April 5th, 2007
Minority Owned Business, set asides, Good or Bad?
Many companies that do business with government agencies, could be held accountable for diversity spend goals. The purpose is for businesses to put aside money to help disadvantaged business suceed. There use to be a quota system in which a vast majority of business owners were white male. There are set aside programs for WBE,women business enterprise, and MBE, minority business enterprise. The intent is genuine but many of the old school and conservatives hate these programs.
39 years after the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, we have in deed had progress. Separate rest rooms are no longer, we can drink from the same fountain, stay in the same hotel and even marry out of race. Many conservatives would say these programs are no longer needed, the Negro has made enough progress. As mentioned prior, it is not only blacks that benefit from set asides but like welfare programs the perception is it is just us.
I have a business,www.grnoakpark.com and I do executive search and placement. My goal is to be seen as a recruiter and not just a minority recruiter. Many black professionals today feel the same. In my case, I would gladly help companies in the health care field locate diversity canidates. I also will help find other canidates and from my years working in a large company my contacts run the spectrum.
These programs are good for business and business owners. That is why it is upsetting to hear about cases of fraud or white run companies using a black face to get a deal. I hope we generate some discussion on this topic. Please read the link from The Chicago Sun Times and come back to comment.
http://www.suntimes.com/news/marin/325535,CST-EDT-carol04.article
April 5th, 2007 at 11:12 am
i think the very fact that this discussion is being had in mainstream or private media is the exact reason why programs like this need to exist.
while i’ve never been a fan of quotas and ’set asides’ can be argued until you’re blue in the face, the point is that you recognize that people still look at you as a possible conduit to a minority entity.
think about that.
you are cognizant of your race. companies see that first. it is used as a tactic. it used as a sales pitch. but why?
because race is still a preoccupation, the programs that recognize this and try to deflect it will always be necessary.
people love this ‘rock in a glass house’ fantasy. they want it abolished, yet the first thing on their mind when i walk into an office with my shirt and tie on is….
i had a post about it. peep it.
April 5th, 2007 at 12:41 pm
I think set the set asides are a great programs for Minority owned business with solid performance and great customer service. I think the perceptions is also that these contracts are given to inferior business that are not deserving of these set asides.
These programs provide a springboard for minority businesses to grow in revenue and size.
I think the fact that some businesses practice using a minority front-man to secure set aside contracts has more to do with these companies just being plain greedy, the also have the mentality that only they can have success and no one else. The would exist and exploit some other program if set asides didnt exist
April 5th, 2007 at 12:58 pm
LDW, you said it all, and some set aside minority owned business ventures have done poorly and despite the fact many more do excellent work the perception of less than is true
April 5th, 2007 at 6:26 pm
Fredric, If we could eliminate discrination there would be no need for set asides, I want to be known as a businessman but if there is money on the table then,let’s get it. I remember early in my career, I wore a full beard, looked good too, my white manager told me he could not believe I would wear my beard on sales calls. my reply, if the prospect can get by the fact that I am black, by the time he notices the beard, it will not matter. Which is your point, the first thing people see is race.
April 7th, 2007 at 12:29 am
I work in a private consulting firm that does a lot of business in the public sector. I’ve encountered a number of “minority” firms that had a minority spouse with no real expertise in the firm - other than maybe as a book keeper. So, I have a somewhat dim view of minority set asides.
However, I am a big fan of small business set asides. I would like to see opportunities for the small firms to get a chance - regardless of race or ethnicity.
–Ron
April 8th, 2007 at 6:25 pm
I agree with Fredric’s comment “i think the very fact that this discussion is being had in mainstream or private media is the exact reason why programs like this need to exist.”…
As long as these issue are being talked about,it means that the program is not working the way it was suppose to. Not fully at least. I’m sure the conservative part can find thousands of examples to show that the program is working. But I’m pretty sure we could fine thousands more that show it isn’t.
April 9th, 2007 at 6:41 pm
An awesome topic and points raised indeed in this blog. The idea that black people have enough is the biggest lie of the century. It’s unfair, all around the board in life, and especially unrealistically harsh in life for black people. It’s not an excuse to fail, but a reality to deal with. For expample, If you look at the major urban areas here in America, you’ll notice the differences in neighborhoods, it’s upkeep, and the funding utilized to preserve, or improve white areas, as opposed to black areas. Every single city, can be conceptionalized as if there are two cities in each urban area. Actually I’m tired of it. The black communities are suffocated with the kinds of appropriated & sophisticatedly designed creation of events scenarios, contained ignorance ambitions, and indifferences by those who make the laws, serving to cut off the very potential for change, and opportunity as a whole. This is done from the bottom, while whites, and other minorities are benefiting from these kinds of conditions portrayed upon the black thought process from the top. So the rightful benefactors of the programs to render increase to an individuals living conditions, or growth are often left out of the hands of those allowing blacks who can use these programs to share, and become a blessing to others who want to run, and own businesses. I agree with you 100%. I as well as others have formulated a company to offer special assistance, referals, and state of the art web presence for small business minorities to appear just as impressive online as the big industry professionals, and I find peace in knowing that I have lent my hand in supporting a black based momentum to succeed beyond opposition. Minority front-men are just as bad as the people who take away the opportunities for other blacks to experience hope utilizing beneficial programs, and the process to promote this kind of behavior should be stopped. That’s why I have dedicated my life to creating a powerful first impression of black owned businesses via a state of the art website online.
April 10th, 2007 at 8:00 am
I apologize in advance for my short comment and for not being more well-versed on such an important topic, but in my mind, this issue is cut-and-dried. Institutional racism exists and constructs must be established to counter it. [More later.] Awesome blog, by the way. Thank you, James.
April 10th, 2007 at 10:37 am
Ron, that is the problem with scam companies, they hurt the whole concept and sprit. I agree with the need to help small business but also feel the need and purpose for set asides that are used properly.
April 10th, 2007 at 10:46 am
Scott, I agree with your comment. Here in Chicago, Congressman Jesse Jackson JR has put pressure on Mayor Daily to develop the south end of Chicago. Rep Jackson considered a run for Mayor, and all of sudden Daily started giving consideration for economic development on the south side. Our vote should come with a price. In Chicago thanks for leaders like Jesse Jr,we are seeing some urban development away from the lake and the shopping areas
April 10th, 2007 at 10:48 am
Troy, thanks for your comment, if we could end racism and discimination, we could set aside, set asides
April 10th, 2007 at 2:15 pm
Dame, you and I think a like on this issue. All we want is an opportunity. The link pointed to a true business, headed by a blackinbusiness. The major white company still wanted to use this brother as a front man. Stuff like that reflects poorly on black business and set aside programs
April 11th, 2007 at 5:37 pm
I totally agree with you also Jim. It is no wonder that we are still have this conversation and will continue to in the foreseeable future.
April 15th, 2007 at 1:48 am
Where can you find Blacks that have complete control over where and who they can spend money with.Government Money,Federal,State,City Small & Big Business.I have been in corporate sales for many years.You can go into almost any Federal Office,State Office,City Office,Small or Big Business blacks can be everywhere but ask who makes the purchasing decision who has control over spendind the money 9 out 10 they are white.And the one black that might have the power is usually not intreted in helping blacks.
April 16th, 2007 at 2:44 pm
Karl, I agree, I was in sales in DC and Baltimore and often times found Blacks whom were uncomfortable buying from me because I was black. These were Toms, but I also had so blacks that helped me out. In the work place as a manager their were house nwords, that were black and could only identifly with white leaders. Thank God they were the minority