Nigganomics - The propensity that blacks have for overcompensating for feelings of low self worth by purchasing expensive items that will convey the impression of economic
prosperity, also described as hustlin' , making the quick dollar, or "stackin paper" in an "unconventional" manner without regard to the accumulation of wealth
I know the title for this blog is in direct opposition to the subject matter offered for consideration in previous submissions. The reason for my deviation is that the commentary in this blog is; beyond any measure of doubt one of the most significant subjects I will present to you, the reader for consideration. It is my firm belief that our very survival as a culture depends on understanding, then rectifying it.
In past blogs I’ve attempted to explain that we are still the targets of a conscious, directed, and aggressive, campaign of mentality manipulation that started from the time we first set foot upon these shores.
I hope that you, the reader have considered the knowledge put forth in these blogs and took note of the fact that at no time have I ever used the word victim or victimization. It’s been my experience that there are basically two types of people. Those who take responsibility for the things that occur in their lives and those who blame their circumstances on external forces (victims). To use the word victim would imply that external forces have ultimate control over our actions. We cannot control the actions of others who desire to manipulated our behavior, but we can, however control how we ultimately react to their attempts at manipulation. Our destiny is our own to control.
I hope that you, the reader have considered the knowledge put forth in these blogs and took note of the fact that at no time have I ever used the word victim or victimization. It’s been my experience that there are basically two types of people. Those who take responsibility for the things that occur in their lives and those who blame their circumstances on external forces (victims). To use the word victim would imply that external forces have ultimate control over our actions. We cannot control the actions of others who desire to manipulated our behavior, but we can, however control how we ultimately react to their attempts at manipulation. Our destiny is our own to control.
The best-laid plans of mice and men sometimes go awry
Let me offer a few statistics for your evaluation. We know that there are approximately 41.1 million blacks in America. Blacks currently generate about 740 billion dollars in buying power. It is estimated that by 2011 that number will be over one trillion dollars!
This “budget” makes Black America the ninth wealthiest “nation” in the world!
Despite our collective buying power, and because of our undisciplined spending habits we remain the poorest ethnic group in this country. According to “financial experts” most blacks, no matter what their current situation, upper, middle or lower (economic) class, maintain extreme financial risk due to extensive credit card debt and by purchasing high interest items that quickly depreciate in value. In other words, as a rule we spend our money, we don’t save or invest our money.
Do we have some questionable spending habits?
1. Blacks spend over 75% more than Whites on boys’ clothing (poor investment, boys continue to grow)
2. Blacks are estimated to spend more than $500 million per year on McDonald’s fast food. (ever really notice their commercials?, yes I know the CEO is black)
3. Black males between the ages of 13 and 24, who are less than 3 percent of the total U.S. population account for 10 percent of the $12 billion dollar athletic shoe market, purchased more than 1 out of every 5 pairs of the overpriced shoes made by Nike ( Just do It...right)
4. Black females, who equal approximately 6 percent of the total U.S population, purchase 15 percent of the $4 billion dollar cosmetics industry, or $600 million and spend 26 percent more on perfume than any other female ethnic group. (Do they think they smell that bad?)
I haven’t even mentioned such idiotic expressions of nigganomics like “makin it rain in the club”, specialty rims that cost $2,000.00 each on a car worth less than half what the rims cost, or the indulgent consumption of high end liquor and electronics, to reinforce our “playa status”, as the world outside our communities laugh and prosper. I did this purposely because;
I’m not trying to humiliate,
I’m just trying to educate!
If we truly want status, if we really want people to respect us as a people and acknowledge our economic power, let’s start producing businesses that help feed, cloth, and shelter those whom we should have a sense of responsibility toward.
It’s taken me awhile to “wake up and smell the coffee”. I’ve mismanaged a lot of situations in my life, money is only one of them, believe me. However, there did come a time when I realized my thinking was defective, and I made a conscious choice to implement change.
I understand why we display an illogical loyalty to “top brands”, as a means of creating the illusion that we are just as economically capable as anyone else. Even though some of these "brands" have come out publicly and stated that they didn’t need or want our business, i.e. (Tommy Hilfiger).
