Family "Buying Black" for Year

Chicago Couple Discusses on "The Early Show" Their Decision to Support Only Businesses Owned by African-Americans

(CBS)  There's a grassroots movement growing in America -- African Americans patronizing only black businesses to force a change in the local economy.

On "The Early Show" Tuesday, one family shared their story of buying black.

Chicagoans Maggie and John Anderson have dedicated themselves to living off of only black-owned businesses in an effort called The Empowerment Experiment.

Maggie pointed out to CBS News that black communities have often limited businesses: "Liquor store. Funeral home. Liquor store. Funeral home. This is what the black community is...I want to change this."

Maggie, a lawyer, and her husband John, a financial advisor, and their two young daughters, have spent more than $45,000 in their effort so far.

"Money does not stay in the black community," Maggie said, "And that's because the business owners in that community do not live in that community, do not invest in that community."

"People who have cancer in their family, they do their best to work towards curing cancer," she said. "And for me, the problems going on in the black community, that our kids are choosing gangs over college, that our kids don't think that it's possible to be a business owner in America, even though we have a black president...This is my cancer."

So, in her fight, Maggie drives four miles from her home to invest her family's money with a black-owned bank, and her husband John patronizes a black-owned dry cleaner. Maggie also drives 16 miles to give her money to the only black-owned grocery store in Chicago.

"Sixteen miles for bananas may sound crazy to some folks," Maggie said, "but to me it means empowering this community."

And she's trying to empower other communities, too, traveling thousands of miles and signing up more than 8,000 members for The Empowerment Experiment.

But, buying black does have its critics.

John said, "We've heard criticisms -- like this is exclusive -- even racist."

To that, Maggie responds, "Why is that racism, for black people to say, 'These are our problems -- we need to fix them." '

Maggie told "Early Show co-anchor Harry Smith, "Every day, increasingly it becomes a more powerful, a more -- it's a wonderful experience for us. Some people think about the driving 16 miles and all the sacrifices we make in terms of driving as a sacrifice. Our life is not a life of sacrifice -- our life is empowering."

John added, "Business owners have obviously found us to be extremely positive in that they know that if we're supporting them, we're helping create role models and, you know, propagate more businesses and growth that obviously is going to help...keep wealth in the black community."

Asked about reverse racism, John said the project is an "academic exercise" that is trying to bear out from a statistical standpoint what would happen if more money were reinvested in underserved black communities, and how this could help bridge the social gaps.

Maggie admitted the project is "controversial," but a "laudable goal."

However, Elder, who appeared from Los Angeles, said, though he supports black entrepreneurship, he believes businesses succeed and fail on other factors, such as quality, service, value and convenience.

Elder, a small businessman for 15 years, said he had a "mainstream clientele" that came back if the service was good. However, he said basing business on other factors, such as race, shouldn't come into play.

He said, "If we encourage people to patronize businesses based upon race or ethnicity, then aren't you encouraging Jews to do that and Asians to do that and Hispanics to do that? What if voters did that? If voters did that, we wouldn't have President Barack Obama."

Maggie responded that the effort isn't to give anyone license to offer poor goods and services.

"We are uplifting quality black businesses. But at the same time, we are encouraging those folks who are looking for ways to empower our community to do so by reinvesting our dollars -- now approaching $1 trillion in buying power -- into those communities that need it the most."

She said, "The black community is disproportionately impacted by every measure of social and economic progress in this nation, and nothing is going to change...if we stay business as usual."

[Dr1906]

This is not racism, this family is doing what Jewish and Asian Americans have done forever. Do you have a Black Lawyer, no chances are he is white just like many of you. White privilege affords one the opportunity to believe that the descrepencies don't exist at their alleged magnitudes, but the fact of the matter is that Blacks and Latinos are highly disenfranchised in America and many ignorant views and irrelevant examples speak to the heart of my biggest fears as I prepare a Black baby to be a Black man in America. We now see the great grand children of men and women who hated and hunted Black people. The great grand children of men who celebrated at the sight of a naked Black man burning in a tree less than 60 years ago...I understand how many have been traumatized and are too ignorant to see it, but I will pray for you and others who fail to comprehend the magnitude and depth of our racial concerns in America!! This family is behaving responsibly...If you decided to "Shop only White", I imagine that your monthly financial designation would not change because you are still patronizing the same businesses. You already "Shop White" and you don't realize it, your bank, grocery store, department store etc etc...WAKE UP PEOPLE and be honest with your selves, I know it can reduce your anxiety a bit to blame the oppressed but use your heads...

