Page 13 - CEEM Shop February 2019

Los Angeles Sentinel, Co-Founder and Webb Enterprises “We want to change the dynamic so that we own

Inc. CFO Kyle Webb said: the things that we buy,” says Kyle in his interview

“We are looking to establish businesses with with LA Sentinel. That idea is the same dynamic

people who have a requisite amount of experi- that was present in Black Wall Street and what
This Black History month is one for the books. With o ces for professionals from doctors to lawyers,
ence and provide them an opportunity to made the Black economy thrive there. CEEM is a
2018 being an iconic year, 2019 is setting up to be just hotels, and theaters. Not only did it thrive but the
manage these businesses and then buy them growing and shining example of how Black Wall
as high. Last year we saw a predominately all Black dollar circulated “36 to 100 times in this
from us...We would reallocate that capital and do Street can be replicated in new and unique ways.
African-American cast and production team make tight-knit community”. Today the Black dollar
the same thing with another potential business Through cooperation, community, and unity the
history at the box o ce worldwide with Black doesn't last more than 6 hours in the Black commu-
person. We would also provide support services road to Black Wealth doesn't need to be the road
Panther. Not only was history made in numbers but nity. So this Black History month, I’ve come to ask
for that business and allow it to grow.” less traveled, but the road best navigated by our
also with the black image. We saw ourselves as myself: what was it that they were doing right back
community. It is clear that through coming togeth-
winners and pioneers, not slaves and victims; and then with very minimal economic opportunity?
This movement helps to not only empower Black busi- er and working together, Black Wealth can be
cultures around the world widely accepted it. With Unity is the word that stands out when I think of the
nesses and their owners, but it also helps to provide achieved as demonstrated by all those Black Busi-
the success of Black Panther this past year, depicting history of Black Wall Street. Due to the Trail of Tears,
resources for them, connecting them with Black busi- nesses of Black Wall Street.
Black excellence and achievement, perhaps it is time Blacks found themselves in Oklahoma with the
nesses, suppliers and distributors for the services and
to make a shift in terms of our focus on black history. Native Americans. After the Civil War, since many of
products they need. This is keeping the Black dollar in
We know we are great and have contributed much to the blacks had been granted citizenship within the
circulation just that much longer, creating a Black-owned Sources:
society, but what about Black Wealth? Black economic tribes they were given parcels of land when the
business ecosystem. (1) Bhim, J. (2018, August 30). CEEM Invites
history is rarely discussed. treaties were signed between the United States and
Public to get to know them at L.A. County Fair.
What makes Black Panther so great for African-Ameri- the Native American tribes. It is then when coming
CEEM isn’t counting anyone out. Just as Civil Rights Retrieved from https://lasentinel.net/ceem-in-
cans is we get to see an all-Black community thrive on together rst started to pay o . “By pooling their
leaders called for those of di erent ethnic backgrounds vites-pub-
its own. What many don’t realize is this is not the rst resources and welcoming blacks from the Southeast
to stand with them, CEEM calls for anyone who is in lic-to-get-to-know-them-at-l-a-county-fair.html
time we have seen such a community. Almost 100 seeking a better life, they were able to form dozens
support of providing opportunities for African-Ameri-
years ago Greenwood Avenue; known to some as of all-black towns in the region. “This became the
cans in their entrepreneurial endeavors to join the (2) Luckerson, V. (2018, June 28). Black Wall Street:
Black Wall Street, thrived. Home to over 600 business set up for success when oil was found in 1901 and
movement. Diversity is one of CEEM’s Core Values. The African American Haven That Burned and Then
including 41 grocery and meat markets, over 30 started the oil rush in Tulsa. Due to segregation

Paving the Way for Southern California’s Black Wall Street Page 3

Blacks were pushed to the north and forced to create their website states: Rose From the Ashes. Retrieved from https://ww-

their community: Black wall street was born. “CEEM is a membership cooperative dedicat- w.thering-

ed to increasing wealth, prosperity and er.com/2018/6/28/17511818/black-wall-street-oklahoma

It didn't just stop at unity. Support became a guiding educational outcomes for the African-Ameri- -greenwood-destruction-tulsa

factor in success there. They were not only satis ed can community. Membership is open to all

with one member of the community creating a success- residents of California who are willing to (3) Mills, D. (2016, April 16) DEEP GREENWOOD (TULSA),

ful business. It was a community thing. make contributions in our e orts to promote OKLAHOMA (1906–). Retrieved from https://www.black-

the wealth of African-Americans. Member- past.org/aaw/vignette_aahw/deep-green-

[“The thing that...made it possible for them to build ship cost is 100 dollars per person.” wood-tulsa-oklahoma-1906/

Black Wall Street [was] the fact that when one person

built their business, they grabbed the hand of their Why do I nd CEEM so signi cant? Because it is so (4) Montford, C. (2014, December 2) 6 Interesting Things

brother or sister and helped them build their business,” similar to work that O.W. Hurley did in Tulsa that You Didn’t Know About ‘Black Wall Street’. Retrieved from

says Mechelle Brown, program coordinator at the resulted in what would become Black Wall Street. https://atlantablackstar.com/2014/12/02/6-interest-

Greenwood Cultural Center, a community gathering Hurley purchased 40 acres of land which he only ing-things-you-didnt-know-about-black-wall-street/

place and historical archive.] sold to Black Americans, who went to develop the

community which took o because of the oil rush. (5) Walker, D. 5 Reasons Why Black Wall Street Was

When it comes down to it, Black wealth is dependent According to De’Von Walker, a Black Lifestyle Blog- Successful. Retrieved from https://www.truehealth4ev-

on the success of Black business and enterprise. Now ger: er.com/5-reasons-black-wall-street-successful/

while times have changed and the Black community “ A philanthropist or nonpro t organization

has more opportunities than before, there are still many puts in the e ort to help the community

roadblocks on the road to Black wealth. Some have without expecting anything in return...People

been able to navigate successfully and are bringing like O.W Gurley, with the resources and

others up as well. Enter CEEM. determination for business in addition to the

heart and soul for philanthropy, laid a strong

CEEM is the Cooperative Economic Empowerment foundation for Black Wall Street to grow.”

Movement, founded by Webb Family Enterprises Inc., a

Black-owned business based in the Inland Empire. As This is what CEEM is doing. In an interview with the