Let's Talk About Race...I'll Bring the MGD

This morning, I got dressed and headed down to the corner store to grab a six-pack. Last night, I decided that there were quite a few folks with whom I needed to have a discussion just to iron out a few things. I walked into the store and grabbed a six-pack of Miller Genuine Draft (MGD) which has always been the beer of choice for my father.

For over twenty years, my father and his buddies would venture down to the shed and talk for two or three hours. The topics ranged from the weather that week to performance of our elected officials. Every now and then, what would start as a disagreement amongst the fellas earlier in the week would end here on Friday with a cold MGD. Every summer, I worked with my father at his plant. I’d grab a Mountain Dew and a slice of pizza and tag along with my father and friends.

Apparently, our President also attended The Charles White School of Discussion. Having proven that he could motivate crowds of millions, President Obama has shown his versatility in bringing about change in a more direct and interpersonal manner. When the President, Vice-President, Dr. Gates and Officer James Crawley sat and discussed their differences over a “cold one”, it presented a transition moment. The President moved from using motivational speeches to applying more direct and interpersonal communication methods to mend fences and resolve conflicts.

President Obama understands that, if we can communicate, conflicts between two parties can be resolved. Maybe the Beer Summit was a practice session for the country’s new diplomatic approach to dealing with those we have labeled as our enemies. The event showed that we can use our commonalities as the foundation to build the world. It is when we don’t communicate that our differences become the divisions that threaten us all.

Looking back, one of the more disheartening moments I’ve experienced in my adult life was the day that Michigan voters decided to eliminate Affirmative Action within the state. I was disappointed and hurt, not only because a policy that had helped deserving underrepresented minorities gain access was no longer available but also with the manner in which the discussion or lack thereof, played out.

The polls leading up to the election projected that the measure would fail, by a relatively wide margin. When the opposite occurred, it was a sign that people were content with expressing their opinions about race behind closed doors. Did this mean that race would always be the elephant in the room? Were we not even willing to have a public debate although the referendum was a loud and clear request to do so?

It left me to wonder if we could ever resolve our racial divisions and instead focus on the things that we have in common. How could we resolve differences about which we refused to talk? When my classmates thought that I didn’t belong at the University of Michigan, would I ever get the opportunity to provide facts which proved otherwise? When my co-workers looked at me in meetings, were they still questioning my competence or were they taking my advancement at face value? While Ward Connerly would argue that Affirmative Action facilitates these beliefs, I counter that the general lack of communication allows us to continue to live with these pre-conceived notions.

Just as my father and his drinking buddies could bring closure to each week under the shed, we must begin to communicate to close the gaps in our differences and grow on common grounds. President Obama’s gesture was a great start. Two men, who were presumably destined to remain enemies, now are a little closer and more understanding of what makes the other tick. So I challenge those who have a bone to pick with me or my thoughts, let’s talk. You bring the open mind and I’ll bring the MGD.

Delano White is the author of Diary of a Mad Businessman: A Layman’s Guide to Starting a Business from the Ground Up. He can be reached at delano.white@reignmakersincorporated.com. His book can be picked up on amazon.com.

The Habilitation of Michael Vick

Like many, I have spent the last few weeks watching the saga of Michael Vick’s release play out. Pundits have argued whether his release is just while others argue as vehemently that his incarceration was unjust. The debate over whether or not he should be allowed to return to the NFL and resume his multi-million dollar career will continue for the foreseeable future. I personally could care less. While I have previously written about Michael Vick and am a supporter, my greater concern is for the hundreds of thousands of young men and women who will be released from prison this year. This year, in Michigan alone, several thousand offenders will be released early as a result of overcrowding. A few, if any, will ever have the opportunities that awaits Mr. Vick.

