Blackonomics

Is Marcus Garvey Challenging Through Bob Johnson?

BUSINESS EXCHANGE
By William Reed

As African activists celebrated Marcus Garvey’s 121st birthday, Black Entertainment Television founder-turned-billionaire developer Robert Johnson was building a four-star, beachfront resort to open March 2009 near the Liberian capitol of Monrovia.

Most African Americans know little of Liberia. Located on Africa’s west coast, Liberia’s name denotes “liberty” as a result of Black Americans’ colonization in 1822. By 1921, Garvey had the conviction that American Blacks should have a permanent homeland in Africa and sought to develop Liberia. He had intended to build colleges, industrial plants, and railroads as part of an industrial base from which to operate. During the 1980s and 90s, the country was embroiled in a civil war that destroyed its economy and image.

Now, Bob Johnson says, “Last September, Liberian President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf captivated an audience at the Clinton Global Initiative with descriptions of the extraordinary challenges facing her country. Sirleaf’s courage and vision inspired me and a group of colleagues to commit to revitalizing the historic but dormant relationship between African Americans and Liberia. After all, Jewish Americans have been vital to Israel’s welfare. African Americans should play a similar role for Liberia.”

Johnson led the first American investment mission to Liberia in over 30 years and initiated the RLJ Liberia Initiative, a RJR Companies development fund, to help bring Liberia back from its war-ravaged struggles. The RLJ Kendeja Resorts & Villas will be an 85-room, four-star resort on the Atlantic coast. ‘There is no hotel in West Africa like this,’ says Johnson. ‘This will be a Class-A beachfront property, with great views out to the ocean’. Johnson is taking a risk on an upscale project in a country that has not seen a new hotel room built in 20 years. Ground was broken with a labor force of 500 Liberian workers. The RJR Kendeja will have rates of $150 to $200 a night. Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf is expected to host the first guests. And, if all goes as planned, she will be followed by ambassadors, multinational corporate executives, foundations and others looking to fuel Liberia’s growth.

The property is located outside Monrovia, a city of 400,000, which only has a handful of hotels. Johnson says the project furthers his ‘commitment of mobilizing resources to aid Liberia’s rehabilitation and signal to the international and local sectors that Liberia is open for business.’ As the Liberia government seeks to boost tourism, it’s hard not to see Johnson’s initiative as a good thing. Just six hours from America’s East Coast, Liberia has 300 miles of white sandy beaches and attractions such as shallow lagoons, islands, lakes, mangrove swamps, rivers, volcanoes and colonial-styled wide porch homes. Liberia’s unique history as the first black African republic and a haven for freed black American slaves in the 19th century can be great attractions.

RLJ Liberia Enterprise Development Fund programs aid entrepreneurs and coordinate advocacy and outreach efforts with President Johnson-Sirleaf’s programs. The American Johnson says revenue returns will help spur reconstruction of the country’s schools, roads, hospitals, utilities and businesses. Some could see the initiative as Bob Johnson taking up where Marcus Garvey left off. Best known for the “Back to Africa” movement, Marcus Garvey is credited with creating history’s biggest movement of people of African descent. His business and social movements of the 1920s is said to have had more participation from people of African descent than the Civil Rights Movement

Though Garvey never actually went to Liberia, large numbers of U.S. tourists went before the wars. Now, Johnson is chronicling Garvey’s back to Africa movement. Johnson says, “Liberia deserves American support, and African Americans especially must come forward to reestablish the historic bond between our nations”. He has increased the U.S. government’s has attention and investments and programs toward Liberia. In many sectors, Liberia has world-class natural resources. While many still condemn Johnson about the content of BET programming, the paradox is that Garvey would probably be proud of Johnson and his successes at ‘working the system’. He is to be applauded for addressing very real economic issues in the motherland.

William Reed – www.BlackPressInternational.com

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Power of 50

THE POWER OF 50

Soul Purpose Lifestyle company Founder and CEO makes The Power 50 List in Direct Selling and Network Marketing

Nadine Abraham Thompson

Nadine Thompson at a launch event held in Springfield, Massachusetts, June 2008

Exeter, NH (BlackNews.com) – We are very honored and excited today to announce to our Soul Purpose community that our Founder and CEO Nadine Abraham Thompson has been named to the Power 50 List of the 50 Most Influential People in the Direct Selling Industry.

