Blacks must use wealth to build own community

Do for self was the oft-repeated mantra of the Honorable Elijah Muhammad and he inspired a nation of descendants of Black slaves in America to develop an economy that would improve their lives.

Savings, investments, circulating the dollar within the Black community as many times as possible were pillars of his economic empowerment message.  And the need to develop trust in each other also was important, he said, thereby allowing us to pool our resources to do bigger and better things.

And he led by example.  The Hon. Elijah Muhammad was able to establish a national trucking system; import goods by the shipload; establish a community of businesses; publish books and newspapers, etc.  He did this by uniting the meager resources of his followers.  The result was he put his followers to work and more money in their pockets.  In addition, he encouraged a sense of pride and respect in his followers for their accomplishments.

His message, carried today through the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan, is as vital in the year 2000 as it was from the 1930s through the mid �70s that he echoed it.

Black America has the spending power that would rank it anywhere from the 11^th to the 9^th richest nation on earth.  Blacks in America earn from $441-$500 billion annually.  But you would never know it when you look at our communities.

Instead of poverty and want, Black America could have communities that are the envy of nations if we would do as the Honorable Elijah Muhammad and Minister Farrakhan implore us to do�pool our resources and spend among ourselves.

Consider that Black America spends annually per household compared to white households (according to Chicago-based Target Market News 1998 figures):

• 25 percent more on used cars

• 56 percent more on auto rentals

• 158 percent more on radios

• 5 percent more on cable TV subscriptions

• 23 percent more on telephone service (excluding cell phones)

In 1998, Blacks spent $1.7 billion on alcoholic beverages; $25.6 billion on cars and trucks; $3.4 billion on cable TV service; and $2.1 billion on tobacco and smoking supplies.

These are just a few statistics demonstrating the wealth of our community.  Unfortunately, our dollars don�t pass through the hands of our own people who offer these services in any significant way.  Therefore, we help to employ and build up communities other than our own.