Community Economic Slavery
This is a Black Stream of Thought"
Vol:6b, June.2022
Community Economic Slavery, Community Inflation, and Stagnation
Do our Inner-City Black Communities suffer from undiscussed economic conditions to which economic answers have not been offered? Are we bound by a new form of bondage which I call "Economic Slavery"?
The Inner-city communities of any city are treated differently than other parts of the city. They are mainly where lower-income people live and smaller businesses exist. This community condition has existed for decades in almost the same state, even though the times have changed.
I believe it is because we use different measurements to assess these locations. We use sociological definitions based on human conditions, not economic measures built around the capitalist system in the United States. Without an economic measurement value system, which accurately reflects the ability of this market segment to be seen as a contributor to the whole of a city, they will never be recognized for their abilities to provide a road to recovery, let alone grow for themselves.
Think about this.
Economic Slavery is the widely accepted norm within these local communities. It has become a definition of who the people are and how they live so much so that we don't even notice that such thinking has occurred. Economic Slavery exists on so many levels. It is based on the principle of one having all the resources and using them to manipulate and control those who have nearly nothing and are scraping by. These exploited persons are continuously looking for how and where they will provide for themselves for their basic survival needs, such as food, clothing, housing, health care, transportation, education, etc. Meanwhile, those that have met the requirements and are in a position to afford luxuries will use what they have, namely MONEY, to control and enslave those who have virtually no other choice but to accept any opportunity/offer or means to acquire money so that they can in the very least, eat, and manage to keep their heads above water within the current system.
Economic Slavery is represented in the outflow of our current local/money system (Capitalism). Capitalism creates an environment wherein a financially secure group has almost all of the resources/money/power while the lower class is fighting to find a way to provide basic survival requirements for themselves. For example, in the Black community, we see more owners of businesses coming from outside the community. Ultimately, they take their earnings home with them and leave little for the community to draw any extra benefits. Additionally, many of these enterprises are ethnically owned and operated. They also tend to only hire persons of a like ethnicity which is understandable.
This is a Black Stream of Thought"
Vol:6b, June.2022
Community Economic Slavery, Community Inflation, and Stagnation
Do our Inner-City Black Communities suffer from undiscussed economic conditions to which economic answers have not been offered? Are we bound by a new form of bondage which I call "Economic Slavery"?
The Inner-city communities of any city are treated differently than other parts of the city. They are mainly where lower-income people live and smaller businesses exist. This community condition has existed for decades in almost the same state, even though the times have changed.
I believe it is because we use different measurements to assess these locations. We use sociological definitions based on human conditions, not economic measures built around the capitalist system in the United States. Without an economic measurement value system, which accurately reflects the ability of this market segment to be seen as a contributor to the whole of a city, they will never be recognized for their abilities to provide a road to recovery, let alone grow for themselves.
Think about this.
Economic Slavery is the widely accepted norm within these local communities. It has become a definition of who the people are and how they live so much so that we don't even notice that such thinking has occurred. Economic Slavery exists on so many levels. It is based on the principle of one having all the resources and using them to manipulate and control those who have nearly nothing and are scraping by. These exploited persons are continuously looking for how and where they will provide for themselves for their basic survival needs, such as food, clothing, housing, health care, transportation, education, etc. Meanwhile, those that have met the requirements and are in a position to afford luxuries will use what they have, namely MONEY, to control and enslave those who have virtually no other choice but to accept any opportunity/offer or means to acquire money so that they can in the very least, eat, and manage to keep their heads above water within the current system.
Economic Slavery is represented in the outflow of our current local/money system (Capitalism). Capitalism creates an environment wherein a financially secure group has almost all of the resources/money/power while the lower class is fighting to find a way to provide basic survival requirements for themselves. For example, in the Black community, we see more owners of businesses coming from outside the community. Ultimately, they take their earnings home with them and leave little for the community to draw any extra benefits. Additionally, many of these enterprises are ethnically owned and operated. They also tend to only hire persons of a like ethnicity which is understandable.
So, "Economic Slavery is a condition of capitalism, and it is not questioned. It is a normal outflow of our current system. As long as it works for those with money who are in control, why ask the basic questions or make the necessary corrections to create an environment" that works for the community as a whole? It is also a way ofrecognizing a situation where a person's livelihood depends on wages or a salary, especially when the dependence is total and immediate. It can exist at any point when one individual uses their" advantages" to control and enslave another. This condition is further exacerbated by local governments, which do not require those with government contracts to publically announce the results of their community benefits agreements and provide protection against other extracting practices. Other requirements are not even enforced, such as specific financial promises for a community as a return on the economic development deals that supposedly assured local residents of a community return on investment for the options granted.
This condition is supported by an Inflation Economics within the Black community, based upon the price differentials of goods and services within that community. Terms of community inflation can be defined as a continual increase in prices for goods, which happens over several months usually. Whenever inflation strikes, the purchasing power of consumers declines, and the ability to purchase goods drops. This means that during a period of Inflation, the $X of money you spend only allows you to buy a smaller portion of what you used to be able to purchase (total share) before inflation. It can also be deemed as money losing its value over time. The inflation rate varies within the community based on its relationship with the economic slave masters in charge. This condition has almost always existed in the Black community. Many businesses there continually charge higher prices. Some companies only exist because they can charge higher interest rates there while providing less service.
The two conditions combined cause Stagflation or recession-inflation within the community, a situation in which the inflation rate is high, and the economic growth rate slows. Unemployment steadily increases, and the financial position in which prices of goods and services exist continually increases. Plus, many people do not have jobs, and businesses are not very successful.
What can be done?
I suggest the local governments have local community economic policies. Policies designed to be directed at the various local communities and their needs will help overcome conditions. Currently, we use a "one Shoe fits All' type of policy and apply them to band-aids for community improvement.
Further local government should provide incentives for local persons to own and grow a business within the community. Community businesses must be built to scale to operate and become successful. Incentives such as those offered to police persons willing to live in the community could be brought into play to retain successful businesses and people or attract businesses to the location. Or maybe non-profits could be charged and incentivized to provide support to other organizations that could train and prepare residents for new and different local jobs. Unique and distinct types of business support could be provided to those enterprises that fulfill community needs and desires and help stimulate local dollar turnover for reinvestment.
These communities need sources of money over which they can contribute and reinvest in themselves and their properties. Monies stimulated within a local economy should be earmarked and tied to funds for the reinvestments required for community stabilization and growth. I am sure our local government and business leaders can assemble a group or singular economic experts. They can devise a systemic approach for local government to include these financial factors and even greater thoughts.