I'm Not A Businessman, I'm A Business MAN

===

[00:00:00] Shannon: Welcome back black people and anyone else who might be listening. Let's be real our audience is Probably largely black, but all are welcome here. I'm your Blacktivities host, Shannon, right here with the lovely Mona Lisa da Poet. And if you're watching us right now, you might see another familiar face.

She appeared as a guest in season three on an episode about cultural appropriation and she brought such a fresh perspective and just good vibes to the conversation that we actually invited her to join the Blacktivities gang. So y'all give it up to our new host, Karen, AKA KK.

[00:00:48] Karen: Hey y'all,

What's up, black

people, all people, everybody, everybody.

[00:00:57] Lisa: I

I have to say, I am very excited to have you to join us to be a Blacktivity tour guide.

Yes.

And then I also want to add those moments where

our previous

listeners

understand how sometimes I get off track

and

and then Shannon has to

come in and say

absolutely not.

snap

back into it.

that. our vibe is

that I could continue to talk

and Shannon

can't do that.

I'm looking forward to

this.

[00:01:36] Karen: That's right.

It's gonna be both of us on this wild ride, Yes. and Shannon's gonna have to corral us in,

She's So y'all already help.

[00:01:45] Shannon: Oh, I'm, I'm, I'm definitely going Trump on y'all this season. All the way dictator.

That's all right.

[00:01:54] Lisa: She's the

the DD

come to pick us up from a brunch or mimosas cause it's finna be

crazy.

[00:02:00] Karen: Lots of mimosas. Y'all see that one where they fall into the bushes? That's, that's going to be,

us. But

but I, have to say congratulations. To you ladies

season four, this is a phenomenal feat

and,

I'm just honored to be a part of this whole thing, this, this movement, the beauty of the Blacktivities podcast

It is an honor indeed.

[00:02:28] Shannon: We appreciate that. I can't believe that we're starting season four of Blacktivities. Like, we almost didn't make it, but that's another story for another day. Today's episode is called, I'm not a business man, I'm a business man. Know where that quote comes from?

[00:02:50] Lisa: Mm-Hmm?

[00:02:50] Shannon: hmm. All, y'all better know where that quote comes from.

[00:02:53] Karen: Yes.

H to the the Izzo.

[00:02:56] Lisa: No, she threw up the rock.

[00:03:01] Shannon: People try to insult our intelligence, but we've been making it do what it do since forever. Like even the local drug dealer has to know some kind of principles of business to be successful. And growing up, every black neighborhood in America had certain community entrepreneurs that people saw around, like, for example, the bootleg man.

And the Avon lady, what hoodtrepreneurs did y'all know growing up?

[00:03:29] Lisa: Mr. Daniel shout out to Mr. Daniel.

He was the bootleg

man.

Anything you wanted, he would

have it 2 weeks before the release date. VHS hot on the streets.

[00:03:45] Karen: That's what's up. I haven't heard VHS in forever a

and in,

in my neck of the woods we had, a

corner

store, of

course, where you could go get them big pickles and all that candy, all the things.

And we even had here a lady who sold loosies pig ear sandwiches down in five points.

[00:04:12] Lisa: See black

people,

just right there.

Wait till till the health episode.

[00:04:18] Shannon: Pig ears.

[00:04:20] Karen: she didn't get in trouble for the

pig ears. She got in trouble

for the loosies.

The

loose cigarettes. That's crazy.

They let us die of hypertension and everything else but, don't make no money off of our cigarettes. We want to kill y'all, you can't

kill yourselves.

[00:04:35] Shannon: Oh man,

[00:04:37] Lisa: My pressure up thinking about that.

[00:04:42] Shannon: Now, if you're a day one listener, you're going to notice some differences in the format of the show and some bonus content as well, because we do believe in evolving and continuing to make the show better.

So hopefully you like and welcome the changes and you are always welcome to let us know your thoughts on social media. We're primarily on IG as at Blacktivitiespod. I'm also at JustShannOfficial. Lisa and Karen, what are y'all's IG names?

MonaLisaDaPoet.

Da da Mona

on Lisa, the poet comes on me

[00:05:21] Karen: And

and I'm at KK Roberts Grissom.

[00:05:26] Shannon: All right. And we're also on Facebook guys. Cause we're millennials. We're just going to say that we're all millennials.

and

And so we still do use Facebook. Like I was in that original group of Facebook users when you had to have a college email to join Facebook.

