PALMDALE – Antelope Valley couple, Tony Bradford and Laneay London, has started a movement to rebuild a healthy and wealthy Black community through strong relationships and now through establishing better business relations.
Through their organization, Black Love Monthly, the two are rallying African Americans locally and nationwide to return to their roots and buy Black.
“Our mission is to reunite the Black community one relationship at a time,” explained Bradford. “If we could restore our relationships, a lot of things that seem insurmountable now will be a piece of cake later on.”
An educational counselor, a father and community leader, Bradford says he spawned the idea of healing the Black community after recognizing the amount of social ills stemming from racism that have stunted growth and development.
With Black Love Monthly and its new brainchild, Re-Occupying The Black Wall Street, the couple plans to restore the African American economy, one business at a time.
“We are going to have round table discussions and compound everyone’s ideas and come up with a pledge, a commitment to raise awareness of spending and buying Black,” Bradford said. “Last year was the 90th anniversary of the burning down of Black Wall Street (Greenwood, Okla.) and me and Laneay wanted to hold a candle light vigil to remember it.”
To the couple’s surprise, most people they talked to about it didn’t know what Black Wall Street was.
Around 1908, the African American community of Greenwood in Tulsa, Okla. was established. The town consisted of everything a functioning city would need, including doctors offices, post offices, libraries, schools, grocery stores, a newspaper – all black owned.
Greenwood became known as the Black Wall Street. But the success of the town was shattered when neighboring Whites reportedly grew jealous and burned down the town on May 31, 1921 with the help of city officials and law enforcement. More than 1,000 successful Black businesses were burned to ashes, and families and businesses were left in shambles.
London, a social worker by trade, pointed out that survival for African Americans had everything to do with strong relationships and an unwavering philosophy of recycling Black dollars.
“Black Wall Street was a self-sufficient Black community that was annihilated by their fellow statesmen,” she said, explaining that the goal is to return to that same practice and generate solutions to an ailing community.
“Our movement has nothing to do with ostracizing anyone or making someone feel left out. If you love a Black person, you would appreciate where they come from and embrace what that is…. Don’t get me wrong, we are all multicultural, but every culture in the world has a foundational culture.”
London added that it’s important that the Black community embrace its origins by first loving self in all aspects of life, including business.
Re-Occupying The Black Wall Street will host monthly meetings starting Friday, Jan. 13 at Wingstop in Palmdale. Meetings will begin at 5 p.m.
The group plans to support Black businesses one Friday every month for a year, and share how they can recycle Black dollars. Everyone is welcome to attend and encouraged to brings ideas, resources, and money to patronize the host business.
Bradford hopes to introduce savings and investing plans to the group as time goes on.
So far the couple has recruited at least 10 A.V. residents and at least 40 nationwide.
For more information, visit www.blacklovemonthly.com.
Palmdale_Steve says
So what are Black owned businesses in the AV? How can people support these business?
James says
The only time black and black money change hands is during a drug transaction.
Laneay says
I am truly confused at Confused’s statements. Other communities, including white ones, have organizations and exclusive business circles that cater to their race and culture. I can’t understand why unity in any community would make another person upset. As for the comments about not including others like Hispanics, their are approximately 5 Vallarta Markets in the A.V. that cater to their community. No one complains about that! Yes we do make up on 18% of the population, and Yes most of the African American’s here in the A.V. are in the low to lower middle class economic bracelet, but will support them all of our people by “Any Means Necessary” This is not about making money, to taking, it about unity. Sankofa!!!
Confused says
And you’re another one that won’t answer the question I posed.
But guess what? I do patronize the businesses you mentioned. I don’t ask whether the business owners are mexican, black, or whatever. Who cares? As a business owner, I welcome everyone’s business to my establishment, too. White, black, brown.
So I once again ask.. yes or no… are you promoting that black people only patronize other black owned businesses? Yes or no.
Laneay says
To answer your question, Confused, money from all communities will contiue to circulate through many business in our multi cultural AV, including your. As for who cares, we do. May serenity find you this day. Black Love Monthly
Confused says
You still did not answer the question. Both of you are being evasive enough that we know you are afraid to admit your real motives. So for the third time …YES OR NO? Are you advocating that black people should only patronize other black businesses?
James says
That because everyone loves Mexican food, so as a white person I have no problem with 5 Vallarta Markets just like I dont have a problem with 4 Walmarts. Not everyone likes grits or collard greens however.
Your plan is doomed to fail because of gang banging african american thugs.
Tony says
Although as a percentage African Americans spend the most for dozens of consumer products, African American money circulates or recycles the least among each other. Here’s an example, according to the Harvest Institute, a Washington, D.C based Black think tank of how money circulates in various communities:
Money circulates in the White community unlimited times.
Money circulates in Jewish communities over 12 times.
Money circulates in Asian communities over 9 times.
Money circulates in Latino communities over 6 times.
Money circulates in the African American community 0 – 1 time.
I suppose it’s not racist when other communities circulate their money numerous times within their community, it’s just racist when African Americans propose circulating their money numerous times within their community, why is that?
Fortunately, this grassroots effort’s aim is not short-sighted, limiting itself to the AV and goes far and beyond the AV and is intended to reinvest the approaching One Trillion Dollars in earning power Black Americans are expected to make back into the Black community.
