Black Power Inc.: The New Voice of Success (Hardcover)

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Editorial Reviews

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Daniels, a staff writer with Fortune magazine, self-identifies with and focuses on what she calls the post-civil rights generation of black professionals, those who did not have to fight the battles of being "the first." In her interviews, Daniels focused on black professionals in their mid-30s and younger, entrepreneurs or those working in the upper ranks of corporate America. As a group, they are beyond the "black rage" of the middle class, of which Ellis Cose has written. The group, which included a venture capitalist, consultant, Wall Street trader, bank examiner, and investment banker, had a common recognition of business as the preferred vehicle for their personal road to freedom. Though they are the beneficiaries of the civil rights era--growing up in integrated communities, graduating from the most prestigious schools-- many have chosen to live in black residential enclaves. This need for sanctuary may speak volumes that racial progress has its limits. As a group, they have strong opinions, race pride, and global perspectives and see themselves working the system to benefit the race. Vernon Ford
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Product Description

Examining the struggle for racial equality as it moves from the street to the executive suite
Black Power Inc. explores the emergence of a new black professional that sees business and economics as the true base of American power, rather than politics. Instead of mobilizing voters, they are storming boardrooms across the country and establishing themselves in positions of real influence.

Fortune magazine writer Cora Daniels, one of the primary chroniclers of this new shift in attitudes, reveals both those who drive it and their motivations for doing so. Rather than fight the power, this new generation seeks to take the power for themselves—and reshape the American business and cultural landscape in the process. The old guard who’ve been in power longer tend to feel that assimilation is critical to success, whereas the new black elite refuses to deny their race in order to be seen as equal; many feel that race is both an undeniable and critical component of their professional identity. In lieu of downplaying race as an issue, they use their race to build

a legacy for the next generation of black leaders.

Black Power Inc. provides a much-needed discussion of the thought shift among America’s most successful black businesspeople, and reveals what this new attitude means for the future of both corporate America and black Americans.

Cora Daniels (Brooklyn, NY) is a staff writer for Fortune magazine and a contributing writer to Fortune Small Business. Her work has also been published in the New York Times, USA Today, Savoy, and Honey magazine. In 2002, she spearheaded the search for Fortune magazine’s 50 most powerful black executives in America.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 218 pages
• Publisher: Wiley (April 26, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0471470902
• ISBN-13: 978-0471470908
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #179,371 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Something good to be said about the Hip-Hop Generation, July 7, 2004

By	Derrick Gibson "for every drop drawn with the... (Miami, FL United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Black Power Inc. may use the phrase, post civil rights generation, but we all know who the audience for this book is. Perhaps we - as a generation - have been blindly focused on achieving success in all the fields that were arrayed before us by the previous generations' political activity, but this book gives us credit for keeping our success (and that march toward success) in the context of all the work that has come before. This book is a definite feel good for those of us - African Americans born post the assassination of MLK - who have wondered, as we wander through the power hallways of the white world, "am I the only one here?"

Black Power Inc. is an inspirational text, one that said to me, "Fear not! Your Sisters and Brothers have joined the fight and they will not be dissuaded, deterred or defeated by the armies of our enemies."

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Black Power is definitely part of Corporate America, June 21, 2004

By	"john_l_castillo" (Brooklyn, NY United States) - See all my reviews

The book is great! I applaud Cora Daniels for bringing our feelings as Black, strong corporate men and women to the masses. I highly recommend this book to anyone who wants to truly understand how African Americans affect and strengthen the business world either through their strenghth of innovation or entrepreneurship.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Well worth it., December 9, 2006

By	Ronald Smith "Six Sigma PhD MBA" - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Reading the book felt like one of the venting sessions that I need every now and then to keep my sanity. The book was a reflection of the many experiences that I have had and also have witnessed. It was nice to feel that I was not alone and that there is an answer out there and our generation will help find it.