So, anyway, if you want to stay up to date with what we got going on and chat with us personally then Check those show notes for the links because I always put them there. Alright. One of the changes that we made is because of my accent Originally, we had SAC's facts, but y'all told us that it sounded like I was saying sex facts, which I was not so now We are going to bring you Big Facts instead, Big Facts, No Cap, Big Facts, No Cap, Big Facts, No Cap, do it again on the thing, Facts, No Cap,

okay,

[00:06:37] Lisa: Yeah,

I'll

I'll take it.

[00:06:40] Shannon: playing around, I got some new equipment for Christmas, so, anyway, KK, what's today's big fact,

[00:06:49] Karen: so,

Today's

big

fact

comes from the Brookings Institute

um, which highlights

black

business growth as it was trending upward before the COVID 19 pandemic 2017 to 2020. The number of black owned businesses across the country by 13. 13. 64

percent,

[00:07:14] Shannon: larger than all businesses in general, which increased by 0.

53 percent over the same period, black owned firms brought in an estimated,

[00:07:28] Karen: 141. 1 billion in gross revenue in 2020, which is an 11 percent increase.

Since

2017,

[00:07:37] Lisa: How

many without PPP loans, but go ahead.

[00:07:40] Karen: and then more so than other racial groups, black owned businesses had pronounced increases in revenue, employees and payroll in 2020 with black business owners employing 1. 3 million people and creating 48, 549

new jobs,

adding an additional 1. 7 billion in aggregate payroll to the U. S. economy.

[00:08:13] Lisa: Oh, wow.

[00:08:14] Shannon: Nice.

[00:08:15] Karen: So we did that.

[00:08:16] Lisa: That is, that's nice.

[00:08:18] Karen: Yeah. And I also have some information

about

black history entrepreneurship uh,

from UNLV.

And basically it's, Referencing how slavery, Jim Crow laws, and discrimination impacted our entrepreneurial growth. And it taps into a

recent study

conducted by researchers.

Who

basically said that

was access and not just asset that serves as an obstacle for black owned businesses to acquire the capital and credit necessary to start and grow a business.

Another factor

in the

approval

rating of business loans to African Americans is the location of the business as a substantial proportion of black owned businesses are located in geographical areas that serve the needs of African Americans. these are generally characterized as low income urban communities.

So historically, yes, we've done the work.

there

discrimination in

loans because of geographically where they're located and who owns the businesses. So it's a duality

exists in

preventing our businesses from having the

resources and

capital

to get started.

[00:09:49] Lisa: Hmm. Oh, she

came with big facts,

[00:09:54] Shannon: So ladies, if we've been entrepreneurs forever and some of those facts that you gave us, Karen, it sounds like we doing the doggone thing. Right, but why are we still ain't got nothing

[00:10:09] Lisa: because we

still don't

have the same resources.

We don't get the same,

you know,

opportunities as other ethnicities

And I'm saying other

ethnicities because think about.

you know,

other people that are,

Provided the

opportunity to come to the U S

and then they are giving loans and then they

do open up businesses. I E let's talk about

nail

shops who own nail salons, majority

convenience

stores, gas stations.

So we

know, yeah, they may come over with,

you know pockets on swole but they

are still getting

that help, that assistance.

And.

don't

I don't want to

put my business out

over there. You know me, I try to be kind of

on the fence a little bit.

because of my job,

but I

could see a possibility where. Some financial institutions

will take

take a look at the business in a big picture and kind of not

assist

[00:11:15] Shannon: them in a way.

You know what I mean?

[00:11:17] Karen: maybe

they don't see the value in that business.

Mm.

[00:11:21] Lisa: Yeah. Maybe. Is

[00:11:22] Karen: that what you saying?

[00:11:24] Lisa: yeah, yeah.

yeah.

Or you

you could not be what

they

are

are looking for.

[00:11:34] Shannon: So I think you guys are saying systemic racism is part of Okay. The problem.

[00:11:41] Lisa: Thank you, Shannon.

[00:11:42] Shannon: And like the American capitalist system in general, which is based on like.

Pulling yourself up by the bootstraps type thing.

Right,

But then it's like, you know, if you don't have any boots, how are you going to pull yourself up by the bootstraps?

[00:12:02] Karen: it really based on that though?

I mean, that's,

[00:12:05] Shannon: that's what they say,

[00:12:07] Karen: but I believe it's based more on privilege

[00:12:10] Shannon: I would agree with that.

[00:12:12] Karen: the reality is when it comes to having capital.

it's

You know, it's, you're supposed to pull yourself up, but a lot of people who are making moves, if you think about people who are even in prevalent positions uh like Elon Musk, Musk, wasn't pulling himself up by nothing, nor was Donald Trump.

