Black In Business

Hello everybody, I have missed my fix of blogging. My last post was July 5th when I wondered what we are known for as blacks in business. I discussed different ethnic groups and the businesses they have made a ethnic core competency. Very interesting debate and we received some insightful comments. For many reasons it appears difficult if not impossible for us to find a core strength in business. Some of the divide and conquer tactics from slavery are alive and well today.
Lucky for me, I overcame my resistance to anything endorsed by Oprah “I am so glad white people love meThe Winfrey. I decided to spend time entranced by the voice of Sidney Poitier for 8 hours listening to his spiritual autobiography, “ The Measureof a Man.” Mr. Poitier helped me answer my own question regarding, what are we known for as blacks in business? I do not see us taking over a business sector; we all have different interest and do not work well together as a ethnic group. If we follow the life of Mr. Poitier, why don’t we strive to be known for achievement and accomplishment? Let be great as our business niche
Mr. Poitier start in life was not with a silver spoon in his mouth. His family home had no running water, no electricity and little hope for a better life. Those of us old enough to remember the incomparable
Movie career of Poitier, do remember how proud we were to see a black movie star. A tall dark skinned man of eloquence and panache. He was a black man playing roles, not as a clown or a criminal or an idiot. Poitiers played a doctor, a detective or a school teacher. This was in the 60’s, as a child, I wondered, “Are these things black people can do?” He gave us something to be proud of. Interesting is that Mr. Poitier faced criticisms from the black community. He was assumed to be an uncle Tom for playing white roles. That is how low our self esteem was, success was white.
The reason I think this book would be a valuable book for black business owners, is the racism Mr. Poitier faced and his attitude and drive that cemented his success, is discussed with many examples.
Did you know in 1968, Poitier had the top billing movie for the year, and the second top billing movie and the third. You knew he was black in a racist country! That is mind blowing; TO SIR WITH LOVE, GUESS WHO”S COMING TO DINNER and IN THE HEAT OF THE NIGHT! Denzel who?
Spencer Tracey and Kathleen Hepburn had to be convinced to take the risk of appearing in a movie with a black leading man for Guess Who’s coming to Dinner. Poitier went to Tracey’s New York apartment for dinner with the 2 stars. He was sized up and they agreed to take the risk. Keep in mind Poitier was an Academy Award winner for Lilly’s of the Field. He faced more scrutiny because he was black As Poitier pointed out, they would not have asked Paul Neumann to face the same scrutiny.
I suggest you listen to this book. Mr. Poitier won a Grammy for best spoken word album. His voice is one I could listen to all day. Lets be known for greatness, regardless of your race, this book will inspire you.

Chicagoland is the largest metro area I have lived in. It has become a melting pot and although not as diverse as New York we have a lot of ethnic groups. I have gone through life seeing things in terms of black and white. In my world there were 2 America’s, one black and one white. The land of opportunity has become just that for many groups of people. My father was a Iron Ore miner and my mom was a domestic worker. As a young child, all the black families’ head of household worked. The majority was blue collar workers and in many cases the mother also worked. Most house holds had two parents and the families wanted a better life for their kids. As children we did not have to wonder what black folks did for work, it was all-around us.
I have been oblivious to many things but have started to notice things in the business world. This post carries a high risk of stereotyping but here’s goes. I recently notice that many of the diners in town are Greek owned. I noticed many of the Dry cleaners are Korean owned. The Dunkin Donut shops are Asian Indian owned, as is many low priced hotel chains. The lawn care business is heavily owned by Hispanic business people. Much of the home contracting is done by Polish immigrants. Many of these business owners are first generation American business owners.
When you consider the businesses, cooking, cleaning, lawn care, Inn keeper, you know we should be involved. Many of the Jewish owned retailed stores from the 40’s, 50’s and 60’s have changed hands and offer other immigrants a chance to live the American dream.
Black America, what are we known for? We own hip hop, and our black rap artist have done well, we have a majority of players in the NBA and NFL. Is it no wonder that our kids want to be a hip hop star or play pro ball. In a visual world, most of the opportunity they see is that of super stars and is unattainable for most. I am sure many black families discussed this topic during the holiday yesterday. I was so glad to post on Brain Richardson owner of click drag solutions because he is providing hope and an example of a black business man. I want to highlight more black success stories. Please let me know of people you know that I could post about. If any one knows, our business niche as black people, please leave your comment. For the future generations, what can we do now to make more young people want to be a business owner?