Among other leaders on the list are Andrea Jung CEO of Avon; Robert Kiosaki author of Rich Dad, Poor Dad; Jack Canfield author of the Chicken Soup for the Soul and John Maxwell leadership guru and author of The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership. Thompson stated, "I am deeply honored to be named to this distinguished list and I am committed to continuing to create authentic and sustainable entrepreneurial opportunities for those who want to improve the quality of their lives. I am very honored." Thompson also recently received the 1st Annual Women’s Empowerment Award from the Missionary Baptist Church in Orlando, Florida May 2008. Other awards include the Onyx Woman Economic Empowerment Award; the Global Diversity Network Trailblazer Award; The Los Angeles Black Expo, Madam CJ Walker Award for Leadership and Entrepreneurship; The Rhode Island House of Representatives Outstanding Woman Entrepreneur of the Year (2006); and Black Enterprise Magazine’s Emerging Company of the Year (2006).

Bio

The chronicles of the business world are, of course, filled with success stories from tales of the individual entrepreneur to accounts of the large conglomerates. But what makes a business a success? A new, unique product or service? Of course. A never-before-seen invention? Absolutely. And everyone says hard work and determination are key.

However, there is one common element found in every success story. Nadine Thompson, who is today writing her own chapter of business history, is the embodiment of that singular characteristic — vision. It is the visualization and foresight of what a company should be and will be. As the Co-Founder and former President and CEO of Warm Spirit, a unique direct-sales company that produced herbal beauty products, Thompson says, "The driving force behind the success of Warm Spirit is that I created a vision, and never strayed from it.

"Simply put, I launched my first business with the vision to create quality products, to empower people to put self- and health-care first, and to create entrepreneurial opportunities for our consultants," Thompson continues. "Over the years, I had many nay-sayers and many doubters. But I refused to lose sight of my vision. I never let that go."

The result of Thompson’s vision? Warm Spirit, founded in 1999, produced a comprehensive collection of nature-based beauty and wellness products. The unique creations were supplied to customers through a nationwide network of more than 30,000 independent consultants. The company transformed the face of the direct sales and network marketing industry by providing an opportunity for wealth-building and financial freedom that had not always been accessible for women–and even less so for the African-American community.

Today, taking her vision and empowerment acumen to another level, Thompson has moved on from Warm Spirit to establish Nadine Thompson Enterprises. Her new retail venture, Soul Purpose Lifestyle Company, is an innovative direct selling company that will launch in January, 2008.

"The unique selling proposition of the Soul Purpose Lifestyle Company is strengthened by the fact that all members of this community will be shareholders as well stakeholders in the enterprise," says Thompson. "With Soul Purpose’s new marketing and compensation plan, wealth and profits will recycle directly back into the households and communities of its stakeholders."

Born in Trinidad, and raised in Toronto, Canada, Thompson received her Master’s Degree in Social Work from Smith College. She went on to become Dean of Multicultural Affairs at Phillips Exeter Academy in New Hampshire where she shared her rare combination of insight, cosmopolitan warmth and her gift for bringing people together. She was able to meld the prep school’s long tradition of education with a racially diverse and representative student body and faculty.

Her success propelled her into the national spotlight and she is now recognized as a committed and passionate advocate and noted speaker in the areas of racial equality, entrepreneurship, women’s issues and empowerment. Thompson has lectured to a variety of audiences–some of her more noteworthy appearances and speaking engagements include:

* The National Black MBA Association
* The "Today" Show on NBC
* Social Ventures Network
* ESSENCE Magazine’s "Women Who Are Shaping The World" Leadership Summit
* Circle of Sisters Expo
* The National Organization of Women
* Black Enterprise Entrepreneurs Conference
* Columbia University, School of Business
* Women of Vision Alliance
* The Wharton School of Business
* National Coalition of 100 Black Women

Thompson, who has published essays on multiculturalism, diversity and psychology, has recently released her first book titled, Values Sell: Transforming Purpose into Profit Through Creative Sales and Distribution Strategies, published by Berrett-Koehler Publishers in the summer of 2007.

