A time for vigilance and diligence

Black Enterprise, Feb, 2001 by Earl G. Graves

Easy" has never been a part of our vocabulary as African Americans. A large part of what fuels our courage and hopes for the future is knowing chat we have overcome so much to get to where we are today. When it comes to proving the adage. "That which doesn't kill you, makes you stronger," African Americans are Exhibit A. In spite of if all, we move forward, we progress, we achieve--we get stronger.

It is important that we remember this as we face 2001, a year fraught with changes and uncertainty daunting to a country accustomed to steady economic growth, low unemployment, abundant entrepreneurial opportunities, and stock markets for which the sky seemed the limit. Now it looks like the party may be over, or at least less giddy and more subdued--as if cops are at the door in response to noise complaints from the neighbors.

The economy is slowing, and words like "recession" and "disappointing earnings reports" are creeping into the daily discourse of business news reporters and market analysts. Many of the dotcom ventures chat symbolized the millionaire-making potential of digital technology have crashed and burned, creating a ripple effect throughout our economy. Rising energy prices are making it more costly to run both businesses and households. The urge to merge and the desire to acquire have begun to consume some of the country's largest black-owned companies, with some of the nation's most recognized brands. And, after a cliffhanger election decided not by voters but by a Supreme Court ruling tainted by partisan politics, "compassionate" conservative President George W. Bush resides in the White House without benefit of winning the popular vote and with nine of every 10 African Americans voting for his opponent, Al Gore. It's no wonder that many black people are bracing for the worst, with the NAACP and other civil rights groups on alert and some people even joking about an impending return to slavery.

However, now is not the time for fear and panic. On the other hand, we cannot allow ourselves to become fatalistic or complacent in response to the daunting challenges ahead of us. Our trials and triumphs as African Americans have always rested with our own determination to be both diligent and vigilant, in good times and not so good times, in our pursuit of political power, social freedom, economic equity and a full measure of the American Dream.

President Bush took office with a promise to work not just for his party, but for all the people of this nation, including the 90% of African American voters who did not vote for him. Vigilance requires that we hold him and his new administration accountable for ensuring chat his brand of compassionate conservatism does not become just a catch phrase from the 2000 campaign, but results in greater education, employment, business and economic opportunities for not just the wealthiest of us, but for all of us.

African Americans, in particular, must remain vigilant and vocal advocates for Chose policies, including affirmative action, critical to our ultimate triumph over the effects of past and present discrimination. We must hold the new president accountable for promoting an environment not hostile to our ambitions, one conducive to the continued growth and strength of the black business, entrepreneurial and professional classes. President Bush's actions--his cabinet appointments, his self-proclaimed ability to work with representatives of the Democratic party, his commitment to diversity, his ability to maintain a strong economy--must be the yardstick against which he is measured.

Our vigilance cannot stop at the White House. We must be ready, willing, and able to raise our voices and wield out influence at all levels of political representation, from our local school boards to city hall to the state house. In particular, we must insure that the record participation of African American voters in the 2000 presidential race is repeated in the 2002 congressional elections--which could again shift the balance of power in Washington, D.C. And we must support election reform efforts aimed at preventing many of the abuses that kept African Americans and other people of color from the polls this past November.

But vigilance--holding others accountable--is only one half of the equation. Diligence requires that we hold ourselves accountable for doing everything we can to ensure our own success, That means following through with the recommendations we made in "30 Things We Must Do To Gain Empowerment Now," highlighted in our August 2000 issue. For example, even as the rate and direction of the economy becomes less certain, we must remain dedicated to building black wealth. Continuing to build out savings and investments will be critical to our ability to ride out the tumult and volatility of the 21st century economy. If you haven't done it yet, make today the day you join the BLACK ENTERPRISE Black Wealth Initiative by calling 1-877-WEALTHY to order your free wealth-building kit.

Black-owned companies must become rededicated to the best practices--such as zero-based budgeting--necessary to contain costs and attract financing, while embracing technology and top-notch customer service, in order to thrive in an increasingly difficult environment. The competition will become less forgiving, more intense. Black enterprises that are found wanting will not survive, much less thrive, in this environment. The editors of BE will continue to arm you with the strategies and information necessary for you to succeed and grow your business.