The constant knock on someone else’s door begging to get in often is met with delay, rejection and refusal. Modern attitudes are counter to the biblical saying, ‘ask and it shall be given’ and ‘knock, and the door shall be opened.’ Minorities especially African-Americans and their extended relations - the Africans, have been ‘asking and knocking, even begging’ but it looks like waiting for the sun to rise from the west.
 
The case of black enterprises at home and abroad is like pulling a tooth with a tooth pick – almost impossible. While some progress has been made, don’t ask for proof, it does appear folks like us are always digging a hole to ‘China’; onerous, tedious and arduous, ending up morally broken and mentally sapped. The whole effort costs lots of pain but minimal gain. Why not dig with a shovel for better outcome, hopefully, or prevail by calling the shots? 
 
Knoxville Tennessee’s mayor, Madeline Rogero, wants  to “give” more public work to minority - and woman-owned businesses. I have an issue with the word ‘give.’ It connotes a handout and emotional/sympathetic approach of ‘doing something to appease.’ Why shouldn’t the mayor ‘look to partner’ with minorities to deliver more public works? That carries a strong desire to invite and work with someone on equal footing – strategic partnering to achieve better than typical results.
 
In economics, the word ‘give’ does not exist. In its place is ‘invest.’ ‘Partnering,’ ‘Partnership,’ and ‘investment’ carry a strong sense of participation, ownership, expectation and demand for respectable presence for project undertaking. Minorities do not need to be ‘given’ anything but should be ‘partnered with’ and ‘invested with’ to deliver the projects they too are equal contributors in the tax revenue base that funds the projects.
 
One gives to beggars and less fortunate ones because they have no expectation; feeling sympathetic and socialistic - a way to feel good. But when we invest and partner, we have hope, extend ownership, invite participation, demand effective roles and grow together.
 
The history of just taking anything or fronting for anyone for survival may have etched in the minds of the ‘masters’ that we are easily appeased and ‘settled.’ It is time for bigger and better roles backed by partnering, partnerships and investing. If not, just go do your thing and be a competition.
 
If only African leadership will extend US based African-American enterprises as lead in their project delivery, maybe they will enjoy comparative advantage which others will see as collateral and latch on to. But since African-Americans hardly receive a hero’s welcome in a continent that is part of their history, it comes down to ‘who will bail the cat’?
 
We need unapologetic and strong believers in and supporters of Black enterprises but not those who appease black enterprises. The more the merrier. We are better off having many within and among us become wealthy than have few.
 
By Ejike Okpa
Dallas, Texas.