By Dr. Robert Wallace

Dr. Robert Wallace

One of the cornerstones of my views on minority entrepreneurship is that it must be viewed simply as a means to an end. The end that the minority and female community should be trying to realize is the accumulation of power. Power, plainly defined, is simply the ability to achieve purpose.

While the African American community has labored in building its overall power structure, it is the accumulation of economic power that has especially eluded the community. In my opinion, economic power can be summarized as the accumulation of land, labor, capital Intelligence, open access to markets, no matter how we define it, power is the only thing that matters in America or in any other society, particularly a society based upon the economic principles of capitalism.

Consequently, if you have no power in America then you are invisible. When you become invisible, you become a nonperson and to all intents and purposes you cease to exist. When you cease to exist, social and economic policies of the society in which you live begin to reflect your invisibility.

Incidents like the Rodney King beating, the waving of the Confederate flag in South Carolina’s capital, and the attacks on affirmative action reflect a flagrant disregard for those fighting to be recognized. Unfortunately, social freedom without economic undergirding is like building your house on sand instead of rock. When the strong rains and high tide come crashing into your house, it will be unable to withstand the constant pounding of these relentless forces. Without sufficient undergirding the house will eventually collapse and its members will be scattered across the vast ocean. Our figurative house as a group has been beaten upon and its foundation compromised.

The conservative movement, which has historically been an enemy of minority and female rights, has been emboldened by a recent string of successful skirmishes whose intent is to completely dismantle all governmental efforts to assist minorities and females in their transition into the economic mainstream of America. Most notably was the passing of Proposition 209 in the state of California. This proposition had the dubious effect of abolishing affirmative action completely. Since Proposition 209, other states have begun to follow California’s lead.

Even more disturbing attacks on minority and female business programs continue to be launched unabated. Not only are minorities and females under siege from the legislative maneuvers of those in the conservative movement, but information is coming forward that suggests that some corporations are solidifying the proverbial glass ceiling purposely impeding the progress and advancement of blacks and other minorities. The nation was shocked when it learned that senior executives with Texaco Inc. bantered comfortably among themselves, plotting the destruction of documents demanded in a highly visible discrimination case and berating the firm’s minority employees with racial epithets. We can only speculate on what effect this type of racism has had on the development and implementation of key corporate policies that would dramatically impact thousands of Texaco employees across the nation.

About Dr. Robert Wallace: President/CEO/Founder BITHGROUP Technologies, BITHENERGY, Entreteach Robert L. Wallace is an accomplished engineer, entrepreneur, author, business.
www.greeneconomynow.org/dr-robert-wallace