At Warm Spirit, Thompson not only served as the visionary, she was the creative director and sole product developer for the distinctive product line as well which has become recognized as one of the best nature-based brands in the country. Thompson brings this expertise to her new enterprise and works with a team of perfumers, aromatherapists, chemists, herbalists and organic experts to turn her product ideas into reality.

Thompson’s vision of empowerment, wellness and wealth creation has not only touched the lives of women and men in the United States, but has also benefited the lives of women globally in Ghana, India and Vietnam. Her work through the Thompson Foundation provides a market opportunity for women in northern Ghana to sell their wild-crafted shea butter to Soul Purpose and other cosmetic companies in the United States.

Thompson has received several awards, including: the Onyx Woman Economic Empowerment Award; the Global Diversity Network Trailblazer Award; The Los Angeles Black Expo, Madam CJ Walker Award for Leadership and Entrepreneurship; The Rhode Island House of Representatives Outstanding Woman Entrepreneur of the Year (2006); and Black Enterprise Magazine’s Emerging Company of the Year (2006).

Thompson’s long-term, compelling vision is to establish the Nsorommo Foundation where successful Soul Purpose entrepreneurs will mentor and coach other women from the Native American and African Diaspora around the ideas of business development and entrepreneurship using Soul Purpose Lifestyle as the paradigm for wealth creation and empowerment.

The business story of Nadine Thompson continues to be written as she broadens her vision and launches her new venture. Future chapters will, undoubtedly, chronicle further success as she once again stays true to her vision and never waivers from her commitment.

Thompson is a wife and mother of two children, Camilla (14) and Isaiah (11). She lives in Exeter, NH at Phillips Exeter Academy with her husband, Rev. Robert H. Thompson.

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Black People Learn How to Buy Silver & Gold

AS FINANCIAL CRISIS GETS WORSE, BLACK PEOPLE LEARN HOW TO BUY SILVER & GOLD

Dozens Gather For Tele-Training To Preserve Their Wealth and Savings

Bro. Bedford

Detroit, MI (BlackNews.com) – Oil prices are at record highs. Gas prices are at record highs. Food prices are rising to record highs. Property values are falling through the floor and there is not a shortage of warnings coming from the Government and Financial wizards stating that the United States economy is facing a MAJOR CRISIS.

It has been documented throughout history that whenever there is a financial crisis the rich and the knowledgeable buy Gold and Silver to protect their savings and eventually grow wealthy.

"There is just so much misinformation being given to Black People about the economy and finance, particularly Gold and Silver, and I was getting so many questions I had to do my part to provide accurate information and that is why I put together this training," said Bro. Bedford founder of How To Be A Black Entrepreneur.com and facilitator of the training.

In the training Bro. Bedford covered:

1. How to use your IRA to purchase Silver & Gold.
2. How to order your Gold & Silver and have it delivered.
3. Where to store your Gold & Silver.
4. How to have your Silver & Gold stored overseas.
5. How to buy Silver & Gold tomorrow probably in your own neighborhood.

When asked if the economy will turn around anytime soon Bro. Bedford simply said "NO."

"All of the problems that the economy faces has one common denominator, and that is the Dollar and the Dollar has some serious issues that can’t be resolved and this is why you see Gold & Silver up over 15% this year already and Oil over $130 a barrel." Bro. Bedford has a Free Report discussing the U.S. Dollar located online at www.fallofthedollar.com

To gain immediate access to the audio-MP3 and PDF transcript of the training, How To Buy Silver & Gold: To Protect Your Wealth and Savings, visit: www.howtobuysilverandgold.com

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Race and Election Coverage 2008

Race and Election Coverage 2008

By Julianne Ong Hing & Valeria Fernandez

May 16, 2008

Minnesota, Part 2

The proposal to bar many state affirmative action programs is part of a campaign led by Connerly nationwide. Other states impacted include Nebraska and Arizona. Signature gatherers have until July to collect enough signatures to put it on the ballot in the remaining states. Colorado voters will have a say on the measure next November.