[projster]

Well, initially it was named "The Ebony Experiment" . Renamed so it wouldn't be so racist sounding I imagine. As found here "http://theebonyexperiment.blogspot.com/ , and here http://www.ebonyexperiment.com/purpose.html ". Those sites will probably be removed soon as to not show the racism, to be replaced by the new sites they have made.

You can also find mention of the experiment on www.playahata.com ,
thesavvy-sista.com , www.blackweb20.com , www.blackinformant.com , www.blackplanet.com , globalgrind.com , iamcolourful.com , whatitbe.com , essence.com and more!

That by the way is NOT a joke. All of those websites are correct. I didn't realize there were so many sites dedicated to a particular race. That was only a few of them.

Just for comparison, I searched for sites dedicated toward white people. I did find one ' stuffwhitepeoplelike.com'. I went to the site and it was just a site named after a book.

You can read more of what I write on my site http://empowermentexperiment.blogspot.com

[Dr1906]

Of course you wouldn't have found one website dedicated toward white people, because 98.25% of the websites are dedicated to the white people! Are you kidding, it is inherent in our presentation that the white eurocentric viewpoint is the standard and most all American media is created according to that paradigm, it goes unstated...

[gosstom]

So, in her fight, Maggie drives four miles from her home to invest her family's money with a black-owned bank, and her husband John patronizes a black-owned dry cleaner. Maggie also drives 16 miles to give her money to the only black-owned grocery store in Chicago.

"Sixteen miles for bananas may sound crazy to some folks," Maggie said, "but to me it means empowering this community."


No, you're not crazy, the rest of the world is crazy.

[rosered17]

Wow!! This is unbelievably racist. Any adult should be able to recognize this. It will further divide people of varying ethnic backgrounds.

[MelSr]

I listened, being retired military I've had it all! Race relations, Human Relations and lastly Diverity cause the other two titles were offensive to minorities. These two people have the right to buy where ever they want...but no where in the interview did I hear "Buy American". Had these two bought American, which I doubt they did, we wouldn't be in the mess we are right now! So with all this racism, diversity and human relations lets get off our hinnies and BUY AMERICAN no matter the race, color or creed.

[beci327]

Ms Anderson is right that her black money doesn't stay in her black neighborhood, everyone pays taxes and it goes to fire departments, police, schools, welfare etc. So by driving out of her neighborhood to put her money in a black bank and it only goes to other blacks, , she is fooling herself. Maybe they need to concentrate on supporting the neighborhood so it grows not helping drive the business close to her under by her snooty ways. She wants to "set an example " for black young people to grow and prosper, all she is setting is the example of money is as money does, and how to get 15 minutes of fame. Maybe the welfare and community expenses should be divided by race and payed for by tax rates based on the ethnicity that draws the most. She has no problem bragging on her experiment to the white Harry Smith, hmmm CBS is all black, since when, oops Ms Anderson YOU JUST DID BUSINESS an establishment that is NOT all black. When I think of all the sevicemen and women fighting for EVERYONE'S freedom, I have to appreciate them more but ask them WHY? I am looking forward to the Early Show's segment on our comments and their search for people who shop in their neighborhoods, regardless of the shopkeepers ethnicity in an effort of unity and community regardless of color that is promoting EVERYONE"S business. How many of us will see this segment??? Does the Early Show have the class to promote the "other people's" side of this story they have generated?

[projster]

This is definitely racism. Check out http://empowermentexperiment.blogspot.com/
to join the fight against racism.

In these hard economic times, ALL Americans should be buying goods made in the USA.

[StandUpForAmerica]

Well, good for them.

They even got on tv. Nothing like furthering their own personal agenda. So, who is this about, supporting a black business, or putting themselves in the limelight?

They are making a statement. But what that statement is doing, is creating a distance between PEOPLE. Of ALL colors.

I can understand people shopping at their own ethnic grocery stores, because that is the kind of food they eat and are used to. But I think completely isolating yourself, solely because of your race, is detrimental to society and people working and living together.

