Overcoming Racism Game Plan
Inspired by the post in which a writer described some of the areas in which African Americans need to focus if we are ever to overcome racism in America, I have decided to contribute what I believe would help to alleviate some of the struggles African Americans deal with daily. Because, in all reality, racism shows no sign of letting up anytime soon whether regionally here in America or globally. It is inevitable that African Americans, a people known for overcoming immense odds,will have to make a way using innovate and technological methods. Let me know what you think.
I am an African American professional in the Bay Area and I feel that it is my duty to give back. I have read numerous books about racism, most of which have been used as textbooks in prominent colleges like Harvard, Yale, and Stanford. The most remarkable thing that I noted when reading these books was that all of them gave credence to what African Americans and other disadvantaged groups have been arguing about for years. Therefore, since I am in a position to help the community, this post is intended to begin or at least start a forum dedicated to helping one another overcome the affects of racism.
My Ideas go as follows:
A. The internet, in my view at least, is seen as the great equalizer. Since racism is very much linked to the visual perceptions by others, I feel that it is paramount that African Americans and other disadvantaged groups use this electronic medium as a way to achieve some level of upward mobility. This is because I have come to notice that many biased people believe that African Americans are to poor or unintelligent to have access to the internet much less have the money to purchase computers. Therefore the more you conceal your identity using the internet the less likely people are to discriminate against you. One way of using the internet for example would be: I have a financial planner that performs my investments for me. As a way to help other African Americans that do not have a good financial planner in their area, or do not know the proper financial information that would allow them to acquire wealth, those of us in a position to do so (myself) should inform others how to invest. This would eliminate or improve the following:
1. High prices associated with hiring a financial planner.
2. Help other African Americans build wealth
3. Promote more internet networking amongst African Americans
4. Use these investment opportunities as a way to hire more African American CPA’s and financial planners
5. Help to keep money invested in the community.
B. The second idea falls along the same lines of using the internet but more in a networking group capacity. Long gone are the days of mobilizing large demonstrators to march against overt racism. Instead I say that African Americans form small groups from 6-8 members (as this is the size of groups that are most effective according to Harvard business textbooks) with the intent to overcome racism but connect to each other via the internet and mobilize under one common goal. This would guarantee large networks linked by technology dedicated to upward mobility, while still retaining allot of autonomy for cohesive decision making.
Within each group, one person would have a distinct role. For example one person would be dedicated to finding better ways to invest financially, one person would be dedicated to finding employment opportunities open to African Americans and tracking changes in the employment market, one person would be dedicated to finding the most complete scholastic knowledge from prominent school systems like Stanford, Yale and Harvard (because many schools that are supposed to teach the African American community are either under funded, or inadequate) and another person would perform yet another function. This type of team unity and team building techniques would offset some of the effects of racism while building unity and strength within the African American community nationwide. When having meetings to discuss how each faction is doing we would then use African American travel agents, African American websites, or other African American vendors to support our endeavors. For example my personal chef is West Indian American (In America considered African American) and my CPA is African American. I use his wife, (also African American) to help me find good deals on real state. The key here is to use African American resources. In addition to the formation of teams with 6-8 members, each member would be responsible for contributing an allocated amount of money per month. However this money would not be used for selfish means. Instead the group would decide how the money should be distributed yearly. All team members for example will be able to view the every amount they contribute to the team savings with no member contributing more than the other. However no one person will be able to take money out of the account. All members must agree as specified by terms set by an agreed upon team consensus. These terms will be legally binding and made by and African American attorney.
For example: Let’s say teams of six contribute $100 a month individually. At the end of each year the team members would decide how the money would best be utilized in the African American community. For example the criteria for using the money would be:
a. Purchasing new computers to promote ongoing African American technological networking and innovation.
b. Use the money towards SAT, ACT, and other college prep course tutoring for the family of the African American team members.
c. Use the money to open an account in an African American owned bank and continually contribute to the account.
d. Invest the money using an African American financial advisor and/or CPA
e. Use the money to support African American businesses.
The key here would be deciding upon goals that would benefit all team members and the African American community.
B. The third and last idea, for now, would incorporate team strategy. Upon building a network of small teams that is part of a larger network, designed to oversee operations, team members would continually strive to rid themselves of depravity and self destruction, caused by years of inequality. One book I read suggested that to succeed in anything one must change what he/she has the power to change. For example: Think of all the negative stereotypes about Black people in general. To offset some of the negativity, one must be the antithesis of the negative stereotypes. If the general consensus is that African Americans are lazy, then one should strive to never let people believe that they are lazy. If the general consensus is that the majority of African Americans are uneducated, then one must strive to never let people believe that they themselves uneducated. I am not saying to become a sellout, but rather use the team environment these teams are intended to provide, to support one another. In fact as a way to combat what I term “selloutitis”, team members will be required to give back to community in many facets.
Now I know what some people might say. “Black people will never come together to help one another”. “Black people hate black people”. These are exactly the type of African Americans that should be avoided when pursuing a network such as this. Their viral contempt for themselves and others, that wish to better their situation only cause contention and erode teambuilding synergy. In all reality, if it were not for African Americans I would not be in the position I am today. Two African Americans told me to study electronics which allowed me to work at the great company and make a good salary, an African American doctor helped me to overcome a great obstacle which had previously impeded my progression towards life goals, my African American friends (one who supports this website) have always had my back during tough times, and so called African American thugs stood up for me when no one else would. So to say that there is no unity among African Americans is false. Instead of tearing one another down it is our duty to see how we can bolster more support and more unity in our community.
