Black In Business

Stan O’Neal was forced out as CEO of Merrill Lynch. I have wondered about black CEO’s of white firms, how they can possibly survive in a racist business world. I have lived in a corporate world and had jobs previously reserved for white only. I have learned no matter the position or your track record, if you are black and in charge there will be white folks that want to bring you down.
Mr. O’Neal is a super star in the world of high finance and could not have gotten to the top job at Merrill Lynch unless he was aggressive and extremely talented. He has never failed at anything but now he is out. Get Serious!! Don’t you think the stereotypes of race may have contributed to Mr. O’Neal perception of being a poor leader? He is being dragged through the mud and it appears a mini revolt was about to take place. Have you ever heard of this happening to a white CEO?
Do not feel sorry for Mr. O’Neal, he made in the hood of 42 million last year and has a severance of 157 million. He will survive quite nicely.
What about you, us, all black workers in an environment where racial haters and conservative politics make all black workers vulnerable.
There is a point during Baptist funerals where the preacher will say, do not worry or feel sorry for the departed, they are in a safe place, it is now time to get your own house in order, and accept Jesus as your personal savior.
Black in business people, it is time to get your affairs in order, most of us do not have the equity Mr. O’Neal enjoys in his firm. Make sure you have plans for the day when Mr. Charlie may knock on your door and question your effectiveness. Please do not think you are beyond this happening. I can assure you, if any white person has an axe to grind with you, you are vulnerable. People below you with less experience and accomplishments can have more credibility because of skin color.
Let’s look at Colin Powell, he wanted to go into Iraq to get Sadamn during the first Gulf war and was not listened to. He wanted a diplomatic solution to the issues that lead to the current war and was not listened to. He was forced to lie to the UN regarding our reasons to go to war, eventuality he was forced out.
All the white folks will have to want you in your high ranking job in order to stay in. There is very little talk of affirmative action today and we have many conservative Appellate judges appointed by Presidents, Reagan and Bush and now son of a Bush.
Black workers we are in trouble. Do not give up but keep your eyes open and develop options for yourself. I am very interested to your thoughts on Mr. O’Neal firing and the tone of this post. Keep Hope Alive.

My man Yobachi is leading a blogging revolution against genocide. His compelling blog issues us a challenge to exhibit our protest by contacting our congressmen and the white house to voice our displeasure with the events in places around the world and most visible in Darfur. This is despiteful action that has cause a world wide protest. We have asked to stop investment in Darfur. Having the killing and destruction so pronounced you would think all leaders of the world community, would stand up and shot “not on our watch!”
I urge you to visit Black perspective for more insight to this important call to action. We can make a difference.

Here is a story you will want to read if you have interest in blackinbusiness. 3, 30 something black businessmen are getting screwed by The Big Apple. We should applaud the efforts of; Todd Triplett and partners, Shawn Jenkins and Philip Mckenzie for thinking big and wanting to benefit the black community in their dreams.
These industrialist young men are finding their dream slipping away because of a little known and seldom used action in today’s world called, Eminent Domain.
These gentlemen envisioned a modern day cotton club as part of a revival culturally in downtown Brooklyn. Vacant real-estate was to be used to house Amber Arts and Music. The renovation costs were in the 7 figures and the trio had secured a 10 year lease. They were set to bring top entertainment and had toured the building for John Legend to positive feedback.
Not afraid of risk the investors had put all of their resources into this venture and brought in corporate sponsorships and a private investor. It is obvious the strategy had logic and their assumptions for business success had excited the community.
Fast forward to countdown time, It is a month prior to a grand opening and the letter of eminent domain action arrived. The city of New York has decided to have their cultural revival and targeted the same building as a center piece for Bam Cultural District. The difference from Amber Art and Music Space, all the people in the city’s renderings are white.
It just doesn’t seem right. I predict these 3 young men will be huge business success but what an unfortunate set back. How could the city sit back and watch all this money being invested and not say anything until a month prior to opening. Hang in there brothers, I am rooting for you!

