, or economics, or power….   Just race.  Really?   JUST Race?   I argue that race is only the manifestation of a deeper issue;  it’s the fruit we see, not the root we need to dig up. This is an issue that needs to be addressed, illuminated, and corrected by ALL parties affected; the oppressed, but most importantly the oppressor, in order for real change in America to happen.  

Lets get one thing straight before we proceed:  I am not saying that race doesn’t play a role.  It’s OBVIOUS blacks are the beneficiaries of violence and oppression from perceived powers at be.  I’m saying our assessments and solutions have been too narrow in scope.   Now back to the post….

My heart is saddened that people are thinking myopically… We’re easy to slap the race card on everything so we perpetuate our cycle of trivializing how blacks are felt in this country and how whites (or non-blacks) can “ignore” the problem and continue to complain how the blacks crying and complaining is affecting productivity or the “American Way”.  The influx of immigrants who can’t empathize the Black American struggle easily side against blacks or become apathetic; they weren’t subject to the slavery and dismantling of their culture for the “American Good”, and sacrificing any policies or opportunities to start from square one in “The American Dream”.

Well I’m sick of it….    There’s a reason why black people feel hopeless, and it’s not just because they are lazy;   I, as a “successful” black man, have a double conscious; one to strive for the best, while the other to strive for the betterment of my people. I am not ONLY screaming for equal rights and opportunities because my demographic is the most vilified, least to tolerate, yet most replicated and admired from afar; that’s too small. I’m urging ALL people to understand they have a responsibility tomake our  society better; and everyone needs to check their position, make corrections, and move accordingly. 
We are smart enough to solve the real problem: Addressing our iniquities of the past (yes, I mean slavery, misogyny, etc.) to make America better.  It won’t be an easy road, but we are made to withstand it.  So before we judge or ignore, let’s try to solve the problem for all to excel.

How A Recharge is SO CRUCIAL!

I just got back from Washington D.C., initially for a conference (where I learned a lot and became reinvigorated in economic development) but stayed a couple of days to enjoy the city, reflect, and recharge before the consistent grind I will have in Dallas this fall.  It’s probably one of the best choices I made this year.  I was starting to flame out, and was starting to get discouraged.  Though I couldn’t afford a vacation (timing’s bad), I was able to hang out with friends and see new sights in a different land, where I’m just one of many, so I can refuel for Dallas.

I want to share a few points I thought of on my flight home:

It’s important to have a different environment for reflection/reset

I’ve tried to have stay-cations, or relax in Dallas, but it doesn’t work for me.  I’m involved in too many things that can pull my attention from resting, therefore not being productive.  For me, I have to physically remove myself from my day-to-day tasks in order to disconnect from it entirely.  This doesn’t have to be the case for everyone, as people can lock themselves in their house and watch Netflix, or turn off their phone to do the same thing.  Me going to another city (or somewhere that’s not Dallas) is very therapeutic; I’m able to hit the “reset” button while observing things that may be able to work in Dallas to improve the city.

Enjoy where you are fully; let go of stresses/burdens from other situations

The one thing I tried not to do, was to take Dallas with me during my R and R time.  I was responsive during the conference, as I was working, but during the weekend, it was my time.  I didn’t respond to emails, I didn’t worry about what was going on in Dallas, I just enjoyed DC.  By doing this, I was able to feel good about where I was Sunday night, and was able to work Monday morning (I was still in DC, but letting everything go for two days showed me a couple of opportunities I can do up there).

Once your back in your normal environment, GO HARD!

This morning, I woke up, and started SPRINTING!  There’s a lot of things I need to catch up on, and new stresses that appeared, but I’m able to have a fresh perspective and rejuvenated spirit to take them on.  I advise people to go all in when you first arrive from vacation so you can set a tone of intensity and purpose.

The one thing that’s starting to sink in from advice numerous people have told me in the past is to take time for myself…  I get it now. I’m not taking weeks off, or going to the moon, it was an extra two days after a conference I attended, but those two days positively affected me!  I’m ready to take on the World!!!

To My White Friends and Family. 

Death of Me

To my white friends and family,I love you all but some of the stuff I’m going to say next may upset you but know that I’m saying it out of love and to give you perspective. This will be long, but stick with me.

Stop with the confederate flag. Seriously. While you may say it’s heritage, for others like my black friends and family see it as hate. You will never understand this. I will never understand this because frankly I got a little bit of your privilege growing up “white.”
Yes, it’s a shame that you can no longer buy confederate merchandise but that’s how economics works. The people complain, the companies respond by removing it off the shelf. I wish I was still able to get supersize fries at McDonalds but more people complained than supported. It’s the right thing to do to remove a flag that represents…

View original post 244 more words