Vision Circle

lks, you make good points regarding the Detroit matter and why Claude had to pursue the more vocal route as opposed, traditionally, to other groups as you expressed.
By the way, according to the NYT yesterday, Hispanic, Asian, and Arab groups protested in Detroit about being excluded from the Africatown project.

I found this curious because in the original piece, the Hispanic lady who headed Detroit's Mexicantown Chamber of Commerce complained about the lack of other groups. Now I'm wondering, how many African Americans are apart of her Mexicantown project? And I guess the same questions could be asked of others as well.

GDAWG

I remenber during the sixties a group of Black Christian Nationalist promugated a theory on power"power is a elusive thing you can't talk about it untill you have it"An example Asst princilpals in the Detroit public school sytem decided to organize, and once that was completed, they decided to strike for better conditions; but once on strike no one miss them;they quickley disbanded and went back to work.Does the Detroit city council have the power to create a African town?

Perhaps do they have the power to create an Africatown. The city is 80% or more Black. And presumbably, these folks have the council's back.

By the way, here in Harlem, the governmant( Feds and state) created "Economic Empowerment Zones"
for depressed communities like Harlem. Millions have been poured into the communitiy. Now you can argue about who in the community really benefited, ultimately, from the largess.(MAGIC is an example) There are other cases where Big Government can serve as economic engines for flailing communites. Its done with prisons, in our NY upstate 'deindustriaized' rural white / communities areas.
I guess my point is this. Its okay for these folks to make a go at it with the governments' asistance.
It is done all the time for others. So, what's wrong with it being pursued there?

GDAWG

Questions (for myself really):

1. How did Mexicantown develop?
2. Did Dr. Anderson pursue funding first?
3. Did the City Council have anything to do with the creation of Mexicantown?

I'm pretty sure I know the people that Dr. Anderson is working with. They are a group of activists who have been working on various issues for the last thirty years at least. Their ideology can broadly be thought of as nationalist. They are poorly funded, they are connected to an intellectual strata, but THIS strata too is poorly funded and not well connected. The one person who could have pulled this all together is probably Don Barden, but for various reasons I'm willing to bet that they either could not get in touch with him, or he wouldn't be involved.

Typical.

Why as minorities do we have to continually separate ourselves from one another in this country.
"Brotha, I have it worse than you!"-African American Male
"Chico, you ain't seen nada, man!"-Hispanic Male

Come on! We've been duped and deluded into thinking that if any of succeed it will have to be on the backs and at the expense of other racial groups. That's just plain stupid.

AfricanTown is a joke, in my opinion, and how can you try and marginalize people like this. If this was done, and de facto it already is, by a white community there would be an outcry of racial discrimination. Why? Because it is freakin' discriminatory!

Black America it is time to wake up and smell the beans. We CAN succeed in the midst of and in addition to other minorities succeeding. Period.

The questions you raised are all valid and need answering.
But I suggest that regardless of how they were started, they still, nevertheless, require city services, 'breaks' from local financial institutions, and, more likely than not, are listed as 'minority business entities for special set asides progorams. That is, those entiitesd that are in the Mexicantown project, Greektown and all other the like businesses. Therefore, they are all tax subsidized, in part and in effect. A 'pure' go it along entrepeunuer, in my experienced, is a myth or are few and far between. Especially in today's highly complicated enviornment. I mean this boot strap business is used as a source of distraction so that others can get the real benefits of the government largess. The history American business tycoons will reveal this truth.
GDAWG

There is a common mistake that people think Black citizens are monolithic,this is not true. Blacks represent a collage of interest, council is getting flak as we write,time will tell if they have the power ;which in my opinion they don't as LKS eluded to they need some Fat cat to start the roll i.e Barden,Illich,Ford ,etc.The use of public funds require some blessing not only from the citizens but from financial institution as well.
tootsie

G you're right. And I firmly believe in the roll of government. But in cases like this along with government you need a moneyman. In fact the FIRST thing you need is a money man...who can then provide PR. then the council will follow.

Damn, I totally forgot about Greektown. And I bet no Detroit paper/news story dealt with that issue either.

Don, while I lot of my friends in and outside of Detroit have the same take on this that you do, I'm not sure i agree with your reasoning. Particularly because a number of ethnic groups within Detroit HAVE been able to carve a niche out for themselves.

When I was last in Detroit, every homeboy and his mama were running these little car wash businesses. So what happened to all that?

how long ago was that?