I receive a news letter from Black Political News. This is an informative and compelling read of a profound nature. They shared a link to the Baltimore Sun, that cause me to think of my Dad and there is a good chance you will think of yours or your Grand Dad particularly if they have passed on to the promise land. The point is some where along the way we have lost our purpose and worst perhaps our soul. We have done some good things and things we can be proud. I am glad to have thought of Allen Walton Sr. today, 3rd grade educated, voter and some would say politically active, hard worker and very demanding head of house hold. I have been blogging for one year; my first post was on October 16, 2006. The tag line is a blog for ordinary people doing extraordinary things. As most of the blogging world knows, this is cool stuff, blogging that is, but at first, what do I say, who will care, it is like what if I through a party and no one came. At the end of the day, it was, what the heck, I am going for it. If my dad could crawl in a mine shaft, a mile underground, return to work after heart attacks and fill his lungs with dust that will eventfully become the nature of a malignant tumor and kill him, to raise a family, damn I should be able to blog.
I will credit two guys for helping to get me started, Chris Baggott and Doug Karr. Both of these men a highly talented and are true winners. Chris’s new company, Compendium blogware, is kicking butt with setting new sales standards each month. Congratulations to Chris and Ali Sales for providing an example of what is possible. Doug Karr is ranked in the top 5k in the world and his blog contains something for every one. These guys are available to me 24-7; well they always do get back to me. Doug is a web designer and coach that I highly recommend. Bloggers defiantly check out Compendium blogware, it is a hot product.
I am giving a shout out to Mike, Chris and Shawn for their early support. Liz, Ellen and Robin for being supporters get a shout out as well. Jamie Parks provided early encouragement and my thanks to him for being a brother.
I have become a proud member of Afro Spear; a group of black bloggers who’s commitment to cause is only out done by their excellence in blogging. I urge you to check out some of the Afro Spear sites they have it going on. Some of my favorites are Esq Holland, Acting White, Field Negro What are Going to Tell Our Daughters, Electronic Village, Paula Mooney, LDW and Tish. In closing here is an update on 2 guys, ordinary doing extraordinary things in life! I did post on Bill Minix and Darryl Gresham. These are 2 Intelligent, hard working, handsome, and modest brothers with out ego. Well maybe a little I am very proud to call these 2 friends and say I hired them both.
Bill Minix has taken on a major new responsibility for Fisher health Care’s call center. Bill will have a director’s title and a team of 35 including the inside sales team. Bill is a Graduate of Southern University, was an officer in the US Army Rangers, and recently completed his MBA.
Darryl Gresham has taken a major promotion to be General Manager of Abbott’s Diagnostics’ African business and will reside in South Africa. Gresh graduated from Carnegie Mellon University and has been a star Abbott performer for 21 years with the best yet to come. I am so happy Gresh is getting his chance to show Mr. Charley what it takes to be great. If You linked on the Baltimore Sun article it mentioned our forbearers and their sacrifice and what would they be proud of today; the best compliment I can articulate to Bill Minix and Darryl Gresham is , my dad, Allen Walton would be proud of them.

As a part of my Nerd posts, I was made aware of Orlando’s Joint. We spoke about the nerd revolution going on in the black community. We have shown in many ways we can be and most often our own worst enemies. If we do well often time we are accused as acting white. It is our own people that will hurl those insults. We must celebrate our success and make it a thing of pride for all. Let’s uplift each other and encourage greatness. I remember a football coach saying, even if your job is to pitch shit into the ocean singing it all comes back to me now, be the best shit pitcher there is! It is an insult to our color of people if to be a success is acting white. By saying that we are also saying, being unsuccessful is acting black. I want to share to story of ordinary people doing extraordinary things for this reason. To let us know greatness is possible.
Orlando’s Joint is an excellent example of being hip and a success using nerdy technology as resource. This is a hip-hop webtoon written by Terence Anthony. Mr. Anthony is a 72 year old brother taking it to a new level and reaching a young audience by communicating in their vernacular a message of hope. This is hope because this high teck creative and very well done entrainment is done by a black man. He is a pro and an expert. His webtoon is a role model for our younger hip hoppers regarding what is possible with effort.
I urge you to visit this site you will be impressed! Let me know about more success stories.