Confused says
Well duh! “a Washington DC black think tank”. Already a racist report, I suspect. Well that’s fine. You don’t want my white money? I’m happy to oblige.
Tony says
Do you even know the definition of the word “racist” which you seem to use all willy nilly?
Tony says
Calm down! Why you mad bro? No one asked for your money. We’re trying to become good stewards of the nearly One Trillion Dollars we have now.
Confused says
Not mad at all. I just want a straight answer, instead of the rhetoric about how many times some group of people’s money is cirulated.
Yes or no: Does this mean you don’t want to spend money anywhere unless it’s black owned?
Yes or no: Does this mean you don’t want non-black money coming in to these black businesses?
Tony says
You choose an apt name to hide behind. Confused you truly are! Do you even know the definition of Rhetoric and the stating of Facts? Little, if any non-black money is being spent in black businesses now and a call to start doing so would fall on deaf ears.
I am so sorry that you are butt-hurt because of the idea of the Black Community trying to come together and work together without asking you specifically for your white dollars. Thanks for offering them, but ‘No thanks’ we got this.
Confused says
I just knew you couldn’t answer the question. That, in itself, says a lot.
We’ll continue the discussion (and perhaps I can learn something about what you are trying to do), once you answer the questions I posed.
Confused says
Tony said: “Little, if any non-black money is being spent in black businesses now and a call to start doing so would fall on deaf ears.”
What are you trying to say? Are you saying that non-blacks purposely avoid patronizing black businesses?
Is it because there isn’t many black businesses to begin with?
Are you calling out to the non-black population to support black businesses? If so, great. Who are they?
It sounds like you’d like to see more non-black support for black businesses, but it also sounds like you don’t want black dollars being spent in non-black businesses. If you aren’t supporting my business, I’m not supporting yours.
Then Tony said: “…trying to come together and work together without asking you specifically for your white dollars. Thanks for offering them, but ‘No thanks’ we got this.”
Well damnit, which is it? Do you want non-black money spent on black businesses or not?
You say you don’t want ‘white dollars’, then why do you promote the Harvest Institute, who does call for ‘white dollars’ (in the form of reparations)
Confused says
“Through their organization, Black Love Monthly, the two are rallying African Americans locally and nationwide to return to their roots and buy Black.”
and
“We are going to have round table discussions and compound everyone’s ideas and come up with a pledge, a commitment to raise awareness of spending and buying Black”
What exactly does this mean? You only want black people to buy/sell to each other? You don’t want black poeple to patronize non-black businesses? Do you expect non-blacks to patronize the black businesses?
This isn’t another form of racism, is it?
Casual observer says
I wish they would put more thought into this. As is presented here, this idea is doomed. The total black population of the Antelope Valley is only about 18% when you average it out. Furthermore, the majority of the AV black population are not solidly middle class. The overwhelming majority of poor people will not selectively shop at a place just because it is owned by a member of their race. Poor people shop where their dollars can go further and that is usually discount chain stores. In order to make this idea a success there has to be a solid black middle class and a black upper class, again, which just isn’t the case in the AV. There is a small wealthy black population in the area of Ladera Heights in Los Angeles and Altadena in Pasadena, but none of those people will ever live in Palmdale or Lancaster if they decide to stay in California. Another reason that this idea will likely fail is that the total black population in the AV will probably never go above 20%. in California, the total black population is just 6% with more and more black people choosing to move out of state each year. This is a reality. There are many many news articles that have been written on this subject so don’t hate on me over it! The AV will be majority Hispanic in the near future. It’s a matter of time. The city of Palmdale is already close to 60% Hispanic and the Lancaster population is 40% Hispanic and growing. To try to do anything economic in the Antelope Valley without including the Hispanic population, the new Asian population or the historic white population is doomed! Something like what you’re proposing may work in a place like Atlanta, Dallas, Houston, Birmingham or Charlotte, but not here and probably nowhere else in California to be truthful. This is just the truth, take it or leave it.
Laneay says
Thank you to everyone for all your support! We want everyone to enjoy our work, Black Love Monthly is a culmination of our individual love for our community, for our people, and for each other. Feel free to follow us at http://www.blacklovemonthly.com or at http://www.facebook.com/blacklovemonthly
Laneay says
We also like to send a very special thank you to the AV Times for their support and Ms. Brittney Walker for her eloquent words.
S. Parker says
Hi Laneay, I appreciate what you are trying to accomplish. I think it would do wonders to change the perception of your community here in the Valley. But might I suggest you also include other minority groups in this venture? There is strength in numbers, and the Hispanic community in the AV is very large, especially in Palmdale. Uniting all minority groups in the AV might have a greater impact that going it alone. Regardless of what you decide, this is a step in the right direction, and I commend you for it!
Michael Buchanan says
Congratulations on the excellent article on you in the Antelope Valley Times. Thanks for bringing historical awareness to our community and of course I support “Black Wall Street”. I did also visit your website and for sure would like to once again pledge my support particularly since you do conduct monthly workshops and provide additional resources that are also in common with my efforts. I am inviting you to visit my vebsite or contact me directly so I can pledge my resources and “free” fundraiser “workshops” to your organization too. Having existing websites and resources to reach our community there will be a great way to extend our reach and build an even stronger network of support. Feel free to contact or call me anytime!