William Reed — Race Matters, but Note Role Culture Plays

American Blacks must cultivate an entrepreneurial spirit independent of any president in the White House. – Armstrong Williams

 

William Reed is head of the Business Exchange Network and available for speaking/seminar projects through the Bailey Group.org.

(HipHopRepublican.com)

Despite good intentions and a twenty-five fold increase in welfare spending since 1967, centrally designed and administered social programs have largely failed to strengthen the indigenous cultural institutions upon which economic advancement depends. Low levels of business growth have retarded savings, investments, and jobs in Black communities. Public policy decisions can support community-based entrepreneurship, but it takes racially-sensitive people to make it work. Blacks haven’t had such racial champions in the Congress since Rep. Parren Mitchell. During a distinguished 16-year career, Mitchell forcefully fought for affirmative action legislation. Thirty years ago, as Chairman of the Small Business Committee, Mitchell attached an amendment to a $4 billion public works bill that compelled state and local governments, seeking federal grants, to set aside 10 percent of the funds to retain minority firms as contractors and subcontractors.

Blacks’ strategies and politicians show that entrepreneurship is a “White thing” that they don’t understand. A majority of contemporary Black Americans have placed their hopes of equality and justice on the government. Whites do not share these views — exemplifying a tension in opinions about whether “mainstream” or “Black” issues dominate political themes and priorities.

Blacks need to celebrate entrepreneurialism, and cease their fixation with being victims. Contrary to what some Blacks seem to think, capitalism is not evil or amoral. In its proper form it encourages such virtues as hard work, cooperation, resolve and deferral of gratification. More Black Americans should advance understanding of the causes, means, and effects of government power and start engaging institutions that protect and advance liberty and prosperity.

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