Why Must We Act On Our Economic Futures Now? Read this? The Great American Dream is gone. Official U.S. government reports point out that more than 3.5 million jobs have been eliminated in the past 10 years. This includes over 2,000 jobs per day last year alone. More frightening; an estimated 55% of all jobs created in the next 10 years will be near minimum wage. Currently, 90% of all the people in North America earn less than $40,000 a year and today’s two-income family are not living as well as their parents did. As well as what has been just stated, check out these economic facts: At age 50: • 75% of the population has less than $5,000 in the bank for retirement. At age 65: • 45% of Americans depend on relatives • 30% depend on charities • 23% are still working (most can’t afford to quit and work until they are no longer physically capable) • Only 2% are self-sustaining At the current time: • It is impossible to support a family of two working full time at minimum wage • For the first time in history, the current generation is averaging a lower standard of living then their parents The Bureau of Labor Statistics also states: • Out of 100 people that start working at the age of 25, by the age of 65 o 1 is wealthy o 4 have enough money to retire o 63 depend on social security or charity o 29 are deceased. • One of the most disheartening statistics is this: o 95% of people, age 65 and over cannot afford to retire and work until they die. Looking at these numbers it is absolutely imperative that we stop playing games with our economic futures. The honorable Elijah Muhammad taught that “No man or woman can rise above the condition of their people” what is the economic condition of our people? The numbers do not lie only 12% of the economic pie of American businesses is black companies, and the frightening reality is that these black businesses are selling their companies to Jewish, Whites, and Asians or they are buying over 50 to 60 % into the company. For example BET (Black Entertainment Television), Motown, Johnson Hair and Beauty Care Products, to name a few. These black companies has created an “original sin” among us which is they failed to reproduce themselves through others. How so? They did not invest in their own natural resource which is black people themselves which starts with the youth. What is the purpose of building an economic empire, with a black face on it and give away over half of your company to others outside of your community, for the price selling your company and heritage for a bowl of grits and a plate of eggs? Why would black businesses do this? It is because there is no “black unity!” It is long overdue for us to start seriously looking at our language which is a clear indication of where we are as a people. This silly some not all game is a cover for people who are hoarding knowledge and doing just for themselves and never sharing that knowledge with others? Are you as tired as I am of people who are quick to dismiss a truth that is spoken in fact, then out of the mouth of a selfish person you will hear the words not all of us, some of us. Let me give a quick example: The economic problems of black people in America, we are a nation of consumers, Period! When you bring up numbers that indicates where we are in terms of businesses, it is so small and insignificant to the growth of the country it is clear that we are so flat lined in this area? But some selfish person will be quick to point out “this some but not all crap!” to offset what is being said? Oh, I can hear the selfish one now, We? it is not all of us Brother? It is some of us not all? The truth is the some is so insignificant amongst our people that they are drowned out completely by the millions of blacks who live everyday in poverty! This some class of people, are so transparently contradictory that the people around them do not hear their words any more. It is just dead air! We must break this cycle once and for all. It starts with us. –Derrick Jibril
Posted on: Mon, 20 Jan 2014 00:43:57 +0000