That is generational wealth that has been passed on that they have had the ability to capitalize on.

[00:12:41] Shannon: Honestly, I don't believe That there's self made because you had to have somebody help you. You had to have somebody give you an opportunity. You had to have somebody who maybe was in a position where they were able to offer you, whether it's money to support, or they knew some people who knew some people.

So I don't believe anybody is self made. I don't believe in

that.

[00:13:09] Lisa: What if they're

saying like. And

I could tell

there are someone that's going to listen to this and say, well, self made is I got out there and I did lace up my

boots And

I was negotiating and, and talking to people and

networking. like

they look at that as if that is their work,

[00:13:27] Shannon: but somebody had to give you the opportunity.

So even if you're out there doing that, somebody still had to give you a chance, whatever you negotiated for, they had to give you that.

[00:13:39] Lisa: And then they're going to be like, you're not going to take this from

me. Okay. I work

hard.

[00:13:44] Shannon: I work hard and bust my behind, but I am not self made trust and believe Marcus and Cordia are always there helping me out.

[00:13:54] Lisa: Yeah, this is true.

[00:13:56] Karen: Well, and it's interesting, too, when it comes to that, because we don't want to take anything away from those who have moved up

based

on their efforts, but it does require somebody. Listening or giving you the opportunity or seeing the value in what you're doing. And I think that's what you were talking about, Lisa, like, okay, there's, there's systemic issues that prevent us from moving, but there are also folks who defy those odds

it's

few and far between.

But I do know of a young lady who gave the example of, you know, she said, I'm, I'm going to tell you how different our lives are from the majority of

of folks.

She said, I

went to

buy a house and I I don't know if I've shared this example before she said, but I'm, I went to buy a

house.

and I needed to have more money at closing

and

they literally looked at me and was like, don't you know somebody you can borrow money from

there somebody in your family you can just reach out to, to give you the extra, whatever it was, five, $10,000

That's

not a part of our

existence,

[00:15:09] Lisa: But then they are, they, they say that. And then when

you get

gifted. This

money, they want to know where it came from. They want them to present bank statement.

So I'm like,

what,

why

don't even

offer it? If we're going to do this extra stuff.

[00:15:30] Shannon: do you feel like our mindset, like as a, as a, black community overall has something to do with why we still ain't got nothing?

[00:15:38] Lisa: Yes, because even though we're sitting here, we're talking about it.

Some people look at that as like a lack of motivation, if that makes sense. Like they feel like, well, we, I'm black. They ain't gonna give me nothing anyway. So

that

can keep

them from doing it. It's that motivation.

[00:15:57] Shannon: I look at like Different cultural groups, like especially Asian cultures and how they stick together and they support one another and Hispanic, yes, Hispanic communities to like, yeah, I'd maybe venture to say most other cultures besides us. I was watching the Tyler Perry documentary last night.

And they were talking about how, you know, people were coming at Tyler Perry for the content that he was making. And it's like, as soon as a black person does something and they have some success, here comes somebody else trying to like pull them down. and I don't know why we do that, but that might be a factor in why we still don't have anything, because we can't truly come together like that.

[00:16:56] Lisa: Tyler

Perry,

bless his heart.

I mean, if I could understand it. And I'm saying this because

started out with watching his plays and then, yes, it moved up to the movies. I was like, okay, okay. And then when he got his studio and all of that, but it seemed like the content was always the same.

he listened to that and tried to come out with an action

movie. Remember

Alex Cross? And bless his heart. baby. You,

done went and hired a

stunt double from down the street from

the hood.

No, baby.

mm-Hmm.

[00:17:34] Karen: And see, I love Tyler Perry too. I think

that in

terms of entrepreneur, he is an amazing example of that. I also see

entrepreneurs,

you know, for example, Mike Epps pretty much bought up the block

that he used to

to live in. That's the kind of things we used to do. But I

want to say to

Bootsy.

Bootsie yeah, yeah, yeah.

Boosie and I want to

uplift something.

We have principles in place that we have not tapped into Kwanzaa. We're in the midst of Kwanzaa. But if you think about the principles of Kwanzaa it's unity,

self

determination, collective work and responsibility, cooperative economics, purpose, creativity,

and faith.

Now, that eexiss but we'renot tapped into that. We're tapped into the colonial.

[00:18:33] Lisa: what's trending to fit in?

