#BTColumn – Here’s what Black History Month can do about economic power

The commemoration of Black History Month started circa 1976 and is observed annually in the United States and Canada in February and in the month of October in the United Kingdom. Several Caribbean countries have adopted this observance, some in February such as Barbados, Jamaica, Grenada, and Guyana, among others, while Trinidad and Tobago opted for November.

Black History Month got its genesis in the United States on account of segregation and discrimination against people of African descent. It was revealed by Black scholars that in major American universities, Black or African History was rarely given much recognition since it was assumed that Sub-Saharan Africa and persons of African lineage either had no history or had not made any worthwhile contributions to human advancement. This belief resulted in the race being branded as inferior, thus the justification for segregation and discrimination.

Many historians concluded that something was wrong with this hypothesis. How can such a large segment of Sub-Saharan Africa or the African race not contribute anything to human civilisation? This opened up a new and fruitful area of sociological, historical, anthropological and archaeological studies. In a brief period, discoveries like the beginnings of early Man in the Rift Valley and sub-Saharan achievements and civilisations came to be placed in their proper provenance. At this time the Black contribution to America was revealed. As a result, academia began to understand that revolutionary developments including human survival and the very beginnings of human civilisation could be traced back to Black Africa.

Some make the argument that industrialised countries developed their economies on the backs of Black people, who continue to be a minority of these populations. This may justify the celebration of these minority groups. (In the US alone people of African descent represent approximately 14 per cent of that country’s population). The question therefore is, what is the ethos behind celebrating Black History Month in the Caribbean, a region whose population is primarily African?

The facts are that major contributions have been made worldwide by persons of Black origin in various fields of expertise and accomplishments to include medicine, architecture, science, spirituality, culture and sports.

The takeaway this Black History Month is to advocate for a rethink of how this period is viewed in the psyche of Caribbean people particularly since Blacks continue to be disenfranchised and alienated from true wealth creation, in circumstances where they are in the majority.   

In Barbados, as is the case with several Caribbean countries, the legislative and executive arms of government consist only of Black people. These are the ones responsible for crafting the laws and policies, respectively, which determine the environment for business, social development, security, foreign affairs and several other areas of national development. The judiciary is similarly constructed and addresses the adjudication of the law and the treatment of justice in the country.

Community-based and civil society organisations are equally constituted and represent the opportunity to enfranchise the vulnerable, advance the development needs of ordinary citizens and advocate for equitable distribution of resources provided by the State.

In very simple terms the aforementioned structures of the society are designed to develop the country and determine the kind of environment that exists relative to law and order, the protection of human rights and citizen engagement, and the economic and social development of people. If the leaders in these areas are all of the same ethnic background and history, why then is there still discrimination, inequity and lack of empowerment? 

One thought posited by a group of entrepreneurs is that though the majority of the population is of the same ethnicity, what creates the divide in the country is economic development and who controls the prospects for wealth creation. It was opined that though Blacks in Barbados represent the majority of the population and control key sectors in the society, they are yet to experience economic liberation. Business owners proffer that systemic structures exist to deny Black entrepreneurs access to the resources needed to develop and grow their business ideas.

The several agencies that exist to provide capital seem programmed to maintain a system of deficiency in supply. Often businesses cannot pivot to the desired level of growth due to undercapitalisation, stringent securitisation, or simply a lack of the right blend of financial products to offer prospects suitable terms and conditions. Capital aside, the legislative regime for business development is punitive and not enabling growth. Whereas good support systems exist through active business support organisations, training and other development programmes, in the absence of markets and adequate capital, the business cannot grow its market share and be sustainable. 

Some self-employed people opined that Black businesses are not creating wealth, many are simply living for the moment. Barbados could not celebrate 100 Black businesses in their second or third generation of ownership. This did not bode well for wealth creation.

The statistics tell the story, as opined by a North American author.

• Black nations don’t grow their own food

• Black people spend 97 per cent of their money with White businesses

• $1.3 trillion in income is earned by Black workers but there is no wealth creation

• Blacks spend $23 billion per year on clothes; $11 billion on furniture; $3.2 billion on cellphones; $46 billion on cars; $60 billion on legal and illegal drugs; $32 billion on hair/head accessories; however, only $300 million on books. 

He further proffered that less than two per cent of the wealth of the US is owned by Black people.

With the deck stacked in the favour of Black people in this region – they control the legislature, judiciary, civil society, academia, etc.,  –  more must be done to translate this leadership to economic power. Black History Month ought not to be simply a calendar event, but a significant and profound statement made towards improving the lives of African people and transforming their history. 

The Small Business Association of Barbados (www.sba.bb) is the non-profit representative body for micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs).