Black-Owned Businesses Are Quietly Powering Detroit's Resurgence, But No One's Talkin

[jd3189]

From Huffington Post http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/0...n_5587466.html

By Kate Abbey-Lambertz


Black-Owned Businesses Are Quietly Powering Detroit's Resurgence, But No One's Talking About It


Posted: 07/17/2014 2:07 pm EDT Updated: 07/18/2014 6:59 pm


Detroit will mark the first anniversary of its bankruptcy filing this Friday, and across the country, people are watching the city to see how it has survived the upheaval.

Despite pending cuts for pensioners, as well as widespread poverty, sobering health and violence statistics and a declining population, Detroiters have expressed cautious optimism about recent changes, which include greater investments in development, promises to improve city services and an ambitious plan to eliminate urban blight.

The largest municipal bankruptcy in U.S. history has also stirred up interest in success stories. Though no one person will fix Detroit, some people have received well-deserved attention for their work to improve the city. A New York Times article last month highlighted hot spots in the Corktown neighborhood, and a story in the same paper earlier this year heralded small businesses.

But something's missing from those pieces, and from many other articles that examine the city's resurgence: black Detroiters, who make up 83 percent of the population.

Stories that claim entrepreneurs are building, revitalizing and even saving Detroit focus primarily on white professionals, often younger and new transplants to the city, a trend that's palpable and frustrating for locals. When journalists and readers criticized the Times for leaving blacks out of its Corktown story, the paper's public editor addressed the lack of diversity in a follow-up, and the writer said she regretted not including a black-owned business. (A more recent Times story takes a wider-ranging view.)

It's not difficult to find a black business owner to speak with, though. There are more than 32,000 in the city, according to U.S. Census Bureau figures from 2007. Many, particularly those who have kept their businesses going on shoestring budgets, feel excluded from conversations about Detroit's revival and overlooked when it comes to getting access to funds and resources.

"I think, for the most part, black-owned businesses are not getting a piece of the pie," bookstore owner Janet Jones told The Huffington Post. "What about people who have been doing the hard work of living and working and having business in Detroit for the last 20 years?"

Despite difficulties, many business owners have had their doors open for decades, something local developer George Stewart, 77, traces back to historical segregation that had white business owners refusing service to black customers.

"During the good times and the bad times, black-owned businesses have been around, primarily serving their community," said Stewart, who moved to Detroit from Baton Rouge, Louisiana in the 1960s. Such businesses, Stewart said, have long been "circulating resources, building wealth [and] opening doors to other opportunities, such as higher education and lifestyle."

Here's two examples of many that were under the article in the website...

Detroit Vegan Soul helps Detroiters expand their horizons with a healthy spin on comfort food.


Erika Boyd and Kirsten Ussery-Boyd both left careers in other fields to open a restaurant in West Village last year, serving soul food classics like collard greens, barbecue and mac-n-cheese -- all vegan. They took the leap after watching loved ones and the broader African-American community struggle with diet-related illnesses. Together they crafted a menu that's both delicious and healthy.

Erika Boyd and Kirsten Ussery-Boyd. Photo courtesy Detroit Vegan Soul.

The Social Club Grooming Company brings sustainability and inclusiveness to the barbershop.


Sebastian Jackson's first three business plans were rejected, but in 2012, he and his wife Gabrielle eventually succeeded in opening the Social Club Grooming Company, built with reclaimed lumber from blighted Detroit homes, on Wayne State University's campus. They've partnered with a local park to build a greener city. Already, clippings of cut hair have been used as fertilizer for 200 new trees.

While Jackson takes pride in the diversity of both his staff and his clientele, he notes that barbershops have historically served as a black community hub, and aims to recreate that experience for all Social Club customers.

"We need to create and support more businesses that cater to the predominant Detroit experience," he said.

[Double L]

What's the big difference if the business owner is black?

