Sunday, December 13, 2009

Buying Black with the Andersons



My family and I attended the Eighth Annual “Buy Black” Holiday Shopping Expo presented by the Philadelphia Chapter of the National Alliance of Market Developers. It was held today ( Dec. 12 ) from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at First District Plaza, 3801 Market St. There were about 40 vendors offering artwork, jewelry, clothing, skin care items, dolls and various services during the expo.

The highlight of the event was the keynote address delivered by Maggie Anderson, president of The Empowerment Experiment. She spoke with professional clarity and a perfected passion that ensnared the listening audience.

Maggie Anderson said “People just talk about all these social crisis in the Black community, but no one is talking about the economic piece. The reason we are suffering this way is because our communities are starving to death. Everybody talks about how horrible the situation is in the Black community but no one ever talks about the very obvious solution and that is infusing more wealth into under served Black areas where all of these social crisis’ are perpetuated. If we support Black business owners that live in those communities, then we can change some things.”



Thus was born the Empowerment Experiment. The Anderson family would commit one year to buying only black products. They have received much publicity and have started what Maggie calls a nation wide movement.

Pya Kule's only comment is this...Live Afrakalturally.

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