Inspired by the post in which a writer described some of the areas in which African Americans need to focus if we are ever to overcome racism in America, I have decided to contribute what I believe would help to alleviate some of the struggles African Americans deal with daily. Because, in all reality, racism shows no sign of letting up anytime soon whether regionally here in America or globally. It is inevitable that African Americans, a people known for overcoming immense odds,will have to make a way using innovate and technological methods. Let me know what you think.
I am an African American professional in the Bay Area and I feel that it is my duty to give back. I have read numerous books about racism, most of which have been used as textbooks in prominent colleges like Harvard, Yale, and Stanford. The most remarkable thing that I noted when reading these books was that all of them gave credence to what African Americans and other disadvantaged groups have been arguing about for years. Therefore, since I am in a position to help the community, this post is intended to begin or at least start a forum dedicated to helping one another overcome the affects of racism.
My Ideas go as follows:
A. The internet, in my view at least, is seen as the great equalizer. Since racism is very much linked to the visual perceptions by others, I feel that it is paramount that African Americans and other disadvantaged groups use this electronic medium as a way to achieve some level of upward mobility. This is because I have come to notice that many biased people believe that African Americans are to poor or unintelligent to have access to the internet much less have the money to purchase computers. Therefore the more you conceal your identity using the internet the less likely people are to discriminate against you. One way of using the internet for example would be: I have a financial planner that performs my investments for me. As a way to help other African Americans that do not have a good financial planner in their area, or do not know the proper financial information that would allow them to acquire wealth, those of us in a position to do so (myself) should inform others how to invest. This would eliminate or improve the following:
1. High prices associated with hiring a financial planner.
2. Help other African Americans build wealth
3. Promote more internet networking amongst African Americans
4. Use these investment opportunities as a way to hire more African American CPA’s and financial planners
5. Help to keep money invested in the community.
B. The second idea falls along the same lines of using the internet but more in a networking group capacity. Long gone are the days of mobilizing large demonstrators to march against overt racism. Instead I say that African Americans form small groups from 6-8 members (as this is the size of groups that are most effective according to Harvard business textbooks) with the intent to overcome racism but connect to each other via the internet and mobilize under one common goal. This would guarantee large networks linked by technology dedicated to upward mobility, while still retaining allot of autonomy for cohesive decision making.
Within each group, one person would have a distinct role. For example one person would be dedicated to finding better ways to invest financially, one person would be dedicated to finding employment opportunities open to African Americans and tracking changes in the employment market, one person would be dedicated to finding the most complete scholastic knowledge from prominent school systems like Stanford, Yale and Harvard (because many schools that are supposed to teach the African American community are either under funded, or inadequate) and another person would perform yet another function. This type of team unity and team building techniques would offset some of the effects of racism while building unity and strength within the African American community nationwide. When having meetings to discuss how each faction is doing we would then use African American travel agents, African American websites, or other African American vendors to support our endeavors. For example my personal chef is West Indian American (In America considered African American) and my CPA is African American. I use his wife, (also African American) to help me find good deals on real state. The key here is to use African American resources. In addition to the formation of teams with 6-8 members, each member would be responsible for contributing an allocated amount of money per month. However this money would not be used for selfish means. Instead the group would decide how the money should be distributed yearly. All team members for example will be able to view the every amount they contribute to the team savings with no member contributing more than the other. However no one person will be able to take money out of the account. All members must agree as specified by terms set by an agreed upon team consensus. These terms will be legally binding and made by and African American attorney.
For example: Let’s say teams of six contribute $100 a month individually. At the end of each year the team members would decide how the money would best be utilized in the African American community. For example the criteria for using the money would be:
a. Purchasing new computers to promote ongoing African American technological networking and innovation.
b. Use the money towards SAT, ACT, and other college prep course tutoring for the family of the African American team members.
c. Use the money to open an account in an African American owned bank and continually contribute to the account.
d. Invest the money using an African American financial advisor and/or CPA
e. Use the money to support African American businesses.
The key here would be deciding upon goals that would benefit all team members and the African American community.
B. The third and last idea, for now, would incorporate team strategy. Upon building a network of small teams that is part of a larger network, designed to oversee operations, team members would continually strive to rid themselves of depravity and self destruction, caused by years of inequality. One book I read suggested that to succeed in anything one must change what he/she has the power to change. For example: Think of all the negative stereotypes about Black people in general. To offset some of the negativity, one must be the antithesis of the negative stereotypes. If the general consensus is that African Americans are lazy, then one should strive to never let people believe that they are lazy. If the general consensus is that the majority of African Americans are uneducated, then one must strive to never let people believe that they themselves uneducated. I am not saying to become a sellout, but rather use the team environment these teams are intended to provide, to support one another. In fact as a way to combat what I term “selloutitis”, team members will be required to give back to community in many facets.
Now I know what some people might say. “Black people will never come together to help one another”. “Black people hate black people”. These are exactly the type of African Americans that should be avoided when pursuing a network such as this. Their viral contempt for themselves and others, that wish to better their situation only cause contention and erode teambuilding synergy. In all reality, if it were not for African Americans I would not be in the position I am today. Two African Americans told me to study electronics which allowed me to work at the great company and make a good salary, an African American doctor helped me to overcome a great obstacle which had previously impeded my progression towards life goals, my African American friends (one who supports this website) have always had my back during tough times, and so called African American thugs stood up for me when no one else would. So to say that there is no unity among African Americans is false. Instead of tearing one another down it is our duty to see how we can bolster more support and more unity in our community.
so please email me any information that i can become a part of.........makeover.1@netzero.com thank you