So much for 'unity'.

[svenskasandy]

It is an insult to the Negroid Race by trying to exhault the race, it shows the race is like a little kid saying "Ha Ha Ha, I am black and that means I am better than you." Is this what life is about? I feel sorry for any race that tries to exhault itself such as Hitler tried.

[writescripts]

Racist TRASH!

[thecatsmeow5]

This is like 'support the United Negro College Fund.' I could barely pay for my own son's college education and I'm sure not paying for someone else's especially when they discriminate against whites. Seems like when they keep doing things like this, it's only going backwards instead of forward. When I buy items or get service, I never thought of the color of who I was getting it from but this is making me think twice. If black start supporting only blacks, then I'll only start supporting whites.

[smoknmirrors]

Maggie responds, "Why is that racism, for black people to say, 'These are our problems -- we need to fix them." '
-----
I quite agree. I wonder if I might list a number of other items that are "your" problems, and request that you spend as much time fixing them as you intend to use on "buying black."

You have a problem with too many blacks in prison. They have been convicted of committing crimes. Please fix this problem by some means other than early release or lowering the bar of evidence.

You have a problem with too few blacks getting a decent education. They don't want to be considered "white." Please fix this problem by some means other than "black studies.'

You have a problem with too many blacks on welfare, having welfare babies, and such. They can't hold a steady job. Please fix this problem by some means other than having the welfare offices hire them.

Frankly, if you can designate one problem as YOUR problem and encourage an "academic exercise" to combat it, all these problems can be designated as YOUR problems and you are free to engage in "academic exercises" to combat them. Let's truly empower YOUR PEOPLE. In the process, I hope you will continue using your own dime.

[realestate01]

I believe CBS should now show an American family that only buys from white owned business. Then Mexican, Japanese and ect. And if they do not, I for one think there should be a law-suit started for discrimination against AMERICAN people.
I am so very sick of hearing about how Black people are discriminated against. That was about 100 years ago. Stop the hate. I have not gotten jobs because some companies needed to fill jobs with "a quota" with less qualifications. But, there is nothing I can do.
In this day and age, most of the discrimination is against "white" Americans not "black".

[averjane]

Why don't they do one better and actually live in the neighborhood they do all their business in and give even more of their money to their cause instead of wasting it in some white owned gas station to buy the gas needed to drive so far and further contribute to our global warming problem. (global warming--what a crock) anyway. They could then just buy gas from a black owned gas station and drive to work and back. Anyway, I believe in helping the economy in my own neighborhood to support small businesses in my community and I'm white but the neighborhood is becoming more black. It's good for me and them. I think this is very racist and if it had been done about a white family going out of their way to support only white businesses, there would be a tremendous outcry and there should be. That goes for blacks as well. I think it's great that you want to support black owned businesses but haven't people always? I'm sure you're not the first black folks to buy stuff from other black folks.

[MrsK2926]

Frankly, I don't care who owns the business. I go to the businesses that give me the most bang for my buck and the best service, be they Black, White, Chinese, Vietnamese, Italian, Polish, Greek, or any other racial or ethnic group you can think of.

To buy ONLY BLACK is simply reverse discrimination, no matter how much Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson might protest at my door for saying so. Racism is not a white-only disease. ANYONE, including black people, including the Black couple featured, can be racist. I know it's not politically correct to say it. but that's the way it is.

Buying black? Go ahead. I'll continue to disregard race and ethnicity, just like any other non-racist person would do.

[azure13]

There is no such thing as "reverse discrimination". There is only discrimination.

[RaymondKevin]

The tone of the comments in this section have degenerated into a ugly, name-calling free for all.

Most of the posters have completely missed the point of the piece. The segment shows how many services, goods and products are not available in some African-American communities. Having grown up in a former all-white neghborhood that became all-black in the 1960s, the speed at which merchants fled my Chicago South Side community was astounding. Many of them missed opportunities to expand and build their brands out of racism and fear.

As a consequence, things that most Americans take for granted -- shopping at a Jewel, Safeway, Kroger or Whole Foods, going to a Walgreens, buying cleaning products from a Target, getting art supplies from a Michael's -- are simply not options.

As a consequence, many minority communities become what experts call "food deserts," where the choices for nutritional sustenance are dispiritingly few.

