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Old Posted Jul 28, 2014, 9:05 PM
jd3189 jd3189 is offline
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Black-Owned Businesses Are Quietly Powering Detroit's Resurgence, But No One's Talkin

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


Quote:

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...

Quote:
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.

Quote:
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.

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  #2  
Old Posted Jul 28, 2014, 9:30 PM
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What's the big difference if the business owner is black?
     
     
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Old Posted Jul 28, 2014, 10:21 PM
jd3189 jd3189 is offline
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^^^. 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.
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Old Posted Jul 28, 2014, 11:45 PM
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Originally Posted by Double L View Post
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.
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Old Posted Jul 29, 2014, 12:43 AM
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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.
     
     
  #6  
Old Posted Jul 29, 2014, 12:48 AM
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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.
     
     
  #7  
Old Posted Jul 29, 2014, 12:56 AM
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James Bond Agent 007 James Bond Agent 007 is offline
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Now they need to start a record company. I propose they call it "Motown Records."

Oh wait ...
     
     
  #8  
Old Posted Jul 29, 2014, 1:01 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Double L View Post
What's the big difference if the business owner is black?
Quote:
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.
     
     
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Old Posted Jul 29, 2014, 1:17 AM
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Are they saying they are being excluded om purpose? Because if so, I don't buy that.
     
     
  #10  
Old Posted Jul 29, 2014, 1:23 AM
Larry King Larry King is offline
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so the city that's 80% black has black business owners?

i think it's pretty patronizing to report this.
     
     
  #11  
Old Posted Jul 29, 2014, 1:23 AM
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I have no idea. I'm glad they are putting out a more accurate picture, though.
     
     
  #12  
Old Posted Jul 29, 2014, 1:51 AM
Mr Roboto Mr Roboto is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Crawford View Post
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.
     
     
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Old Posted Jul 29, 2014, 1:35 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Double L View Post
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.
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  #14  
Old Posted Jul 29, 2014, 2:18 PM
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How is "business" defined by the Census? Every self-employed consultant? If so, I wonder what the numbers are for places with employees. Or what about just retail.

I looked for a definition for a few minutes at census.gov, the world's worst website. Every page has a pop-up telling me I can click to download the rest of the content (Explorer being idiodic, or the website not being designed for their idiocy?). I found a definition for "establishment" but not for "business." Going to the glossary starts into a feedback loop I couldn't get out of. At least not before becoming infuriated.
     
     
  #15  
Old Posted Jul 29, 2014, 2:28 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by James Bond Agent 007 View Post
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
     
     
  #16  
Old Posted Jul 29, 2014, 2:38 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Double L View Post
Are they saying they are being excluded om purpose? Because if so, I don't buy that.
On purpose? Nah, just blinkers.
     
     
  #17  
Old Posted Jul 29, 2014, 7:43 PM
iheartthed iheartthed is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Double L View Post
Are they saying they are being excluded om purpose? Because if so, I don't buy that.
Does it matter that it's not on purpose?

The reason why the article was written is because the NY Times Travel Editor had to issue a response to one of the articles that a freelance writer did on Detroit. The freelancer, who was a Detroit area native, wrote an entire article about small businesses in Detroit to patronize, but the businesses were all (inadvertently) owned by whites. I doubt that it was done on purpose, but reading the article you'd think that Detroit is a city that is 82% white. It certainly can't be that hard to find a black owned business in a city with one of the highest concentrations of black owned businesses in America.

Quote:
Among cities, New York had the most black-owned businesses, with 154,929 (8.1 percent of all the nation's black-owned businesses), followed by Chicago, with 58,631 (3.1 percent), Houston, with 33,062 (1.7 percent) and Detroit, with 32,490 (1.7 percent).
https://www.census.gov/newsroom/rele...p/cb11-24.html
     
     
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Old Posted Jul 29, 2014, 9:12 PM
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^Exactly. In addition, to answer an earlier comment someone made, yes other ethnic groups are running businesses as well as other long-time black businesses. This article is probably also marketed to the Black Generations X/Y/Next... and non-blacks who want to be in a positive diversity-filled city. Detroit is an option. Come, join others and be a success here.
     
     
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Old Posted Jul 29, 2014, 9:16 PM
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Originally Posted by NorthernDancer View Post
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...
     
     
  #20  
Old Posted Jul 31, 2014, 11:05 PM
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Originally Posted by hudkina View Post
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.
     
     
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