Envy Thou Not The Oppressor And Choose None Of His Ways
Proverbs 3:31 paraphrased states, don't envy the person who keeps you down by severe and unjust use of force or authority; who behaves in a tyrannical manner towards you; administers unnecessary punishment; who torments or who inflicts severe physical pain on you, called the "oppressor" and choose none of his ways.
I read a comment on an African American woman's blog stating that she and her husband made a commitment to buy from African American businesses.
This sister had verbalized the way I felt about supporting African American businesses.
We are the only Americans that do not support our own businesses and it ought to stop! In the past I have transacted business with a brother that didn't do the job according to my expectations and I said to others "man, don't do business with a brother" but this is not right.
We have not always felt this way.
There was a time when we ate at our own restaurants, shopped at our own clothing and drug stores, and used African American lawyers and doctors without reservation.
When we had a bad experience we just did not do business with that brother again.
So where did we get this idea that all African American owned businesses gave substandard service when at one time it didn't bother us? Has it ever occurred to you that if they had the experience their white counterparts had they would be just as good or even better? Who do you think contributed to their lack of experience? When we examine our feelings about utilizing African American businesses we will find that it came from the white man, the oppressor.
I saw a documentary titled "Legends in Television" which talked about the great people of television.
The first "Negro" TV show was the Nat King Cole show and the reason it failed was that no white sponsors supported it.
I have noticed that racist attitude as an African American businessman with several businesses I have owned over the years.
I learned that whites and Asians didn't want to do business with me or work for me.
I know that they don't want me to succeed but why do my own people feel the same way? Are they imitating the oppressor? There was a time when we had to use our own businesses for goods and services.
Now that time has changed why is our business not good enough? I wonder if we have ever asked ourselves this question.
Are we so brainwashed until we automatically imitate the ways of the oppressor and discriminate against our own people? Are you guilty of spreading rumors about how one brother did a bad job for you and never mention the one that did a good job.
Have a white person ever done a bad job for you? Did you slander him? Today many African American people with good labor and professional skills are losing their jobs and being discriminated against on both sides trying to make ends meet.
What if your mother, father, son, or daughter lost his job and had no other choice but to start a business.
Wouldn't you do business with them? If you did, would you demand an expert job if they were inexperienced? If they did not do the perfect job, would you spread rumors to discourage anyone else from doing business with them? Ever thought that maybe the mistake they made with you would teach them to do a better job in the future? Well, that brother or sister that you speak negatively about and don't do business with is someone's mother, father, son, or daughter.
Also, their child's college education, home, and business expenses are dependent upon them finding work.
When you don't do business with them you are aiding in the unemployment and poverty among your own people? I hope that African American business owners, after reading this, will step up their game and do a better job and show more appreciation for your business and do the job for less if they don't have the experience.
They need to regain your respect and I hope they go the extra mile to meet your satisfaction.
The laborer is worthy of his hire, so be willing to pay comparably for the job if the brother has experience and good references.
I admonish African American people and I use the term African American because "Black" is more encompassing than the group this is intended to reach.
We must take care of our own before we get universal and inclusive.
That too is our problem.
We think we need to include others in our struggles when they don't include us in theirs.
So if you agree with this article, then make the commitment, stop the rumors and pass it on to your friends.
God Bless.
I read a comment on an African American woman's blog stating that she and her husband made a commitment to buy from African American businesses.
This sister had verbalized the way I felt about supporting African American businesses.
We are the only Americans that do not support our own businesses and it ought to stop! In the past I have transacted business with a brother that didn't do the job according to my expectations and I said to others "man, don't do business with a brother" but this is not right.
We have not always felt this way.
There was a time when we ate at our own restaurants, shopped at our own clothing and drug stores, and used African American lawyers and doctors without reservation.
When we had a bad experience we just did not do business with that brother again.
So where did we get this idea that all African American owned businesses gave substandard service when at one time it didn't bother us? Has it ever occurred to you that if they had the experience their white counterparts had they would be just as good or even better? Who do you think contributed to their lack of experience? When we examine our feelings about utilizing African American businesses we will find that it came from the white man, the oppressor.
I saw a documentary titled "Legends in Television" which talked about the great people of television.
The first "Negro" TV show was the Nat King Cole show and the reason it failed was that no white sponsors supported it.
I have noticed that racist attitude as an African American businessman with several businesses I have owned over the years.
I learned that whites and Asians didn't want to do business with me or work for me.
I know that they don't want me to succeed but why do my own people feel the same way? Are they imitating the oppressor? There was a time when we had to use our own businesses for goods and services.
Now that time has changed why is our business not good enough? I wonder if we have ever asked ourselves this question.
Are we so brainwashed until we automatically imitate the ways of the oppressor and discriminate against our own people? Are you guilty of spreading rumors about how one brother did a bad job for you and never mention the one that did a good job.
Have a white person ever done a bad job for you? Did you slander him? Today many African American people with good labor and professional skills are losing their jobs and being discriminated against on both sides trying to make ends meet.
What if your mother, father, son, or daughter lost his job and had no other choice but to start a business.
Wouldn't you do business with them? If you did, would you demand an expert job if they were inexperienced? If they did not do the perfect job, would you spread rumors to discourage anyone else from doing business with them? Ever thought that maybe the mistake they made with you would teach them to do a better job in the future? Well, that brother or sister that you speak negatively about and don't do business with is someone's mother, father, son, or daughter.
Also, their child's college education, home, and business expenses are dependent upon them finding work.
When you don't do business with them you are aiding in the unemployment and poverty among your own people? I hope that African American business owners, after reading this, will step up their game and do a better job and show more appreciation for your business and do the job for less if they don't have the experience.
They need to regain your respect and I hope they go the extra mile to meet your satisfaction.
The laborer is worthy of his hire, so be willing to pay comparably for the job if the brother has experience and good references.
I admonish African American people and I use the term African American because "Black" is more encompassing than the group this is intended to reach.
We must take care of our own before we get universal and inclusive.
That too is our problem.
We think we need to include others in our struggles when they don't include us in theirs.
So if you agree with this article, then make the commitment, stop the rumors and pass it on to your friends.
God Bless.
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