Newspapers / The AC Phoenix News … / April 1, 1998, edition 1 / Page 8
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Pase 8 April 1998 The AC Phoenix The Empowering Role of the NAACP Continued from page 7 "Our objective was to launch a sus tained consumer movement through education and facts. Our goal is to develop a disciplined consumer appetite that in turn will affect spending choices being made daily on every product and service we consume. "That educative process continues as more and more consumers become aware of and take advantage of the report card. NAACP staff and other orga nization leaders address these issues at every opportunity and in every forum where economic empowerment is the topic of discussion. "Consumer education and discipline translates into the ability to leverage economic empowerment and we intend to move forward steadfastly for however long it takes to affect real and dramatic change in the hiring, promotional and procurement practices in corporate America. "But, we are not stopping with the hotel initiative. The larger business com munity must know that civil rights groups and other organizations are seri ous about achieving economic parity. "Increasingly, civil rights leaders and o t h e r s^aj|e^alkm^^ff the^^amepa^ when it comes to this subject. "The National Urban League's eco nomic development strategy focuses on business ownership, particularly fran chising, and the stability that concept creates in the communities where busi nesses operate. "The Operation PUSH Wall Street project takes yet another approach-dia logue with stockholders and sharehold ers to affect change. "The NAACP Economic Reciprocity Initiative seeks to marshal the forces of consumers in the quiet choices that are made everyday on where to spend talk ing the same talk. "The NAACP and our coalition of partners announced last year that our strategy would be to proceed with industry-by-industry reviews, beginning with an assessment of our economic impact and comparing those results with the industry's reciprocal return, if any, on our investment dollars. "Telecommunications is the sixth largest industry in the United States today and is rapidly growing. Economic development facts and opportunities are astounding. "This industry represents $150-300 trillion dollars and exceeded the gross national product by 65 percent to 85 percent within the last two years as a trend. "Telephones, wireless service, cable and the Internet posted $800 billion in revenue last year and is expected to increase more dramatically in the next century as the full effect of deregulation kicks-in. "Our compelling information also added our insight. The National Telephone communications and Information Administration, at the Department of Commerce, makes the point that more Americans build com puters than cars, make more semicon ductors than construction machinery, and work in data processing than petro leum refining. "We are in the midst of an information economy and the future is upon us. Changes are rapidly taking place as technology is being used to grow our economy...to generate new products and services...to bring high-wage, high skilled jobs to our nation's workforce and to bring new resources to America's students. "Where does this leave African- Americans, Latinos, Asian Americans and poor whites? "We will be left behind. "We will be under-served and unpre pared unless we seize the opportunity, and extract real economic opportunities for the massive [amount] dollars we spend. "The spending patterns in the black community alone are staggering and bear some careful attention. "African Americans spend $571 mil lion on computers and related equip ment. That number is expected to dou ble this year. "Black households are outspending white households by 2 1/2 times for on line access. "In the area of consumer electronics, we spent $3.8 billion on goods and ser vices. "In media, African Americans spent $3.4 billion - the overwhelming majority of those consumer dollars spent for media went to cable TV subscriptions. "Black consumers outspent white con sumers for cable service by five percent in 1996. "Where telephone service is con cerned, African Americans are reported to have spent $10 billion. ||||/»Lovvesj iifoods Continued on page 9 LOWES FOODS is looking for enthusiastic, eager, hard working candidates for employment. We are currently accepting applications in the triad area. We offer great wages, benefits and advancement opportunities with very pleasant work surroundings. Apply at any Lowes Foods Store. EOE M/F Modern Chevrolet “See me, Bennie McBride, for the best price and the best service on any new Chevy, Geo or Used Car.” CHEVROLET GEO BENNIE MCBRIDE 4TH AND BROAD ST. 722-4191 “The Life Christ” UNITED CORNERSTONE MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH 2745 Patria at Wright Street Winston-Salem Office Phone 785-1268 J. Ray Butler, Pastor/Administrator
The AC Phoenix News (Winston-Salem, N.C.)
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April 1, 1998, edition 1
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