In this blog, I express my thoughts and throw out our black super power as a solution to racism. We cannot talk about racism and not talk about slavery. Can we talk about Slavery and not mention exploitation? We cannot mention exploitation and not acknowledge the accumulation of wealth as a result. Wealth and power, unfortunately, often go hand in hand in our today’s society. The principle practice of racicm, slavery, explotation, wealth accumulation and power has systematical developed over centuries to establish itself in our global “way of life”.
Enough not to rebel. That’s the concept!
One group has it all – wealth, power, structure, all. The other group has nothing and is labeled poor. Therefore the poor must do anything demanded of them to survive. Oh there is a group in between the wealthy and the poor. They have just enough not to rebel or are so occupied trying to have enough. They are the voice of the poor. From the pre-colonial times till date. This is a system we all have contributed to establish, myself included and I will tell you why soon.
Violence and blood stains delightfully served
This system is an archaic and reckless establishment disguised in pieces. Sprinkled on the masses as tiny enjoyable treats, fanciful comfort, reachable dreams and unending distraction. Often we cannot recognise it even if we look. Those that can see, recognise it at a glance. Unfortunately, we do not sit long enough into the awareness that this establishment of abuse from history to date, is consistently svred to us delightfully. A niggling feeling to sit into, so we move on fast. We condole it. Not on purpose, we nurture its growth.
Floyd’s death protest rippled around the world
What we see is the tip of the eisberg surfacing as institutionalised racism, in-your-face or subtle racism in our daily lives, race-based police brutality like in the case of Floyd and many others who have lost their lives or suffered trauma as a result. After Geroge Floyd’s death in the USA, being murdered in broad daylight by a police officer in the company of other officers who aided the process, the world took to the streets in rage and anger. Packed with folks from diverse ethnicities like never before, the protest rippled around most parts of the world.
It is extraordinary.
For the first time in this modern day, we have allowed our emotions to sit with us longer. Long enough to cause action, even if it is short term immediate action of protest. At least, it gets to whirl up things a bit. There is a global pandemic shutdown as I write this, so many people have involuntarily stepped out of their caos, out of their hamster wheel, out of their absence into a reality they were just coming to understand.
When the Floyd video exploded the internet, many were already extremely paralysed about the world they realised they were living in. The increasing gap between the financially wealthy and financially poor. How this translates throughout every structure. Its implications in times like this pandemic. It was time for change. The streets were filled.
When the wheel begins to spin again and we tread, then what?
After a powerful motivational workout session, you take up your shoes and start working out the next day, if not that same day. On the seventh day when it rains, the weather becomes the perfect excuse you have been cooking up in your head since the past 2 days. Know that story? That is us now. Life will get back to a new normal. I am afraid that we might quickly forget that we went on the streets during a global pandemic shutdown to demand for justice. It becomes yet another historic gesture.
What do we do?
What do we do apart from the expected mini activism around our family members, friends, colleagues and so on. Apart from educating our kids and using love to conquer hate. Apart from slogan and social media activism. What do we do? In this blog, I have no short-term solution but I want to show you just one tool that can effectively change the game for the long term.
Employing cheap labor – that has been the model since history till date.
Many industrialised and modern economies built based on this systematic exploitation of other communities be it in raw materials, labor or property. The end goal becomes accumulating material wealth in all its form. Money becomes the purpose, so enslaving humans get easily justified with all sorts of reasoning, from skin color justification to “at least they have a job, others don’t”.
We can strategically force the establishment’s knee to bend, crippled flat to the ground, We can scratch a pain point in the ears for the system to listen or be deaf forever. We can, if there is a shift in capital. If there is economic independence. I told you I will tell you how you and I have contributed to establish an archaic, reckless and violent establishment. Here you go.
The power is in your money
When you make a purchase, you invest in a system of wealth distribution. Do you know in which? This is not to make you feel bad. It’s to make you wake up. I am in this struggle with you. Our money has to be invested into the change we want. I am an activist using fashion to create fair income but I too find it extremely hard to stay aware of this fact. It is a battle, but a battle worth fighting with oneself. My purchasing power is truly an absolute power that I possess. How can I use it to back up my social change demands?
But let’s try it. Black super power is entrepreneurship.
Let’s start with Africa because that is where you have over 1.4 billion blacks. That’s where the balck power originates. If every African country can become self-sustaining in its own consumption, OMG, there will be a shift in capital accumulation. There will be a shift in mindset. The true black super power will evolve. But how do we get there? Through entrepreneurship. As simple as that. If Africa needs to consume, then African entrepreneurs should create the products and services.
African diasporas should start popping up their business everywhere around the globe that it becomes an economic movement to racoon with. African owned franchises springing up like stars in the sky everywhere. But this can only happen if the anti-racism movements actually put their money in these businesses, not just the day after the protest, but as a long-term commitment.
Backstage work has begun
Now and the protest is almost over, it means backstage work has begun. Remember you can be an entrepreneur. One at a time, lifting the economic value of the black power. Venture into diverse aspects of entrepreneurship. From product based to service base. Form traditional to digital. Every diaspora should have a side business in his or her home country, even if you are a professional. It’s not about charity. Stop it. It’s not about humanitarian help. Stop it. It’s accountability. It is building economic independence. Start a social venture. Start a traditional business.
Hack the system. Shift the establishment.
So when you read this blog or watch the youtube video. Wake up to your power. If you identify as black, you can hack the system with entrepreneurship. Create your own solution. Create your own platform because no one is going to give you a platform. If you can talk, start a podcast. If you are good in front of the camera, start a webshow. Showcase black businesses and entrepreneurs like my friend from Diasporas colors Hottensiah is doing. If you have trading skills, buy and sell black produced like my friend Judith from trusted craft is doing.
If you are black or white, I do not care.
Just become an entrepreneur with the cause to uplift the black race and create economic balance. If you are a professional and can’t be a full time entrepreneur, pay someone to do the business. Invest in the side hustle through someone that is able. There are millions of entrepreneurs out there aspiring to start a business. If you have digital skills, call up a business that needs it and a partner. You must not start your own business but you can invest your skills to elevate existing projects and businesses.
If you can mentor, invest your time. If you are not entrepreneurial or do not want that extra hustle , then channel your purchase to elevate black-driven businesses. Make a commitment to consistently use 10 different black uplifting brands or services around the world. I know it is easier to walk into a chain store, yes, check for black-uplifting brands there as well.
Let us take up our space at the table
The fact is that behind almost every large successful brand you find in Africa, there is a large mother corporation either in Europe, America or Asia. So at the end of the day, yes they create jobs but the systems of power and establishments remain the same. So lets hack them. When we all start rising through economic involvement, we begin to shake up the traditional ecosystem. When that happens, we do not have to demand to be heard. We just get a space on the table for we are now an economic force to be reckoned with.
If you want to make this move today and start a business to uplift the black power, but wonder how to go about it, write to us, follow me on instagram and YouTube as I create more content to guide you on this journey.
Hey, thank you so much for stopping by and reading through to the end. I really appreciate it, because it takes so much to put this together. Hope you liked it. If you did, remember to share this blog on social media. Yes, more free training and videos on this topic will be out this month on YouTube. Not to miss out, subscribe and turn on the notification on Youtube. It would be nice if you follow me on instagram as I share daily strategies and personal fun stuff. I am on facebook as well but to get it all in one place, subscribe to my free newsletter. Drop your comments, questions, feedback beneath using the comment section and I will be happy to answer your questions in my next video or blog.
Look forward to hearing from you soon!
Cheers,
Joana
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