Hope you're having a good Sunday y'all... (Like that J Moss piece? Hope so. Cop that album, for real. it still sounds good, especially this time of year.)Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm heading out to doisome shopping—hitting some joint called SugarPlum" in SoCal. Don't ask--it's not my idea, anyway.
Meanwhile, here's a review I wrote a while back for one of my favorite books ever. I found myself re-reading this book recently as I struggle to get back to my own writing...
Consider picking this one up--it's worth it!
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BLACKPOWER INC.: The New Voice of Success
By: Cora Daniels
218 pages ($24.95 US/£16.99 U.K./$34.99 Canada)
ISBN: 0-471-47090-2
Publisher: Wiley & Sons
www.coradaniels.com
Today, economics is the new politics and business is the final frontier of the civil rights movement. And in BLACK POWER, INC., Cora Daniels shines the light on how the new school of Black businessfolks—mainly 40 and under—are taking civil rights to the next level not only by acquiring power and position within top companies, but by also starting their own businesses and reinvesting in their own communities.
According to Black Power, you won't find too many “happens to be black” execs among the new breed. They’re qualified, educated and streetwise. They're also not apologizing for their heritage/ethnicity in order to gain acceptance; instead they're using the insights and perspectives that come with being black to their advantage; and screw anyone who as a problem with it. But as Black Power notes, there are still more than a few faces in high places working to keep black professionals down and out. But Daniels and everyone she interviews make one thing clear: we ain’t havin’ it.
Daniels, an award-winning journalist and staff writer for FORBES magazine does a thorough job of getting candid insights from numerous top Black professionals on a variety of issues ranging from diversity to black empowerment to the generation gap to the importance of innovation, networking and integrity and more. One of my favorite quotes comes from Shawn Baldwin, 36, founder and CEO of Capital Management who tells Daniels, “The first step for black folks is realizing that there's not going to be a leader and there's not going to be any movement—unless you count economics.”
While I'm hiphop to the heart, one of the things I like most about Black Power is that it looks at black businessfolks beyond the typical Russell Simmons/Sean John profiles or “meet the latest emcee/athlete/actor with a clothing line” pieces. Now to be sure, there's a look at music and entertainment leaders, but Daniels smartly focuses on black folks across a variety of often overlooked but increasingly opportunity-rich industries like technology, packaged goods, automotive, banking and finance, manufacturing, just to name a few.
In BP’s “Dissed By Diversity” chapters Daniels discuss institutionalized racism, specifically the traditionally topic taboo of how corporations use diversity initiatives to keep black folks out by counting white women and other non-blacks as “minorities.” to And in “What does this mean for Wall Street?” Daniels looks at how the increasing number of black professionals starting their own ventures is impacting traditionally white companies and industries that have been unwilling to adapt and be more inclusive.
And as a woman Daniels uses her “Sistas Unite!” chapter to not only give black female professionals their props but to discuss the inequities and barriers professional sistahs face while dealing with, well, everyone.
Overall, Black Power Inc. is a great read—Daniels writes with flow, honesty and optimism. It’s packed with insights, advice and smart writing that everyone from high schoolers to CEOs can feel. As with her Fortune work, BP Inc. shows Daniels to be really good at breaking down complex issues while avoiding a lot of the “they’re so racist!” whining that others get caught up in. If it were up to me, Black Power Inc. would be mandatory reading for every black person and every businessperson in general. Pump the black fist.
Meanwhile, here's a review I wrote a while back for one of my favorite books ever. I found myself re-reading this book recently as I struggle to get back to my own writing...
Consider picking this one up--it's worth it!
--------------
BLACKPOWER INC.: The New Voice of Success
By: Cora Daniels
218 pages ($24.95 US/£16.99 U.K./$34.99 Canada)
ISBN: 0-471-47090-2
Publisher: Wiley & Sons
www.coradaniels.com
Today, economics is the new politics and business is the final frontier of the civil rights movement. And in BLACK POWER, INC., Cora Daniels shines the light on how the new school of Black businessfolks—mainly 40 and under—are taking civil rights to the next level not only by acquiring power and position within top companies, but by also starting their own businesses and reinvesting in their own communities.
According to Black Power, you won't find too many “happens to be black” execs among the new breed. They’re qualified, educated and streetwise. They're also not apologizing for their heritage/ethnicity in order to gain acceptance; instead they're using the insights and perspectives that come with being black to their advantage; and screw anyone who as a problem with it. But as Black Power notes, there are still more than a few faces in high places working to keep black professionals down and out. But Daniels and everyone she interviews make one thing clear: we ain’t havin’ it.
Daniels, an award-winning journalist and staff writer for FORBES magazine does a thorough job of getting candid insights from numerous top Black professionals on a variety of issues ranging from diversity to black empowerment to the generation gap to the importance of innovation, networking and integrity and more. One of my favorite quotes comes from Shawn Baldwin, 36, founder and CEO of Capital Management who tells Daniels, “The first step for black folks is realizing that there's not going to be a leader and there's not going to be any movement—unless you count economics.”
While I'm hiphop to the heart, one of the things I like most about Black Power is that it looks at black businessfolks beyond the typical Russell Simmons/Sean John profiles or “meet the latest emcee/athlete/actor with a clothing line” pieces. Now to be sure, there's a look at music and entertainment leaders, but Daniels smartly focuses on black folks across a variety of often overlooked but increasingly opportunity-rich industries like technology, packaged goods, automotive, banking and finance, manufacturing, just to name a few.
In BP’s “Dissed By Diversity” chapters Daniels discuss institutionalized racism, specifically the traditionally topic taboo of how corporations use diversity initiatives to keep black folks out by counting white women and other non-blacks as “minorities.” to And in “What does this mean for Wall Street?” Daniels looks at how the increasing number of black professionals starting their own ventures is impacting traditionally white companies and industries that have been unwilling to adapt and be more inclusive.
And as a woman Daniels uses her “Sistas Unite!” chapter to not only give black female professionals their props but to discuss the inequities and barriers professional sistahs face while dealing with, well, everyone.
Overall, Black Power Inc. is a great read—Daniels writes with flow, honesty and optimism. It’s packed with insights, advice and smart writing that everyone from high schoolers to CEOs can feel. As with her Fortune work, BP Inc. shows Daniels to be really good at breaking down complex issues while avoiding a lot of the “they’re so racist!” whining that others get caught up in. If it were up to me, Black Power Inc. would be mandatory reading for every black person and every businessperson in general. Pump the black fist.
