Most large retailers aren't interested in African-American consumers until they see that they are ready to spend all their money. In 1995, two black teenagers were harassed by white police officers who were working as security guards in an Eddie Bauer department store. The guards ordered one of the boys to take off his shirt and go home and get his receipt because they suspected it was stolen. Maybe as group African Americans we should re-think how we are spending our money. A lot of the problems with the youth in the black communities revolve around this obsession with image.
Young people think that respect comes from wearing name-brand merchandise and riding in fancy cars.
What makes a successful person is what he or she has to offer in terms of their minds. The black race will not be a successful group in the future if we continue making the pockets of other people bigger. We need to concentrate on owning more businesses, banks, and anything else that will help us build up our communities. Black households spend more than average on jewelry, cars and home electronics. However, their spending is significantly lower than average for housing, including owned and rented dwellings, furnishings, and insurance.