I understand our deep seated need for instant gratification, to “have it now” because we believe our lives are fleeting, not as precious as the lives of others, after all “tommorrow is not promised”, right.
I understand our deep seated need for instant gratification, to “have it now” because we believe our lives are fleeting, not as precious as the lives of others, after all “tommorrow is not promised”, right.
I understand, and have fallen victim to paying the “black price”, a higher price or interest rate applied to us, under the guise of “poor credit”. Yet we purchase the item anyway.
I understand that major corporations have spent and continue to spend, billions of advertising dollars, sometimes using so called black “celebrities” to keep our minds focused on material acquisition as apposed to uplifting ourselves as a people.
Watch this and then tell me I'm WRONG !!!
I understand all these things and more.
What I don’t understand is why we continue to allow ourselves to be manipulated by outside forces that only want to economically exploit us.
None of the dollars we spend outside our community ever make there way back into our community. This is why the “hood” is failing! When we make foolish decisions with our money, when our money is readily handed back over to the very people that exploited us, dominated us, and who helped facilitate the desolation of our community.
Why do we willingly participate in the cycle of our own destruction? We’re like a hamster on a wheel, always chasing that treat that's just outside it's reach. This is by design. It is an undeniable example of
the ramifications from continual, generational, psychological slavery.
You will never accumulate enough material wealth to free your mind from bondage. Only knowledge can do that.
There will never be enough cologne or perfume to camouflage the stench of ignorence preventing your mind from acquiring knowledge of self.
!!! We Shall Overcome !!!
What I don’t understand is why we don’t take the time to learn the basic “ABC’s” of economics, why so many of us consciously choose to remain fiscally inept.
You can go into any major city in this nation and find a Chinatown. You can go into any city where there is a large Mexican population and find a “Little Tijuana, or Little Mexico”.
In any of these ethnic communities you will find people of the same ethnic background doing major business with each other. You will see a variety of businesses, large and small, from major banking institutions to the small “mom & pop” type store.
In any of these ethnic communities you will find people of the same ethnic background doing major business with each other. You will see a variety of businesses, large and small, from major banking institutions to the small “mom & pop” type store.
Now take a look around the black community, ask yourself who owns the businesses you see? We are the only ethnic group that doesn’t own the majority of the businesses that exist in out own communities!
Our women spend millions of dollars on "imitation hair" in an attempt to lenghten and straighten the hair God gave them, and that is their privilege, yet not one dollar of the millions spent ever returns to the black community.
Our women spend millions of dollars on "imitation hair" in an attempt to lenghten and straighten the hair God gave them, and that is their privilege, yet not one dollar of the millions spent ever returns to the black community.
Now ask yourself, How would my community benefit if a large portion of the dollars I spend remain in the community where I live? Would the dollars I spend on a daily basis contribute significantly towards uplifting the community where I live?
I believe if you are honest with yourself, perhaps you will begin to see the current state of Black America a little differently and appreciate the need for immediate change.
I believe if you are honest with yourself, perhaps you will begin to see the current state of Black America a little differently and appreciate the need for immediate change.
Blacks must begin to frequent black owned businesses if these businesses are to survive.
Black business owners must realize the value of the black customer and treat them with respect and dignity, as if their business life depended on it.
When we learn to spend a large portion of that 1 trillion dollar budget in our own communities we will begin to see an immediate impact. We are the only ones that can effect this change. There isn’t a government program in existence that will achieve the results that the commitment to our own business community will.
This is only half the battle. We must make the transition from consumer to producer, then we can create opportunities for others in the community, as well as create a stable economic enviornment.
We have the (economic) power to dictate our own reality, to bring an end to nigganomics, to create real change. The type of change that will significantly benefit our people and continue to benefit our children for generations to come. Our future, as well as our very existence could be at stake.
In the end it’s all up to us!
Don’t Cry About It, Be About It
The speaker in this video is Dr. Claud Anderson, do yourself a favor, get his book Powernomics, you will be enlightened !!!
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