Page 14 - CEEM Shop February 2019

Los Angeles Sentinel, Co-Founder and Webb Enterprises
the things that we buy,” says Kyle in his interview
Inc. CFO Kyle Webb said:
“We are looking to establish businesses with
with LA Sentinel. That idea is the same dynamic
that was present in Black Wall Street and what
people who have a requisite amount of experi-
This Black History month is one for the books. With
made the Black economy thrive there. CEEM is a
ence and provide them an opportunity to
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.
tight-knit community”. Today the Black dollar
African-American cast and production team make
Through cooperation, community, and unity the
the same thing with another potential business
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
nity. So this Black History month, I’ve come to ask
Panther. Not only was history made in numbers but
less traveled, but the road best navigated by our
for that business and allow it to grow.”
myself: what was it that they were doing right back
also with the black image. We saw ourselves as
community. It is clear that through coming togeth-
then with very minimal economic opportunity?
winners and pioneers, not slaves and victims; and
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,
nesses of Black Wall Street.
resources for them, connecting them with Black busi-
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
(1)
Bhim, J. (2018, August 30). CEEM Invites
business ecosystem.
history is rarely discussed.
treaties were signed between the United States and
Public to get to know them at L.A. County Fair.
the Native American tribes. It is then when coming
What makes Black Panther so great for African-Ameri-
Retrieved from https://lasentinel.net/ceem-in-
CEEM isn’t counting anyone out. Just as Civil Rights
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-
resources and welcoming blacks from the Southeast
its own. What many don’t realize is this is not the rst
to stand with them, CEEM calls for anyone who is in
lic-to-get-to-know-them-at-l-a-county-fair.html
seeking a better life, they were able to form dozens
time we have seen such a community. Almost 100
support of providing opportunities for African-Ameri-
of all-black towns in the region. “This became the
years ago Greenwood Avenue; known to some as
(2) Luckerson, V. (2018, June 28). Black Wall Street:
cans in their entrepreneurial endeavors to join the
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
started the oil rush in Tulsa. Due to segregation
including 41 grocery and meat markets, over 30
Blacks were pushed to the north and forced to create o ces for professionals from doctors to lawyers, Rose From the Ashes. Retrieved from https://ww- “We want to change the dynamic so that we own
their website states:
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
Paving the Way for Southern California’s Black Wall Street Page 4