Additionally, these businesses help communities to thrive -- in providing jobs and establishing feeder companies that support and supply these larger firms. Economic empowerment is such a Republican principle, it seems odd that these posters are complaining about something that is structured to help a community develop it's resources and not become dependent on government largess.

Many other ethnicities use local business as a stepping stone to achieving the American Dream of financial independence. Ethnic markets and shopping areas abound in just about every US city, big and small. Can a Chinatown or Little Tokyo/Saigon/Israel/Mumbai be considered as exclusionary as "Buying Black?" The principle is exactly the same.

[azure13]

Why are there African-American communities in the first place??
Where I live, there are African-Americans, Asian-Americans, White-Americans, Arab-Americans, and so on all living together.
I live in a suburban neighborhood. All nice single homes. My next door neighbors are Puerto Rican. The next 3 are white, the one after that is Vietnamese, the house after that is Chinese. There are rednecks, whites, blacks and all sorts of people living just in my little neighborhood. Peacefully. They all have access to the stores you mention and shop there together.

This "buying black" thing is ridiculous. I am sick of it all! Quit acting as an exclusive group! Quit acting as if you deserve something special. You can live anywhere you like and do anything you choose if you put your mind to it.
There is no point to it RaymondKevin. And you have made no point. "Minority Communities"??? PFfft!

Bleh, I'm rambling... So sick of the stupidity.

[azure13]

How completely misguided and screwed up are those people???

I swear some blacks are intent on keeping racism alive. Yeesh, everyone is so messed up. White, Black, Irish, Catholic, etc. etc. etc. All have their biases and prejudices. It's never going to change. I'm not even sure why we get worked up over it.
Hell we even have some people who are prejudiced against fat or skinny people, or just because someone has a mole on there face or something. It's ridiculous to keep on paying any attention to it.
What a bunch of weirdos the human race is.

[beci327]

I am appalled at this couple. How many "races other than black" are clients of her legal practice and his financial analyst business. If they have any "other than black" clients those clients need to RUN to another form of representation! This couple is breeding what many of work against, and that is prejudice. I am appalled at CBS for aplauding them by running this story not once, mind you all, but twice. It is a hard enough economic time in this country, we need to support each other not draw lines in sand. Must be the Andersons electricity, cable and cell phones service comes from all black service providers, or are they sitting in the dark with no TV to see their prejudical narrow minded ways with no cell phones to call their friends to brag on themselves with. Until the Early Show finds some more enlightening news and positive minded people to report on I may have to watch Good Morning America.

[Slrman]

Another case of blacks being applauded for racism. If a white couple said they were only "buying white" they would be hounded out of the country. What hypocrisy we see in race relations.

I am so glad I no longer live in the USA. I won't even visit a country that's swiftly killing itself.

[Cas2dy]

This couple is dealing with a double edged sword here. I understand their efforts to uplift the economic situation within the Black community, but "language' plays a huge role in our society. I tend to buy "minority" because this is where I live and the stores that I, as a disabled person have the most covenient access to are located nearby and owned by mostly residents. The few that are owned by corporations see little of my money if there is no incentive regarding savings. I do notice that more of our businesses down here are owned by us and so it is not neceessary to make it a point that we are selling and buying from each other. it's becoming a given. We are becoming uplifted, the buildings are being renovated, some are new projects developed by the city to aide minority business and encourage economic solidarity and growth. What I also notice is that people who are not minority have also come to us with programs that encourage and teach entrpeneurship to those who are single parents, low income, with less than superior education but who have certain valauble skills anyway and also some who were formerly incarcerated and seeking to make an honest living. When we take advanatage of such programs, we are working together to continue to build our community, our sense of self worth and we are starting something that our children can witnes and become a part of. It cannot be done "by Blacks for Blacks" if we are to truly reach a point of irreversible success. Besides, in this day and age, how do I tell my Black son, who is married to a wonderful woman who happens to be White, not to shop in White establishments? How do I explain that to my granddaughter? We learned from the past that seperate is not equal.

[naj1953]

I think this sounds like racism...I agree that maybe I will buy from only Whites..One thing for sure I plan to do is buy only USA Made. If I can't find it, I'll do without. When Companies take jobs out of the USA,they can go to he$$. I also want to empower my people..