[00:18:36] Karen: well, it's, we're, it's Americanized. This is Africa and we are an African people and everything that we came over here with was bastardized

And

we were told it was witchcraft all of our spirituality,

all

of the things, and then we came up with Kwanzaa, but a lot of folks prefer to celebrate Christmas and, and ignore Kwanzaa.

But what if we all practice this and everyday utilize it, but this is the stuff that other cultures do. And I even had somebody reach out to me about getting together and I can't remember the word is going to come to me. I'm sure after this

and, and get some folks together and pool together money. And this is what other cultures do. And you support the different members of your group in their endeavors until everybody is lifted. Now, if we did that instead of, you know, I, and I saw a meme that said, we'll get together to buy tables. And, bottles, but won't get together to buy back the block.

those are some of these principles, these seven principles are in place.

It's already here for us. We just have to put action behind it.

[00:19:58] Shannon: So, what is the key to overcoming these things so that more of us can be successful professionals? Is it education? are there certain skills or resources that we need to tap into that we just haven't thought about? Like, what do you guys think is the key to overcoming those things?

[00:20:17] Lisa: with

with the education piece,

I would

say yes, from a standpoint of etiquette.

and then also knowing how it works,

just don't assume, do your research on what it takes to

be a

successful business owner.

I have to say.

yes,

education from, you know, etiquette point of understanding.

I mean, we, we need to do that.

We need to focus on that.

[00:20:44] Shannon: Yeah.

[00:20:46] Karen: You know, it's, that's the domain. I love that question because it, it brings me to the foundation. I'm, I'm always about the foundational things. And when you think about the Tulsa massacre, what did we have? We had bankers. We had

Shoeshiners,

We had blacksmiths. We had the trades and black people there had a monopoly on the trades.

It was not necessarily about degrees. Yes, we were getting degrees. But a lot of those folks own businesses in that community and it was the trade. So they had good customer service. They said please and thank you and hope you come again. You know, and, that's, that's basically what it was built on. And, and those folks were making moves in a mighty way.

And that's what, what got it burnt down. But I believe that they stuck to the foundational things. How your mama doing? Oh, you need me to do that too? I'm happy. I know that I'll just add that to the service. There's No problem. What do you need from

me?

[00:21:57] Lisa: Get it

to me later.

[00:21:59] Shannon: Yes. Like a sense of community. Yes.

Yeah. That we don't necessarily have now.

[00:22:07] Karen: Naw because we

got rules now.

[00:22:09] Lisa: yes,

definitely.

[00:22:10] Shannon: I think we also need to kind of tap into ourselves because I feel like we're already an innovative group of people. Like throughout history, we have had to make do with what we had and like I said, make it do what it do.

Cause we had to. And that I feel is still ingrained in us. Everything that we do is what shapes what's popular. and so I think if we tap into that and we kind of hone the skills that we have, we could do a lot more. I also

think that

we need to stop thinking of each other as competition.

[00:22:54] Lisa: Ooh.

[00:22:55] Shannon: Because I feel like we don't realize there's enough space for everybody. Um, and I know that maybe some of that stems from our history in the country with slavery and the way that they kind of brainwashed us and shaped our minds.

Uh, we kind of carried that, I feel like into present day in, in, in a lot of ways. But. There's room for everybody and I think by other people being successful, it helps everybody else. So I think we need to think about that too.

[00:23:32] Lisa: This is true.

[00:23:33] Karen: Absolutely.

[00:23:35] Shannon: how have shifts in technology and the digital landscape provided new opportunities for black entrepreneurs to do the dang thing?

[00:23:42] Lisa: in my opinion. like we're creative people as it is. So using technologies and we add in our own little flair to it. I think that, I mean, it makes it successful.

the way that

social media

is just something really, you know, funny to bring

attention to

whatever that business is or, you know, I mean, it'll make me curious if that's what you're asking.

[00:24:09] Shannon: Yeah. I mean, one thing I thought of is that. You know, if you can do business online, you might can kind of get around some of those structural things because people don't actually have to see that you are a black owned business in some ways it's beneficial, I guess, to know that it's a black owned business, but in other ways, it might help us to get around some of those structural things that if they see us and know that it belongs to us. Then, you know, the structure steps in.

[00:24:40] Lisa: How

y'all

feel about

businesses

that You know make a name for themselves and then they

just sell.

Let me give you an example. Yeah, like the hair products I use, Mielle. Oh, I love Mielle. I hope I'm saying the name right,

But

it had me went on my natural journey like my hair coils up by itself Like

it's just like,

okay.

Look at

me. edges back And then I found out that they sold out to Procter and Gamble.

