Have you ever wondered why, despite decades of economic development, civil rights legislation and welfare programs, the economic status of African Americans always seems to lag behind nearly every other group? Why do members of other ethnic groups come to America from other countries and, within a few years, own most of the businesses in the Black community and, at the same time, treat Blacks with utter contempt? Even when a few African Americans experience economic success, such as entertainers and athletes, why is it that so many of them end up penniless after generating millions of dollars in wealth for others? For years, the author pondered these same questions. Her research and quest for answers has led to eye-opening revelations about the fabric of American society and the fate of the African-American community. Why African Americans Can't Get Ahead is a breakthrough book which not only defines the challenges, but presents cutting-edge solutions to these challenges with a group economics approach.
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Editorial Reviews
About the Author
Gwen Richardson is co-founder of Cushcity.com, the world's largest African-American Internet retailer with over 20,000 products online. Richardson and her husband, Willie, established Cushcity.com in 1998. The web site receives more than 2 million hits per month and has thousands of customers in all 50 states and internationally. Richardson has been a writer for most of her life. Prior to establishing Cushcity, she and Willie published a national public affairs magazine, Headway, and she served as the publication's editor. She was a monthly columnist for USA Today from 1996 to 1999, and her commentaries have also been published in several daily newspapers, including the Houston Chronicle, Atlanta Constitution and Philadelphia Inquirer. Richardson, who resides in Houston with Willie and their daughter, Sylvia, is a graduate of Georgetown University with a B.S. degree in marketing. She has been an entrepreneur for more than 20 years and this is her first published book.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Must Read for Every African American,
By bytethepower (Atlanta, USA) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Why African Americans Can't Get Ahead (Paperback)
As a African American, many days I have sat to discuss with friends and associates about how did we as a people allow ourselves to get into this current "State Of Economic Emergency" within our communities. We as a people spend more money on material things than any other racial or ethnic group in this country; mostly, on items we don't need. While there are many sociological and psychological reasons for this, even worse, is the fact that very little of the money being spent by us in our community, ever goes back into the community for the creation of jobs, education community and economic development etc. because we own very few of the businesses that are present.
This book "Why African Americans Can't Get Ahead" is one of the best books I have read on the principles of group economics, the history of African American business empowerment and solutions to our plight. Mrs. Richardson does this in a very interesting and easy to read format that doesn't need to be longer than 144 pages. As a former retail business owner, I can relate and understand to the examples Mrs. Richardson gives of fellow African American consumers being critical of price and using this as the main determining factor of choosing to do business with a African American owned business. I also have to be critical of myself when in the past I've made negative comments about some of our business owners without giving them a chance to rectify a mistake. As a former Executive General Manager of a Record label with Major Label distribution I found the Chapter on the Entertainment Industry right on point. I must include that Chapter 12 on "Wisdom from Nannie Helen" Burroughs was particularly satisfying. I attended Nannie Helen Burroughs school from kindergarten-8th grade and I credit this school with helping me grow to the man I am today. I have already recommended this book to many of my friends. I would go so far to say that this book should be included as course curriculum for some of our Business Sociology and Psychology courses at our HBCU's to really help drive the point of Group Economics to our best and brightest so that they can practice these principals once they have started a career, started a family or open their own successful business. While it is true today that racism still plays a ugly hand in our economic developmental process, we still haven't learned that we can do more for ourselves than any other government entity or other group of people can or will do for us just by supporting one another to build a true and powerful economic base for our future generations. This book helps to show us the way.
4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Readable Tool That Educates "US" on Group Economics,
This review is from: Why African Americans Can't Get Ahead (Paperback)
We have all thought about the question - why can't African Americans get ahead? There may be as many reasons as there are people. However, Richardson clearly accounts for the historical reasons, political implications and emotional defects that keep African Americans from taking risks. By using a chronological narrative, interviewing successful African Americans, defining group economics, commenting on the lack of involvement of the Black church and presenting steps for families to change cultural mind sets to appreciate the advantages of embarking on free enterprise endeavors.
Richardson does an outstanding job in covering all the bases of this topic. She details a step-by-step plan that can transform African American communities making them viable economic forces in the United States. It's time for African Americans to enter the world of kingdom building and wealth accumulation. Richardson urges readers to take the necessary steps to buy black, develop businesses and educate others on the importance of keeping the dollar in "our" community. WHY AFRICAN AMERICANS CAN'T GET AHEAD provides us with a readable tool to take "US" to the next level. Deltareviewer Reviewing for Real Page Turners
4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Un4getable,
This review is from: Why African Americans Can't Get Ahead (Paperback)
This book is a must read.
Too often, I hear comments that portray African Americans in a negative and/or fatalistic manner. Ms. Richardson presents documented data that sheds light on the economic situation of African Americans from their beginning, in this country, until now. Gwen Richardson tackles a difficult subject while presenting the information in an easy to read and digest format. Historical data, current issues and futuristic strategies are discussed. This book left me, intellectually, better informed and, emotionally, feeling positive about the possible economic future of African Americans. Persons who are inexperienced with historical perspectives and economics (national and world wide) as well as the highly knowledgeable will benefit from having read this book.
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