By Marie Brown
Let’s talk Black Empowerment and Black Economics.
It is not my intention to tell you how to spend your hard-earned money. As a case in point, are we supporting our community in which we live? The overriding theme for the City of Monroe is that not much is happening on the Southside. Past city administrations including the current administration have all been criticized for not doing enough. Each of them has highlighted specific projects that have enhanced the citizens who live in the area.
We have businesses such as hotels, restaurants, barber and beauty shops, a grocery store, Pharmacies, body shops, 2 beverage distributors, convenient stores, funeral homes just to name a few. Are we supporting and encouraging others to support them? I live on the southside and as I ride through our area I see some that make me smile and several others that make me angry. When I look in the mirror, I ask myself if I’m doing enough to support businesses where I live. After all, I cannot expect others to come into our community to support us if we are not supporting ourselves.
How many black millionaires have been created in our community through contracts from local governments, school systems, and a variety of services? We need the Southside Economic Development District, The African-American Chamber of Commerce, and North LA. Black Chamber of Commerce in addition to the Monroe Chamber of Commerce to get more aggressive in supporting our people.
Hold yourselves accountable by reporting to the public annually “The State of The Chambers and District.” We need to know how all of them are supporting businesses and improving the quality of life in our community.
When this is done, we can continue to, “Love where we Live and Live where we Love.”
