By Dr. John E. Warren, Publisher
Chairman, NNPA Board of Directors
The war actions of President Donald Trump against Iran and the takeover of Venezuela, are having a growing impact on the American economy. Prices are up on every front. Those who are able are spending less as everything costs more. But this can be a time of change and progress for many of us in particular. The President, through his policies and actions against Black Americans in particular have resulted in pull back by corporate america while we continue to spend as if everything is alright.
Once again here is a reminder that “We” spend over 4 trillion dollars a year in this country and much of that is spent on what we want and not what we need. “We” should take a page out of the notes of some other ethnic groups like the Jewish community who in the past have suspended the use of their purchasing power with those who are not supportive of them and their causes. Recently we have seen some of the very so called leaders in the Black community do an about face on spending with Target after than company gave monies to some Black Pastors. They were not alone in taking such dollars. Our National Newspaper Publishers Association also took monies from Target in the form of a $200,000 grant with a promise of some future business.
But “We” the people with purchasing power can change this attitude of withdrawal from doing business with us while still taking our business in the form of our purchases. This is an opportunity to walk with our dollars; to start purchasing only what we need from those who are not spending money with our businesses. This is not about DEI. Those letters just represent replacement words for Affirmative Act and Jim Crow 2.0. We must start thinking about “us” collectively and not just “me”.
Where do you stand?