Page 8, AC Phoenix, October 1990
The Color of Homecoming Is Green
by Dennis Schatzman
Elderidge Cleaver gave us all the big
hint some 20 years ago; "sieze the
time." Comedian Scotrie Mitchell,
however, came right down front with it.
On one of those celebrity game shows
on television he repeatedly told a Blac k
female contestant, after every correct
answer:'"get the money, baby."
During this homecoming season, we
can be rest assured that a lot of money
was spent preparing for getting to, stay
ing for and enjoying the hortiecoming
weekend. Sad to say, however, that most
of what we spent on this annual ritual
was. not spent with Black businesses. It
was others, then, who "seized the time"
and "got the money, baby."
This writer will not begin to estimate
how much was spent this weekend on
homecoming just in the Triad area. But
I can pretty much guess where the Black
dollar was spent.
Much of it was spent in department
stores located in Hanes Mall, '..lovt.dale
Plaza, Northside, Old Town, Parkview,
Reynolds Maner and Parkwas Plaza.
Food Fair, Harris-Teeter, Winn-Dixie,
Kroger and Food Lion picked up it's
share of the money.
Those flying in for the testivities come
in via Piedmont, Eastern, United, Delta,
American, Ozark and U S Air. Reserva
tions were more than likely made by a
travel agent who got his share.
Hotels and motels, like the Hilton, the
Ramada and the Hyatt, I suspect, made
a good bit of change. And since much
of this was paid for with American Ex
press, Mastercharge, Visa, Choice or
Diners Club credit cards, the banks made
a tidy profit.
Oh, and let's not forget the ABC stores
(how could we?). That means the state
made a little money. Everything is tax
ed, so Uncle Sam made his, too.
Seems like everybody got fat or did
they?
If this seems like another article on the
paucity of Black economic development,
it is. I cannot help but to be reminded,
after writing this long list of guaranteed
winners, of how everyone else seems to
seize the opportunity to make money on
our traditions.
Fear not, however. All was not lost.
Black businesses, however slight, did
make some money during this
Homecoming weekend. We can pretty
much guess who. they were, too. Some
Black caterers, particularly the smart
marketing-minded ones, earned a dollar
or two. Barbers and stylists cornered
their market. Our Black-owned clubs did
as well. WSSU made money on tickets
and concessions (and so did the state
again). And the people who sell college
T-shirts and paraphernalia made some
money.
But in an area ranked among the na
tion's highest in Black businesses per
1,000 Black residents ratio (15 per 1,000
according to the Associated Press) these
businesses could have done a lot better.
Who's fault is this? As the fictional
Deputy Attorney-General, James]. West
said in the Paul Newman movie
"Absence of Malice", "ain't nobody to
blame. Wish there was."
Perhaps we could realistically look at
ourselves, both as Black consumer and
business owner, and point a finger. As
consumers, we could have gone out of
our way and looked to spend a little
money with the dress shop owner with
good merchandise and no advertising
budget. As business owners, we could
have collectively began to devise a full-
scale marketing plan to focus on
generating support for Black businesses
just for that one weekend. After all, we're
all going to be in that mood-talking trash,
drinking liquor, spending money. Its
Homecoming weekend.
Seize the time. Get the money, baby.
Somebody will.
-Specializing in-
RESI[>ENTIAL
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CAM J.T. Taylor
788-6661
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SENATOR
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