Brain Richardson is a role model, school teacher and businessman. Brain’s story is an example for one of the things I enjoy the most about authoring this blog. I get to spread good news about black achievers Brain is a 37 year old with a degree in mechanical engineering and is a ROTC graduate of Tuskegee Institute. He is the father of 2 and I have to believe a heck of a teacher.
Brain works with middle school kids in inner city Houston. His school is a title 1 school, meaning 90% of the kids receive free or discounted lunch to compensate for a low family household income. These kids would go hungry if not for the help.
Brain grew up in the “Cherry Hill!” section of Baltimore, Maryland Cherry Hill is a notorious and dangerous part of town. The tour buses that bring tourist to the inner harbor, or the conventioneers that enjoy charm city, do not take the bus to Cherry Hill. Brain cares deeply about his craft of teaching but exhibits a vision for kids that want to have them enjoy education. Brain understands it is a way out of a tough neighborhood.
Brain is marketing a DVD, called, WEB DESIGN FOR KIDS and curious grown ups! It offers fundamental DVD Instruction on learning basic HTML to creative web pages and websites. Brain put a lot of hard work into this project to include;
Write the scrip
Hire a production company
Hire 2 child actors
Supervise the shoot over two months
Coordinate distribution channels
Coordinate 1-866 number
Hire a call center to take orders
Design DVD cover
Supervise process
I had my daughter review the DVD and it received a Bplus. Salihah felt, “A very good job was done in the step by step explanation of creating a web page. It is easy to follow instruction right from their computer. It is obvious Brain has a great deal of knowledge!” Salihah felt the market would fit well for teenagers and adults. She would like to see more excitement and animation to attract young kids. This is a great concept and all schools would benefit. Visit web design for kids. I would like to encourage other black bloggers and anyone interested in education spread the word on Brain project.
Brain went back to Cherry Hill to provide his old hood a service that many of the best private schools do not offer. Brain relates that the kids benefit via, pride of ownership, self esteem, and better attention to detail. Please this story on Brain’s humanitarian efforts from the Baltimore Times and posted below.

Four Cherry Hill PS 164 students were selected to build a webpage with the help of Brian Richardson, a former Cherry Hill graduate. Richardson, who now resides in Houston, Texas, teaches computer literacy and owns a business called Click Drag Solutions. The students built the page in three days, one day ahead of schedule, with a computer learning technique Richardson calls ‘demystifying HTML. (Above) The participating Cherry Hill students were: Neko Speed, 6th grade; Ashley Jones, 7th grade; and Archie Lynch, III, 6th grade. Jamal Howard is not pictured.
Credit: Ellen Andrews

Former PS 164 student returns to help students build a web page
by Ken Morgan
Baltimore Times
Originally posted 5/4/2007

A couple of months ago, Brian Richardson a former student at PS 164 had an idea and a plan. He wanted to show that young people living and going to school where he lived and attended school were more than capable of learning to use computers and building a webpage. “I grew up in Cherry Hill. I live in Houston now. I teach computer literacy in Houston and I have a business called Click Drag Solutions,” he explained. Richardson originally approached Verna Chase, principal of Cherry Hill PS 164 to take on the project.

“It’s been wild coming back. It is almost like an out of body experience,” said the enterprising 1987 City College graduate. Chase then selected the four students to be part of the project. Neko Speed, Ashley Jones, Archie Lynch III, and Jamal Howard were selected to build a webpage. Archie Lynch III is in the sixth grade. Ashley Jones is in the seventh grade. Neko Speed is in the sixth grade. Jamal Howard a seventh grader was not available for the interview.

Brian a solid example of what the Baltimore City Public School system can produce said, “I am really trying to teach people, especially young people, that creating a webpage site is really a simple task if you do it the right way.”

He added. “I asked the principal to get well-behaved students who could pay attention for four days. Mission accomplished. It went real well. They knocked down a four day project in three days,” said Brian who trained these eager students. The young man has put his computer learning technique on DVDs. He calls it “demystifying HTML.”

“I was wondering how we were going to build our website with Notepad,” Archie said calmly and assuredly. Neko matter of factly explained the construction. “We typed in the background and used HTML language,” he said. Chiming in one after another explaining what they did, first Archie, then Ashley and Neko said, “We typed in the background. We added the color. We used HMTL language.”

All three young people bubbled with confidence that their classmates could do what they did. “I can help other people now learn how to do it,” said Lynch. Ashley agreed. Neko said “I can help other people. If I could do this, I could do anything to help people.”

They replied to how completing the website affected their confidence. “I could help people learn how to do it,” said young Lynch. Ashley said much the same thing as Lynch. “If I could do this, I know I could do anything to help people,” Neko said.

Richardson plans to develop a DVD to help youngsters like the four students at PS 164. “The World Wide Web is for everybody. It would be beautiful to close the digital divide,” Brian exclaimed. Ashley, Archie, Neko and Jamal think so. Visit their website pages at www.clickdragsolutions.com.

Now if only BCPSS can secure ample funds to get wiring, computers and training for all of its students.