Now the question becomes, how much of that was spent by US, with US? Did you make any online purchases over the holiday season with a Black website, or online community? With so many Black websites shutting down every day, it seems that Black culture/content has the marketability of a foster child. Only corporate (think white) parents can seem to keep Black culture alive on the Internet. And even then, our culture is being pimped like it's a rap song;

Viacom's BET.com can show you the latest video, but will they tell you how to get a brother out of jail??? (see "Is Blakely A Get Out Of Jail Free Card?")

AOL's BlackVoices.com can get you a hot date, but will they tell you how to get your grandmothers money back??? (see B of A Owes Millions To Social Security Recipients)

Comcast's BlackPlanet.com can get you a job, but will they tell you how to start a business??? (see eMobile at Yahoogroups)

Even when we look to the most successful American consumer phenomenon, since the Model T...Hip-Hop. All we see is degradation, sensationalism, and foolishness. It has been said that there are two nations within the African American community today? (see http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/race/interviews/bond.html) And both of them are committing economic and cultural suicide. With a disposable income that equals most nations GNP, we as a people refuse to spend our money with us!

We (meaning Black America) are the creators of American (and the worlds) pop culture. We start the trends and everyone else follows. For example, look at the music, fashion, or automotive industry (even new cars now come with factory installed 20" rims). With the advent of the Internet and the acceptance of it, as a valid distribution channel for digital products, we no longer have any excuses. I used to say, that the powers-that-be won't let me put my screen saver products on the shelves of the mass merchandisers (Sears, Circuit City, etc.) but that excuse is no longer valid.

There are 18.4 million Blacks online (according to eMarketer.com) and if we only agreed to purchase one Black product online, we could change the face of the Black community. Think about it! ... 18 million or even 9 million Black people spending an average of $20 in a targeted time period. What would this say to corporate advertisers? How many new jobs would be created in our communities? Think about the new products and services this type of community self-empowerment would generate, not only online but in neighborhoods all across this country.

Corporate America has always taken the Black dollar for granted. For example; There are more Blacks online than there are Hispanics, and Blacks spend more money online then Hispanics. But according to a survey conducted by the American Advertising Federation, advertising executives said that marketing to Hispanics is a more important goal, than marketing to African Americans (see http://www.imediaconnection.com/content/7202.asp).

If that wasn't bad enough, studies also indicate that we as a people, are our own worst enemy! Blacks would rather buy at a mainstream web site then shop at Black web sites. Twice as many Blacks say they primarily use mainstream web sites than use ethnic sites, according to research on ethnic media by Bendixen & Associates...The White Mans Ice Is Always Colder! Why can't we use this electronic distribution vehicle called the Internet, to generate new sources of revenue, new markets, and new opportunities for Black America???

So as we enter Black History Month, I'm asking you once again, to look around, and see if you can spend your money with a Black owned website...any website! And if you don't want to spend money, then save your money in a Black owned bank (see http://www.blackwebportal.com/wire/DA.cfm?ArticleID=2524). Make an effort to put your dollars in another Black hand, every chance you get.

Please forward this messages to your network of online friends and encourage them to participate in this unique Black online shopping campaign to recycle Black dollars, and empower our Black online community. Thank you for your support in building our local online community. Remember...We Must Share The Knowledge, To Share The Dollars.