There are certain characteristics of existing business perspectives that have a negative impact on the quality of life for large segments of our communities. There is nothing intrinsically wrong with the pursuit of reasonable profits serving the demands of society. However, the motivation to increase profits has required countless regulations in a futile attempt to protect the safety of the consumer and the environment. The smoking factories of the industrial revolution, the plantations in the south, the sweat shops in inner cities across the country, the drug dealers on all most every corner, are all examples of businesses operating with a lack of social responsibility.
The current systems we have established to regulate business operations have proved to be largely ineffective in assuring that business operates in a socially responsible manner. Social responsibility has generally been a function of federal, state and local governments, however these entities fall short in their ability to accomplish their regulatory and enforcement responsibilities.
The education system is just one of the examples of the failure of the government operation of a vital component of our acculturation process. The educational deficiencies within our inner city schools are perpetuating the collapse of our economic viability. It's impossible to get a job without the skills necessary to perform the functions required by big business. And to further complicate the issue, corporations are downsizing and outsourcing to improve their bottom lines.
The basic driving force of big business is profits. The motivation to increase profits translates into charging what the market will bear, while decreasing the costs of production, within a constantly expanding market. Technology employed since the industrial revolution has, allowed companies to produce a wide variety of goods in large automated facilities, while eliminating millions of jobs. This strategy was based on efforts to take advantage of economies-of-scale, the larger the volume, the smaller the unit cost. However, the costs of advertising, packaging, and transportation to distant market places, coupled with high overheads and increasing profits, have resulted in consumer prices grossly inflated over the true value of the goods.
There are numerous products which can be produced more cost-effectively in small facilities close to the marketplace. The restoration of existing vacant buildings, and the establishment of production and service facilities, are extremely viable investments, when supported by the local community's existing purchasing power. The consumer can have a positive impact on the community by buying from businesses that are socially responsible. Businesses can cooperate to build stable markets which have a positive synergistic impact. This fosters the development of a healthy economic system.
BlackAmerica supports the delivery of quality goods and services to the consumer at cost-effective prices. The practice of contrived markets, and grossly inflated prices does not bode well for our communities. BlackAmerica supports the cooperation of businesses in our efforts to meet the "unmet needs" of our communities, and improve the quality of life for everyone.
The success of economic development efforts here and abroad is "a given", if we can focus investment dollars and human capital on meeting the "unmet needs" of society in a socially responsible economically viable manner. If we work together toward a common goal we can provide for our needs, improve the quality of life, and preserve the planet for our children.
BlackAmerica's mission is to help facilitate the process of improving the quality of life by providing a vehicle to focus black resources and foster socially responsible economic development. This is not a position that advocates separatism, we must form coalitions with people of intregrity from which ever ethic spring they come from. However, the bond that we share by color should become an economic asset toward the development of businesses within our communities.
It is necesary that we overcome the negative perceptions which we have inflicted on our own businesses. I cannot count the times that I've heard people express sentiments against buying black goods and services. The responsibility of those of us who are in business is not only to provide a quality product at a reasonable cost, but to help meet the "unmet needs" of our communities.
There are millions of skilled black people working within big businesses, developing and producing the goods and services we consume everyday. They are trapped by "golden handcuffs" reaching for their piece of the pie. Yet the impact of the public education system has fueled their flight to the suburbs. The fear of crime and high property taxes, resulting from a skrinking tax base, has been an added incentive for them to leave the inner cities. Their dreams of success may include having their own business, but most would never take the risk. So they continue to help pay corporate bonuses to the CEO's and perpetuate the existing systems.
A lot of black businesses are conducting business the same way that big businesses does, and being successful at it. However, there are opportunities to structure more appropriate strategies toward business operation and development, for the provision of essential goods and services at the community level. The incentive exists for the community to focus it's existing purchasing power to support those businesses which contribute to the effort of meeting the "unmet needs" of the community.
BlackAmerica's Mission Statement
Strategy for Economic development
Copyright © 1996 Ronald F. Smith, P.E. All rights reserved. No part of this work may be reproduced in any form without written permission from the publisher.