What does Independence day really mean to African Americans and minorities of this country? Have we achieved total independence, freedom, equality, etc? In my eyes we are still a ways away… This isn’t a post to “Blame the white man” because we are our own worst enemies in most cases. In my experience I notice African Americans as major consumers but still exist in some of the poorest, crime infested neighborhoods in the country. Black people spend a LOT of money, on everything from cars to jewelry, to clothes, electronics, and when it comes to Independence Day July 4 we spend a lot on fireworks.

In my neighborhood (SE Washington, DC) I drove around on July 4th and noticed all the firework stands and plenty of folks purchasing stuff to blowup for the coming evening of fun. Don’t get me wrong I like fireworks but what I don’t agree with is that we (Black Folks) celebrate these holidays without really understanding if there is something to celebrate. Some would say we are lucky to live in this country and that we should be grateful. This is true America is one of the greatest countries in the world, but have we not paid a great price for living in America, have our ancestors not suffered, have we not sacrificed so much to help build and protect this country?

It’s time for a change, one important thing to note is that I don’t see most immigrants, be it Mexicans, El Salvadoreans, Nigerians, Chinese, etc out buying all of the crap that African Americans buy. For one they probably can’t afford it and they don’t fool themselves into thinking they can. If they can afford to spend the money they would rather spend on important things, like retirement funds, creating and building a business, investments, building their wealth. I have been a culprit of this many times and afterwards I feel like kicking myself, we have to stop spending STUPID MONEY and start spending SMART MONEY. I am merely using July 4 as a way to relate to everyday situations in which we really should be saving our money, playtime is over, seriously most if not the majority of African American urban communities are in a STATE OF EMERGENCY and everybody knows this and recognizes this fact except for those people that live in the neighborhoods affected. Save your money, and/or use it very wisely, if you buy fireworks on July 4th buy them in bulk and sell them yourself to the neighborhood kids, be a business man think about your money first and foremost and stop making other people rich. These are all old ideas and many many people have been preaching it for many years to mostly def ears, but buy from the community of business people that will hopefully keep the money in the community for it’s benefit. So as I end this excerpt I just want to say this isn’t about hating any American Holidays or hating white folks (because I do not hate anybody), this is about becoming a lot more responsible and blaming ourselves for the mess we are in and yes I am talking to myself as well, I have plenty of work to do myself (why do you think I’m writing this Blog, LOL)…