Influence is Ours - IF We Use It

Some are celebrating, others are protesting.  But why?  Someone got a contract, others didn't.  Someone got off of the charge, others didn't.  Someone got the job. Others didn't.  The list goes on and on.  But the others are often times African Americans.  There are many resources that will account to the significance that the African Americans have in numbers and buying power.  Unfortunately, it is not used to influence the outcome.  Perhaps, we don't know that we could have made a difference. 

Even though we have been told this numerous times and the March on Washington verified it, the Obama election was the ultimate example of how we can influence the outcome.  We can boycott anything like we did in the past. If you are here in Philly, the Rev Leon Sullivan taught us all how boycotting can make a difference.  In fact, Philly, just like every other government, is facing a budget shortfall.  Philly lives off of tourism dollars and is also trying to encourgage people to move back to the city.  What if the upcoming conferences decided to boycott our city, what if people decided this was not a safe or fair place to live or to operate a business. Boycotting could make a difference. 

Consider some of the many ways that we can use our numbers and dollars in a more strategic way to influence the outcome of a decision being made in your city, your job, or other arena. 

Influence is ours - IF we use it.

Deborah

Mom & Dad Got Me Reading

If you had the same experiences that I had growing up, you would love reading also.  We had a library fit for kings, or at least kings on our Philly neighborhood block.  Mom & Dad searched thrift stores, collected from others discards and brought from farmers markets in New Jersey any children's books or encyclopedias that they could find.  They had us in the Nicetown/Tioga Library every week for some reason or the other.  They also read every little thing that came their way or crossed their path.  To this day, their house still has a collection of every Black History Month article published by the Philadelphia Tribune or any other publication they got.  I followed their habit and also collect african american history material, articles, books, etc from my travels nationwide.

We read a newspaper every day.  It could be the Tribune, Philadelphia Inquirer, Washington or Philadelphia Business Journal, Scoop, Germantown Chronicle, Washington Afro-American and all kinds of magazines.  I love books and have a children's bookstore, however, my collection of books grows slowly. I still believe in libraries.  In fact, I fought to save my current branch Wadsworth Library in Philadelphia.  It's good to see that there were so many other book lovers and people who like to read.  Without reading, I wouldn't be where I am today.