May 2, 2008

Nevada: Voting In Whose Interest?

Ruben Kihuen, the son of Mexican immigrants, is up for re-election in Nevada’s state assembly. The Dem has represented the 11th District since 2006, when he ran his first campaign a year after becoming a citizen. Kihuen made news most recently though because he endorsed and canvassed aggressively for Hillary Clinton, though the local Latino-heavy Culinary Union supported Obama. Clinton won the Nevada primary, but how Kihuen will deal with the difference in opinion between himself and his constituency is something to keep an eye on, says Bill Fulkerson of Plan Nevada, a nonprofit alliance of over 24 groups that works for progressive social change in Nevada.

Ruben Kihuen’s website: http://www.rubenforassembly.com/

Florida: Cuban Americans Battle For Seats

In South Florida, Latino Congressmen, Lincoln Diaz-Balart and his younger brother, Mario Diaz-Balart, are up for re-election. They are part of a Cuban political dynasty (their father was a pre-revolution Cuban politician and U.S. Representative) and represent elite Cuban interests. In Congress, they’re considered the backbone of the Cuban-American lobby. Their staunchly conservative politics give legitimacy to the Republicans’ and Bush administration claim to Latino support, but they don’t always have the support of working and middle class Cubans and non-Cuban Latinos.

Both Diaz-Balarts, who have served several terms in Congress and represent the Old Guard Cuban elite class, are being challenged by Cuban American Democrats Raul Martinez and Joe Garcia. Joseph Phelan of the Miami Workers Center projects that if the brothers lose, it could precipitate a huge change in Cuban policy. However, given the recent news of Castro’s resignation, they won’t give up their seats without a fight.

Lincoln Diaz-Balart’s official House page

Lincoln Diaz-Balart’s campaign webpage

Mario Diaz-Balart’s official House website

Yahoo News Story

Minnesota

Peggy Flanagan, a 28-year-old American Indian and pro-choice Catholic, who holds a seat on the Minneapolis Board of Education is challenging 12-year incumbent Representative Joe Mullery for his seat in November. Mullery is popular with progressives for championing consumer rights, but Jermaine Toney, from the Organizing Apprenticeship Project, an advocacy organization, was disappointed with his track record with other issues. "When it comes to criminal justice issues and issues affecting people of color, it’s like, ‘Where are you?’" Toney said.

http://peggyforhouse.org/

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Colorado: Attacks On Affirmative Action

Ward Connerly’s Colorado Civil Rights Initiative turned over more than 128,000 signatures to the Secretary of State in March. But several dozen Coloradans say they were deceived into signing the petitions under the guise of ending discrimination, according to Colorado Unity, a coalition that is fighting the measure.

The proposal to ban affirmative action in Colorado is part of a national effort lead by Connerly. Other states affected this year include Arizona, Missouri, Nebraska and Oklahoma. Connerly’s people in the remaining states have until early July to turn in enough signatures to put it on the ballot in November.

Affirmative Action stories

NY Times

Denver Post

Freep.com

TheHill.com/

www.tulsaworld.com

NPR story

another NPR story

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Sexual Teens

We’re here. We’re sexual. GET USED TO IT.

By Barbara Miner

AS BEFITTING AN ARTICLE about schools, here’s a pop quiz taken from the sex education website Teenwire.org: In 1937,
studies claimed that nine out of 10 children caught masturbating were: a) severely punished; b) told they would go insane or blind; c) threatened with having their penises cut off or their vaginas sewn closed; or d) all of the above.

The answer? d) all of the above.

Now, before you start laughing at the absurdity of life in the 1930s, consider this contemporary statement from the “guardyourself” website of the abstinence-only organization Women’s Clinic of Kansas City/Life Guard, which has received almost a million dollars in federal funds for sex education: “Being able to have sex does not make you any different from a rat in a warehouse. They have sex too. Is that what you want to compare yourself with?”