Realistically, most will struggle to find the same $10/hr job which Mr. Vick is currently working. Without opportunities and skills, statistics show that many of these individuals will find themselves re-incarcerated within the next two years. The bottom line is that Michael Vick has everything needed to become a productive citizen. For those not as fortunate, we must utilize education as a primary tool to keep them on the path to success. We must subsequently habilitate and rehabilitate others to push them back onto the right track. The blackprint for our community habilitation has three components:

Education – A friend who works as a counselor/agent in a community residential center (often referred to as a halfway house) told me recently that nearly every inmate that she monitors did not have any education beyond high school. The majority of those had not completed high school or the equivalent when they were first sentenced to prison. While it may not automatically provide wealth and success, education must be offered as a clear pathway away from prison for our youth. While the means are difficult to nail down, our blackprint for educating the youth must include:

· Instilling the importance of education as a value within the home and community

· Providing ALL schools with the resources to provide equal education to young adults

· Employing teachers with the qualifications to teach and positively impact the lives of our youth

Habilitation – Merriam-Webster’s defines habilitation as “to train or qualify.” The failure of rehabilitation can be attributed to the incorrect presumption that habilitation has occurred. Many offenders have never interviewed for, not to mention held, a nine-to-five job. In order to habilitate young adults who have become disengaged with the educational system, our blackprint must include:

· Outlets for young adults to find careers in line with their passions

· Teaching of general social skills that will allow youth to thrive in a society in which many consider themselves outliers

· An overall shifting of the definition of success and the means to obtain it

Rehabilitation – The prison system is for the purposes of punishment, at least this is what a Department of Corrections (D.O.C.) official once corrected me. Unfortunately, this objective does not correlate with the community’s expectations. The community-at-large expects parolees to have been rehabilitated as well as punished. Failure to do so can help explain the rate of recidivism with ex-offenders. In order to achieve true rehabilitation and reduced recidivism, our blackprint must include:

· The development of skills through training programs and community colleges since most skill training has been cut from D.O.C. budgets throughout the country

· A shift in attitudes towards, as well as a willingness to provide opportunities for, ex-offenders to become produce citizens

· A change in an ex-offenders sphere of influence. Although many have developed new attitudes and viewpoints, many ex-offenders find themselves back in the same surroundings. New environments and influences must be introduced to make a permanent change.

What I'm Reading: Moving from Ordinary to Extraordinary: The Teen's Guide to High School Success by Dr. Sharnnia Artis

Next Week's Topic: Blaming the Success on Affirmative Action?

Delano White is the author of Diary of a Mad Businessman: A Layman’s Guide to Starting a Business from the Ground Up. He can be reached at delano.white@reignmakersincorporated.com. His book can be picked up on amazon.com.

Becoming an ACE: Preparing for Future Entrepreneurship in a Down Economy

I am often approached by college students and young professionals who fear the effects that the downturn in the economy will have on their careers. They have looked to entrepreneurship as a key to their future. Unfortunately, like many in the community, without generational wealth, they need to build resources from the ground up to meet this end. They want to start, what I term, a ground business. A ground business is a business that resembles both a small and start-up business by definition but also relies heavily on the creativity and sweat equity of the owner to succeed. For those who envision becoming ground business owners, I tell them the first thing to work on is their financial footing. By following the ACE Principle, they can build a strong foundation upon which to build themselves and their business. These are the focus areas I encourage them to develop.

Assets
Spend on Needs vs. Wants – Now more than ever, it is important to think about the value of every purchase for the long-term worth. Focus on appreciating assets.
Savings and Investments – As a new business owner, you will more than likely be required to invest your own savings and investments, in part or totality to fund your first venture
Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Property – It is never too early to think about getting your first property. Many business owners leverage property to obtain starting up funding for new businesses.

Credit
Spend on Needs vs. Wants – Follow the same rules on spending as cash. If you can, do without. Building Your Credit – Follow and protect your credit for the day that you may need to use it to start your first business.

Education
Electives/Skills – For those in school, use your electives to gain skills (public speaking, accounting, web development, etc.). College offers electives to make its students more well-rounded and prepapred to achieve their goals. For those out of school find local outlets (i.e…community colleges) to obtain skills.
Organizational Leadership – Many individuals obtain leadership skills from volunteering in non-profit and service organizations. These can add value in ground businesses.
Certifications and Specialized Training – In a competitive market, having a certification or specialized training can set you apart, especially your consultants and contracts. For example, certified Electrical Contractors make 4-5 times that of Electrical Engineers (hint!)

With the proper foundation, future ground business owners can create the resources necessary to compete in our changing economy.

What I'm Reading: 40 More Years: How the Democrats will Rule the Next Generation by James Carville

Next Week's Topic: The Habilitation of Michael Vick

Delano White is the author of Diary of a Mad Businessman: A Layman’s Guide to Starting a Business from the Ground Up. He can be reached at delano.white@reignmakersincorporated.com. His book can be picked up on amazon.com.