[jd3189]

^^^. Agreed, but since this article was in the "Black Voices" section of Huffington Post, it would be very likely to find a title like this.

[Centropolis]

Originally Posted by Double L

What's the big difference if the business owner is black?

because americans are obsessed with race. it's a high powered, important topic of discussion in this country. it's a thing that we talk about a lot, for better and for worse.

it's america.

[Zapatan]

Originally Posted by Centropolis

because americans are obsessed with race. it's a high powered, important topic of discussion in this country. it's a thing that we talk about a lot, for better and for worse.

it's america.

We are, it's annoying and weird.

Plus (many) Americans are just dumb, they think Muslims and Latinos are races of people for example. They know nothing about "race" (which doesn't really exist biologically) yet talk about it to no end.

[SD_Phil]

Originally Posted by Zapatan

We are, it's annoying and weird.

Plus (many) Americans are just dumb, they think Muslims and Latinos are races of people for example. They know nothing about "race" (which doesn't really exist biologically) yet talk about it to no end.

Actually, I think this attitude is annoying and weird. Race, Sex, Gender, sexual preference etc. are all social constructions but that doesn't mean that they don't matter and it doesn't mean that race (and sex and gender etc.) aren't used in ways that dramatically affect the quality of a person's life.

In a perfect world maybe we wouldn't have these constructs but we don't live in a perfect world. Ignoring race, in our actual world, only privileges those who benefit from the current system.

[Onn]

Originally Posted by SD_Phil

Actually, I think this attitude is annoying and weird. Race, Sex, Gender, sexual preference etc. are all social constructions but that doesn't mean that they don't matter and it doesn't mean that race (and sex and gender etc.) aren't used in ways that dramatically affect the quality of a person's life.

In a perfect world maybe we wouldn't have these constructs but we don't live in a perfect world. Ignoring race, in our actual world, only privileges those who benefit from the current system.

I would disagree that these kind of criteria are only social constructions. The cultures (wealth distribution, language, religion, location, customs) of different races, sexes, and genders can all vary, even in America. Maybe in a perfect world we wouldn't take into account such factors...but God made an imperfect world and all of us different. Although in social terms the differences can at time unfairly bite people, in cultural terms I don't think all the differences that people have are necessarily a bad thing.

[Leo the Dog]

Originally Posted by Zapatan

We are, it's annoying and weird.

Plus (many) Americans are just dumb, they think Muslims and Latinos are races of people for example. They know nothing about "race" (which doesn't really exist biologically) yet talk about it to no end.

I'll agree. Hispanic/Latino is not a race and I think it is beyond silly to try to classify yet another group into a separate category. (Media always tries to lump them all into one voting block). If one is half white, they're suddenly not white at all. (Obama). I could be classified as a Hispanic according to the government, but I always describe myself as white/Caucasian. I mean, should we have a "Nordic" option on the census form? It's pretty silly.

It's a tactic used by politicians and the government to divide and conquer the votes. Can't have too many people on one side of an issue...it's gotta be close to 50/50. Because the general population is too busy or just uninformed, they fall for the tactics.

[Eightball]

Originally Posted by Double L

What's the big difference if the business owner is black?

Stories that claim entrepreneurs are building, revitalizing and even saving Detroit focus primarily on white professionals, often younger and new transplants to the city, a trend that's palpable and frustrating for locals.

Says pretty clearly why in the article.

[brickell]

Originally Posted by Double L

What's the big difference if the business owner is black?

because we have a tendency to overlook what communities (especially minority communities) do for themselves. A "resurgence" has to include imported olive oil stores and a Gap, or at least an Old Navy.

[Crawford]

They aren't talking about it, because it likely isn't true. And vegan restaurants, seriously? Could they find something less representative of small businesses in Detroit?

Detroit is remarkable in that its a city 90% one race, where small business owners, especially retailers, tend to be of other backgrounds (especially Middle Eastern, Asian, and Mexican). Chaldeans (Christians from Iraq) dominate the retail strips. There are probably 50 Chaldean-owned corner stores for every African American owned one.

[Mr Roboto]

Originally Posted by Crawford

They aren't talking about it, because it likely isn't true. And vegan restaurants, seriously? Could they find something less representative of small businesses in Detroit?

Detroit is remarkable in that its a city 90% one race, where small business owners, especially retailers, tend to be of other backgrounds (especially Middle Eastern, Asian, and Mexican). Chaldeans (Christians from Iraq) dominate the retail strips. There are probably 50 Chaldean-owned corner stores for every African American owned one.

What isnt true? Actually, what you said isnt true according to statistics. The majority of all business firms in Detroit are black-owned. But dont let facts get in your way or anything. And it isnt like corner stores are entirely representative of small businesses either btw. Restaurants and barbershops (like the ones cited) are just as representative if not more so.

Per census bureau, in 2007 64% of all businesses in Detroit were black-owned. If that number (not necessarily %) has increased in the last few years, then what about the article is false? I would imagine an increase in those businesses would have some positive impact on the economy. However, whether there is a 'resurgence' or not is debatable.

[NorthernDancer]

By what metrics is Detroit undergoing a "resurgence"? The fact that there are some new businesses and some people moving into "trendy lofts" doesn't mean the city is going through a resurgence. During the worst of times you can find examples of such things. During the worst of times you can find examples of big capital projects, improving neighbourhoods, and new stores and restaurants. That doesn't mean the city as a whole is undergoing a resurgence.

[hudkina]

Originally Posted by NorthernDancer

By what metrics is Detroit undergoing a "resurgence"?

Crime is falling. The city is able to pay its bills. Population loss has slowed. City services are beginning to improve. Blighted structures are being removed en masse. Businesses (both local and national) are opening shop in the city. Jobs in the city are increasing. The population in the core is rising. Long-abandoned skyscrapers are being renovated. The white population is increasing for the first time in decades. A streetcar line is under construction. Apartment vacancies in the core are about 1%. Rental rates are at the $2 per square foot magic number. Hipsters are being priced out of Midtown. A game-changing arena/entertainment district is being built. Streetlife in the core has increased. The median income in the core has gone way up. Infrastructure improvements are underway. And so on...

[Onn]

Originally Posted by hudkina

Crime is falling. The city is able to pay its bills. Population loss has slowed. City services are beginning to improve. Blighted structures are being removed en masse. Businesses (both local and national) are opening shop in the city. Jobs in the city are increasing. The population in the core is rising. Long-abandoned skyscrapers are being renovated. The white population is increasing for the first time in decades. A streetcar line is under construction. Apartment vacancies in the core are about 1%. Rental rates are at the $2 per square foot magic number. Hipsters are being priced out of Midtown. A game-changing arena/entertainment district is being built. Streetlife in the core has increased. The median income in the core has gone way up. Infrastructure improvements are underway. And so on...

Things are improving for sure, downtown's looked better than I've ever seen it in 20 years. But the city still faces quite a few challenges that the downtown area simply can't fix on its own.

[James Bond Agent 007]

Now they need to start a record company. I propose they call it "Motown Records."

Oh wait ...

[Xelebes]

Originally Posted by James Bond Agent 007

Now they need to start a record company. I propose they call it "Motown Records."

Oh wait ...

Underground Resistance Records
Submerge Records
Fragile Records
Red Planet Records
Electrofunk Records
Mack Avenue Records
Detroit Techno Militia
FrontStreet Records
RTMG
Griffith Records

[Double L]

Are they saying they are being excluded om purpose? Because if so, I don't buy that.

[Larry King]

so the city that's 80% black has black business owners?

i think it's pretty patronizing to report this.

[Xelebes]

Originally Posted by Double L

Are they saying they are being excluded om purpose? Because if so, I don't buy that.

On purpose? Nah, just blinkers.