For the last decade, schools around the country have been badgered and bribed into pumping these sorts of ideas into students’ heads through abstinence-only programs—that is, those relatively few schools that teach sex education in the first place. Beginning under former-president Bill Clinton and escalating under President George W. Bush, more than $1.5 billion in federal and state money has been poured into abstinence-only
education. These programs, by law, have as their “exclusive purpose” teaching about the benefits of abstaining from sexual activity; prohibit schools from talking about contraceptives and condoms; and define healthy sexuality as “a mutually faithful monogamous relationship in the context of marriage.”

Over the past year, this surging abstinence-only education movement has finally shown signs of retreat. Numerous studies have proven it to be ineffective, even harmful, and a growing list of states have turned down federal money when it comes with abstinence strings attached. But as abstinence fades, the increasingly pressing question is this: What will rise in its place? Sex education in public schools has never been a resource priority and has rarely been described as forward thinking. So will the half-hearted sex education that preceded abstinence return in coming years? Will there be anything at all? Or are this country’s policymakers prepared to embrace a comprehensive sex education that goes beyond fear tactics and acknowledges that sexuality is a normal part of life, even for teenagers?

Schools’ failure to help students understand and embrace their sexuality has particular consequence for kids of color, who represent vast majorities in many public schools around the country. Sex and race have always formed a volatile brew in America. Racist stereotypes of hypersexual men and women compete with restrictive mores, coming from both inside and outside of communities of color, to circumscribe sexual expression. Too many young people are left to sort through this maelstrom with little or no guidance, and too many don’t find their way. Blacks and Latinos account for 83 percent of teen HIV infections. Similar disparities exist with nearly every other type of sexually transmitted infection—Black girls are more than four times as likely to get gonorrhea as their peers, and syphilis is skyrocketing among Black teenage boys and slowly climbing among Latino boys. Late last year, federal health monitors announced that teen pregnancy went up in 2006 for the first time in 15 years. The largest spikes were found among Black and Native American girls.

“In essence, our country has viewed youth as hormonally driven accidents waiting to happen, so we give them sex ed that censors information,” frets James Wagoner, head of the Washington, D.C. group Advocates for Youth. “We adults tell them not to have sex until they’re married, and never mind that none of us ever followed that advice.”

Whatever adults are prepared to do, a growing number of teenagers and sex educators are taking matters into their own hands, logging on to the Internet and rabble-rousing in their classrooms to elbow out space for a more honest conversation about sex. They’re fed up with adults’ 1930s sensibilities about their sex lives, and they’ve gone in search of their own resources.
                                               •••
Maya Patitucci, 19, remembers her sex ed classes at Curie Metro High School in Chicago mostly because they were incredibly boring. “The videos they showed us, they were like from the 1970s, with stereotypical roles and bad music,” she said. “And so you’d go to sleep during the videos. Everyone knows that during health class, that’s the time you sleep.” And yet she considers herself one of the lucky ones. While the textbook focused on abstinence until marriage, “we had a good teacher,” she says. “He was conscious enough to go beyond abstinence.”

When she was a senior at Curie, Patitucci realized just how bad sex ed was in the Chicago Public Schools, which, with about a half-million students, is the third largest district in the country. As part of a leadership program, she and a group of students researched teen pregnancy and sex ed across the city. “We did a survey of physical-ed teachers and found out that they taught whatever they liked,” she explains. At the same time, the need for comprehensive information was undeniable: statistics showed that 50 percent of the city’s high school students were sexually active and that 6,000 babies were born to teen parents in Chicago in 2003.

Patitucci and other students at Curie—where 81 percent of the students are from low-income families, 62 percent are Latino, 22 percent are Black and 6 percent are Asian/Pacific Islander—first focused on their own school and organized until it bought more up-to-date videos and adopted an improved sex ed syllabus. After that, working with the Illinois Caucus for Adolescent Health based in Chicago’s Loop, they started a citywide campaign demanding that comprehensive sex ed be required in the district’s middle and high school grades.

“We believed that the entire school system needed to make a commitment to providing lifesaving information to Chicago schools,” Patitucci says, “so we took our cause to the top.”

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