December 12–19, 1996

hit and run

The Black Grinch?

The Black Grinch?

If you listen to Samuel Evans, the elderly African-American Democrat known for founding the American Foundation for Negro Affairs, black economic empowerment is a bad thing. At least when it's encouraged by blacks.

The African American Chamber of Commerce (AACC) has spent the better part of the holiday season "Dreaming of A Black Christmas." The AACC's idea is clear — blacks should buy from black-owned businesses whenever possible to help build neighborhood economies and expand job opportunities for blacks. The AACC's idea is nothing new — ethnic groups have long urged similar spending behavior. In fact, unions still ask Americans to buy at home.

For blacks, the matter seems to carry even more importance. The AACC stresses that Philly's black community spends a mere 7 cents of its spending dollar at black-owned businesses. And during Yule Ole Season, the AACC says Philadelphia blacks do what everybody does — they spend $2 billion at the mall.

While the AACC's pitch sounds smart to some, not so for Evans. the AFNA head says the program violates the spirit of inclusiveness needed to move America forward. Specifically, Evans says the AACC program goes against a "Community Document" signed by the "The Family of Leaders" group in September 1995 at the Hotel Atop The Bellevue, one which called for an end to racism, religious bigotry and separatism.

"We are opposed to any movement which brings about separatism," says Evans. "We are a democracy. We shouldn't have that in America. We have to nip in the bud any signs of race-related bigotry before it blooms."

Bruce Crawley, the AACC's chairman, says the group welcomes Evans' input even while "respectfully disagreeing with him."

"We respect Sam's opinion but this is one that we're going to pass on," says Crawley. "What we're doing is a very natural and normal thing. In fact, we're very late to come to that party, this is long overdue. All ethnic groups do it."

— Scott Farmelant