Growing up in NYC, I saw hundreds, if not thousands, of black owned businesses in Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens and the Bronx. We were doing so well with our little shops, we even managed to somehow own thrift stores, beauty parlors and spice shops in the ultra racist area of Long Island’s south side and Staten Island. The overwhelming majority of black business owners in Brooklyn were islanders and Africans.
I watched, with bewilderment, as our shops, one by one, went belly up. Thriving clothing stores and Jamaican restaurants that sold every last bite of food just suddenly shut down. Rumours of Giuliani and his henchmen floated around but, of course, nothing was ever confirmed.
For all aspiring black business owners and those that already have physical businesses (shops), please watch this short clip and know that this could easily happen to you…especially if your company is doing well.