It's no longer a black owned business.

[00:25:15] Shannon: It's a plus and minus to that because I want to keep the money in the community. But at the same time, I can't knock that person for getting paid the big bucks.

[00:25:26] Lisa: This is true.

[00:25:27] Shannon: I guess it, maybe it depends on what they do with that payout,

[00:25:32] Karen: right.

[00:25:33] Shannon: Are they putting it back into the community and investing in the community? Or are they just using it all for themselves and their own gain?

[00:25:44] Karen: I think that there are people who are doing just what you said. Part of capitalism is selling off the business as much as we don't like it. That's part of it. Like you said, Shannon. but I don't know that there's a way of tracking unless we're still keeping tabs on the owners of those businesses or the previous owners,

Mielle

is an example of, of one of the hair companies that sold to another company. I mean, BET got sold Ebony magazine,

all of

these big companies and even like O magazine and own

because They have a working knowledge, of the true measure of

what

works and how it works.

I think what that does is it says, okay, I'm going to do this. And then once I mastered this, I move on to the next thing.

That's what capitalism does. But in our community, it's only us that requires or has a need for what we're talking about. Other communities, it doesn't matter.

You know, but I don't think we have a mechanism or the data to really track those things at this point.

That's where the technology would be helpful. And we do have Intelligent

people

in our community who can pull that together, who can do the research and, and bring all that forth so that we could actually see where the money is going.

[00:27:24] Lisa: Mm

[00:27:25] Shannon: Alright, so we need to continue this conversation on social media. Oh, yes. But right now we're going to go to Lisa's pieces.

[00:27:38] Lisa: So,

hello,

guys.

this son is acting crazy out here in the sun room

and it was just

like hey, it's my time

to shine, Here you go

But

But uh, I want to

Bring you a piece

untitled

Um, but

I hope you guys like it.

Ooh,

wow the power you illuminate

The

stride, we're proud and grateful of the pride.

Please

share, donate your drive, baby.

Your

creative design got us all in a bind, causing two thoughts in your mind. One of the support

and

the

other, the hater.

Just

rest your brain.

Don't

worry. Your hustling little heart because you're a professional.

You're

needed. You're a business man.

right,

[00:28:43] Karen: you're gonna have to get some snaps for that.

[00:28:49] Shannon: I know I need some snaps.

All right, well, ladies, we made it through our first episode as a thruple. What are some of your takeaways from this discussion? What is your call to action for the culture?

[00:29:08] Lisa: Okay.

well

to business owners,

Your true supporters

respect your hustle and will pay the price. Okay. A real customer will go the extra mile.

And I can

personally say, take pride in your growth. We will applaud you. We do. So please keep going. Keep your stride. Keep your hustle. Because you never know, as corny as it may sound,

you're

setting an example for someone else.

Okay?

And

please be professional.

please,

please, that's very important.

Understand how business works.

Your

worth

is your worth.

You are strong. But it's a must to maintain professionalism and

be the

successful business owner you can be.

[00:30:06] Karen: That's

what's Professionalism is a must.

my conversation is we're

headed into 2024. And as I look and consider entrepreneurs within our community

and

throughout,

we do need to do all the things that Lisa mentioned, and we need to know that it's okay to

reproduce yourselves.

That's the mark of a great leader, is if you're leading a business. And you can reproduce yourself. There's plenty out here. When you think about the billions of dollars we spend in particular areas like the hair care industry, you know, we are now saying, Oh, we're going to own this. And, and we can have multiple opportunities and

we can reproduce

ourselves and our children can take over.

And we need to be thinking of generational wealth, how to create that,

how

to sustain what we have. And how to make it self sustaining and have it level out for the, the next generation. We can do this. I'm

convinced of

it. We're a strong people who've overcome so much you know, and

we've been

strong and we've been overcoming and that's not going to stop,

but,

but we need to apply that to ourselves and the direction that we want to go as

entrepreneurs.

[00:31:36] Shannon: I completely agree. And my call to the culture or call to action for the culture is to come together and remember that sense of community extend.

A hand to someone who just might need an opportunity. Once you find some success, extend an opportunity to someone else and help pull them up. Um, another call to action for the culture is to go ahead and click that plus an apple podcast or that subscribe button and YouTube,

go.

to make sure that you keep getting these episodes.

So, until we meet again. Lisa

[00:32:16] Lisa: king

and queens keep doing big tingz.

I've been waiting so long to

say this.

Let's

go.

Let's go

[00:32:25] Shannon: Peace y'all