Useful Link

Hmmm.
Just completed a little research on Detroit's Mexicantown development, in light of the ongoing consternation concerning the proposed Africatown project.
And, guess what, according to published material.
In October 2002, Mexicantown was designated as a district in the " Mayor's Office of neighborhood Commercial Revitalization Re$tore Detroit! Program." It is a 501(c)3 ( feeds at the public trough in other words) and has three partners; MCDC/BHA/SWHC.
It has the private support of City of Dtrpit, Consulate of Mexico, K Mart, Comercia Bank, General Motors,etc. You get the picture.
The point is that it is hypocritical to argue that some Blacks in Detroit cannot get similar support and encouragement to faciltate the development of an Aficantown economic develpment plan if they so wish.
I supect, similar circumstances are at play in the Greektown project and the Middle Easterntown Market effort.
I mean lets get real and call the BS to fustrate the Africantown project what it is. Racist and stupid.
GDAWG

A little more research on the Africantown project in Detroit that is causing so much consternation.
The "Middle Eastern Marketplace" of Dearborn, Michigan serves as a incubator for over 200 Arab American businesses. Moreover in a town of Dearborn has a 25% Arab population, so town the fathers of Dearborn supported the effort by building a 1.9 Million dollar "lifesyle center to cater to the Metro area's 350,000 Arab citizens and localized some of the thier businesses there. Isn't this nice.
I wonder why there is so much distaste for the Africantown project, when other like this and Mexicantown exisit unscathed?
HELLO!!!
GDAWG

Government funding of a project that EXCLUDES different races is not only discrimitory but unconstitutional.
Federal, State and City taxes would eventually funnel into this project. This is certainly not fair to the taxpayers.
What Africatown does, is segregate. Is this a smart move? How does that speak to civil rights workers past and present? Segregation in 2004. Wow. This does not mend it divides. IMO this project will be the nail in the coffin for Detroit, as all of Detroit will be associated with Africatown.
If Warren, MI wanted to put up an Anglotown (white Christians only) which was funded by tax money do you think it would get some press? Would the Federal government intervene? Would there be protests?
This is a big mistake folks!
Immigrants have NO PROBLEM with working hard. Many have risen up and became business owners. African Americans can do the same. Progress will not be had with excuses, government handouts or tax heists, it will be done with:
1) Education
2) Hard Work
3) Planning
4) Working together
Stop making excuses people!!!

GDAWG: "It is a 501(c)3 ( feeds at the public trough in other words) and has three partners; MCDC/BHA/SWHC. It has the private support of City of Dtrpit, Consulate of Mexico, K Mart, Comercia Bank, General Motors,etc."

Brian: So now you see that Mexicantown is funded by companies, NOT TAXES. Mexicantown does not exclude non-Mexicans. Do you see the point? No exclusion, no government handouts. No anti-immigration language. If you want to set up something, raise some capitol and get the ball rolling!

Detroit already is Africatown. Start investing, do the work. There is no one stoping you!

Is it a coincedence that Detroit is in the shape it is in? Don't blame white flight. If you don't fix the roof, it caves in.

Brian, Mexicantown has the "support" of The City of Detroit, among other entities. The city of Detroit and the Mexican government. These are not a private entity.
The " Middle Eastern Market" in Dearborn (Mi.) was helped with construction of a 1.9 MILLION DOLLAR tax funded structure. Moreover the city of Dearborn planted trees, and provided other decorative measures, to give the site a " Middle Eastern " feel. The city of Dearborn is not a private entity. Now, I, as a Black American male, understand the double speak and hostility projected on 'us', even from our own kind, when it comes to enacting or proposing measures to advance our people, as opposed to others, as the above notes. I still, nevertheless fight in our behalf by pointing out the hypocrisy in it all. Working hard IS not a new notion or concept for 'us' negroes. We have this nation current supremacy in the world as a measure of the extent of our "Free" hard work. As far capital. We know a liitle something about capital too. After all, we were actually 'capital' at one time. And, therefore, don't need anybody lecturing us on how and when and where to raise it.
DAMN!!!1
GDAWG

PS:
Oh yes, In Mexicantown and other ethnic enclaves,who pays for the fire and police protection? Who pays for the garbage pickup? Who pays for street cleaning?

Does little Italy or Chinatown in NYC segregate? Does Little Korea in LA segregate? Does the "Middle Eastern Market" in Dearborn segregate?

DAMN!!!!
GDAWG

One More bit; Brian and thinkzinc
As to your statement that immigrants have no problem working hard; that is a fact, for the most part. Especially, when you consider the alternatives, like for example, heading back to the political and/or economic hell-hole that a significant few must face back home. And if they are here illegal, the hell they catch here, while working as illegals, in addition to the hell at home.
That's enough incentitve for anyone. So its really nothing "peculiar" about their work habits in light of the circumstances.
DAMN!!!
GDAWG

The Detroit city council revised the initial language of a resolution that created a loan fund to facilitate the development of the city's Africa-Town business. Now, as the measure is written, anyone who wants in can apply to the fund. Perhaps, in the first instance, 'defacto' guidelines were more appropiate, as it is certainly practice aganist us in many instances that are too numberous to list now. Hmmm?
I wonder how many African-American businesses are in Detroit's Mexicantown, Greektown, or Chinatown, or for that matter in Dearborn's Middle Eastern Market?
HMMM?
GDAWG