Once upon a time, in a land far, far away, there existed a
group of strong, determined, resilient, and supportive people;
African-Americans (Black people, if you will). They owned businesses; they
hired/went to work for each other; they frequented each others business
faithfully; and, they supported each other. But something happened somewhere
along the way, and the wealth and abilities they possessed were being spread
everywhere else except in their own community. They even sold lucrative
entities that they owned to the very race that enslaved and degraded them for
centuries. And now, where there was once camaraderie and support, there is apathy,
envy and division. A sad ending to our tale.
If only this were a fairy tale…
Follow my timeline…
December 2002 to
September 2003: worked as an office manager for a state funded program
house under our CDC. The Executive Director was (is) an African-American female
who unfortunately embodies ‘a black woman on a power trip’. She gave me hell and
worked my nerves the entire time, the longest 9 months of my life.
August 2005 to August
2006: worked as an Administrative Assistant for a private church school.
Several months in the Principal/Director (a Black man) doubled my salary and
added to my responsibilities. Out of the blue one day a couple of months later,
he claims that they could no longer afford my salary (after he had remodeled
the building and his house) and told me not to return to work the next day.
March 2007 to August
2007: worked as an Account Administrator for a physical therapy practice
owned by a doctor and his wife (a black couple). Same thing as above, at the
end of the day one day she told me they weren’t making money and told me not to
return the next day.
November 2007: worked
for a few weeks for a black female pediatrician. In addition to receptionist
duties, we cleaned the office, took out the trash, etc. When payday came, we
had to wait for her for hours to get our pay; sometimes the bank would be
closed. One week, we had to keep calling her and could not reach her, and did
not get our paychecks until Monday. That was the position that I quit.
July 2010 to July
2011: ended up back at the CDC, this time as an AmeriCorps VISTA member.
Same scenario. She expected miracles while giving me grief. That was one long
year.
March 2012: slated
to work as an office manager for a black man who owned a small but thriving car
dealership. It went well for a couple of days, maybe a week. Then he started
being sketchy and shady with the hours; I found out he had re-hired his cousin,
whom he claimed wasn’t working out and that’s why he needed me. He didn’t even
have the guts to come out and tell me I wasn’t needed; I dropped by to check
and she was back at the desk.
And so went my attempts at solidarity with my people; 6 jobs
over 8 years, laboring to help grow and promote ‘our’ businesses. The result?
Either dismissed with no warning, or given such a hard time until productive
work was a mere pipe dream. And speaking of dreams, I went in each time with a
dream: to work at a place that was black owned and operated, and help the
business grow and prosper. For me, that was a fairy tale. I felt used and
betrayed, and now I have a sour taste in my mouth; I may never go back to work
for another African-American business. And that is a sad and unfortunate
feeling to have.
We have gone from literally dying so that we can all have
freedom and prosperity as a people, to tearing each other down for self-gain.
Don’t get me wrong, we all don’t do behave this way. But the prevalence of such
actions sometimes overshadows those of us who are striving to promote
solidarity and collective success. It is my hope and prayer, that we get it
together and re-unite sincerely, before the crabs rip each other to shreds in
that barrel.
