Black History Month (BHM) 2020: 15 suggestions for sustainable black empowerment – Part 1

BY ERROL A. GIBBS

In December 1995, the House of Commons officially recognized February as Black History Month (BHM) in Canada following a motion introduced by the first black Canadian woman elected to Parliament, the Honorable Jean Augustine. This year Black History Month (BHM) February 2020 marks the 25^th year of celebration of achievements of the past and present ―in education, politics, business, science and technology, engineering, sports, arts, and entertainment.

Nevertheless, some of the challenges that face blacks in the Canadian Diaspora are the lack of “collective progress” that underpins corporate real estate holdings, aggregate financial wealth, philanthropy, crowdfunding, and community Co-Ops. Furthermore, blacks strive to break through the glass ceiling of corporate directorships and the Federal and Provincial ― elite political structure. These are the levels where critical decision-making determines the growth and empowerment of the citizenry.

Blacks are mindful that some unresolved issues of the past are resurfacing in the postmodern era, such as racism, colourism, and inequality. Other challenges include rapid advancements in Artificial Intelligence (AI) and “global warming” (“climate change”). Scientists sound an early warning of the adverse impacts that these issues will have on the economies of minority and indigenous communities.

This article is a brief exploration of 15 indispensable suggestions to begin a new explorative phase in our journey over the next 30 years (2020 – 2050), starting this BHM February 2020. Except for Suggestion Number 1 (Priority 1.), the other 14 Suggestions are parallel initiatives).

Suggestion Number 1: Universal Mellinnium Goals Project
Academics, scientists, engineers, educators, intellectuals, entrepreneurs, and ministers could come together, and if necessary, crowdfund the cost to create a 2050 Universal Millennium Goals Project (UMGP). To develop the outline for 14 BHM Score Cards that underpin the UMGP. Likewise, to provide strategic, tactical, and operational leadership to accomplish the vision, mission, and objectives.

Existing community organizations could assume the leadership for developing the 15 faculties consistent with their capacity and administrative framework. This integrated approach will help to underpin “community organizations’ cohesiveness.” Likewise, to consolidate the voice of the community, during high-level corporate negotiations. These 15 Community Organization Faculties (COF) could fully develop the scope of the BHM Score Cards to establish interim targets and measurable outcomes for reporting on during each succeeding BHM (2020 through 2050).

Suggestion Number 2: Critical Community Economic Empowerment Initiative (CCEEI)
Knowledge of Corporate and Government Procurement Rules and Processes is central to community empowerment and wealth accumulation. Develop a Project Management Faculty with the knowledge of Cost Estimating, Cost Management, Civil and Architectural Engineering, and Procurement Management Specialists. This faculty will enable the black community to advance the discussion to gain access to a representative portion of the billions of dollars in procurement budgets at all levels of government and within private corporations.

Community organization funding is essential ―from moral, social, political, and economic perspectives. Nevertheless, it limits and suffocates innovation, self-governance, and sustainability. It fosters long-term dependence, with some inherent risks. Leaders in the public and private sphere should heighten their collaboration to build the capacity to gain wealth for the community, which is a central weakness in addressing some of the challenges facing the black community.

Suggestion Number 3: Community Wealth Creation Imperatives
Revaluate community funding is essential, but also as a means to foster the higher goals of autonomous Research and Development (R&D) funding. This class of funding facilitates the expansion of the range of ownership to include significant Patents®, Trademarks(TM), Copyrights (©), Industrial Circuit Designs, Computer Programs, and Architectural Designs. R&D fuels creativity, new product development, and Initial Product Offering (IPOs) ―the gateway to confident capital infusing.

Mobilize the black community to understand better the inherent value of crowdfunding as a persuader for “collective resolve” and a crucial source of capital funding. Create a permanent “think tank” to conduct studies and research about five significant pillars for economic empowerment, such as Generational Wealth, Stock Market Investments, Real Estate Holdings, Insurance (Inheritances), and Scientific Education. Utilize the expertise of reputable professionals and those who have built successful practices ―nationally and internationally.

Suggestion Number 4: The Family Foundation
The home is the first society of “altruistic love” —the bastion of black empowerment, especially for children. The family is the primary agency to address all forms of disfranchisement, and especially, the self-image, self-worth, and self-esteem of children. The family foundation is shaking at the epicenter. Distortion is occurring on every front as families struggle to understand family fragmentation.

A faculty of social scientists working with governments, community organizations, and the families could commission a study of the state of the black family. The phenomenon of the diminishing of parental influence on children is a critical endeavor to pursue. Moreover, there is a definite need to understand better how the broader human ecosystem might be inadvertently unraveling the family foundation. Children are the casualties of an aberration of the human ecosystem.

Presented herein Parts 1 of 3: These are the first four of the fifteen suggestions that should begin a new BHM journey of thirty years from February 2020 through February 2050.