About The Blackonomy

So what is Blackonomy?

Well, I don’t exactly know yet.

I’ve started a lot of businesses, and the first thing I’ve done with all of them is come up with a mission statement, in one form or another. Because whether your mission statement is written, spoken, or just sitting around in your head, it is essential to have a clear focus of what you want to do and how you want to get there.

But how do you come up with a goal for millions of people. Sure, we all have something in common. As people from certain nations, from specific backgrounds, similar parents, or the same schools, we all have commonalities that could be used in setting our sites on a specific horizon.

Yet here’s the thing with horizons.

Sooner or later, the sun sets on them.

That’s due to the fact, that for as far away as horizons can capture the eye, there’s always more to the world than the eye can see. And when it comes to people, any people, and yet especially black people, if you try to set populous goals for a disparate group of people, the sun is sure to set on those people long before it reaches the horizon.

In saying that though, I realize I can’t keep you coming back to this site with metaphors that don’t lead to anything but more ambiguity. But I say that to say, that there is no mission statement that can be set upon any group of Black persons that is solely interested in the prosperity and growth of the race. Except for one mission statement. Our mission statement… which reads like this…

At Blackonomy, our goal is life.

That’s it.

Because when it all comes down to it, Blackonomy is about making our lives better. And not just the lives of black people in the United States. Not just the lives of black people in Africa. Not just the lives of black people. Our goal needs to be to make the lives of all people better.

Now, some would say that the mission statement of “life” is pretty ambiguous, impracticable and naïve.

I say that the mission statement of “life” is what billions of people accomplish everyday.

And with your help, Blackonomy just wants to make it better.

So exactly how are we going to accomplish this mission of life?

I have a few ideas. They aren’t life changing, but despite everything I’ve just said, there is something that 99.9% of all black people know either through experience or through edification. And that is that if you want to accomplish something, you have to start small. So, I’ll do just that…

1. Blog
This is about my umpteenth blog. I’ve got them all over the place. There’s TheSportsWatchers.com, UzoOmetu.com, SocialDiatribe.com, BlackOakNights.com, CinemaEmpress.com (an affiliate), and many more that I can’t even think of right now. I’ve had success with them, and I think I can have just as much, if not more, success with Blackonomy.com….

With the Blog, I plan on creating a forum for discussion that is generated by true passion. And because life doesn’t focus on anyone thing, neither will this blog. As long as someone is passionate about it, you will see it on the site. Think HuffingtonPost.com with more than just politics. That’s what I am aiming for, and because I know so many free-speaking, highly opinionated, not to mention sometimes “arrogant but I love you” people, you will have a plethora of varying opinions coming at you from every which way. And yes, that includes Republicans too. So be sure to check out the blog, but come with no expectations, as nothing is off-limits. And if you yourself is interested in writing, just contact me at uzo(at)socialdiatribe.com, and we’ll get you set up!

2. Book Club
Okay all of your supposed bookworms. I’m calling you out. I’ve always heard so many people talk about how they would love to join a book club, but none of them actually ever do it. Which is why I am certain this is certain to fail, but it won’t fail before I drag a few dozen of my closest friends out to a few meetings and find out just how interested Generation YB (I’m coining that, so don’t try to steal it!) is in reading books…

It won’t be too frequent. I figure the first one will allow you all a month to read the first book. And from there, we can gauge just how often these book club meetings should be held. I’ve got the first book in mind already, and I’m sure many of you have read it already. It’s “ “. So read the book, or refresh your memory of it, and get ready for the first ever Blackonomy Book Club meeting. This will probably be the last time I suggest the book. But I’m sure I’ll get plenty of feedback and suggestions after this begins to circulate, so don’t hesitate to offer advice for future readings, locations, and meeting agendas.

3. Community Action

I’m not the brightest bulb in the room, however, I do know a lot of smart people, and that includes you! And there are a lot of ideas and thoughts you all have on what can be done in underprivileged communities. So, the Blackonomy will continuously take a director’s role in developing projects and initiatives to make a difference in urban communities. We’ll start in New York City and spread our thoughts ideas as far and wide as they are accepted. So join the community, and let’s celebrate in the Blackonomy!

Other things to look forward to…

4. Happy Hour
Because this is starting off in New York, I know there is no better way to get us all together than a happy hour after work. There’s nothing like a refreshing drink and a cranked up air conditioner during a hot day in Manhattan…

So I figure, if we can hold monthly happy hour, it would be a good way for people to meet some of the people we come across in the blog or at the book club meetings, only with a lot less structure! I just want this to be an event where we can meet up and have some of those discussions that we tend to not have when we meet up in clubs or at restaurants. Granted, these happy hours will undoubtedly take place in a bar of some sort, but I’m hoping that if you run into people who you have seen participating with Blackonomy in some fashion, that it will lead to a conversation on things more prevalent than the latest dance move or how much you hate your boss. Of course, such discussion on those topics are just as welcomed, as I have no intention on talking about foundation of the black duality every 12 months with the same people… over and over again!

5. Breakfast Club
Forgetting the stereotypes and clichés, I know that many of you do tend to get up fairly early on Saturday mornings. Whether it’s because you like to catch the morning re-run of Real Time with Bill Maher on HBO, or if your biological clock is still ticking from having to get up at the crack of dawn for work or school five days a week, there are plenty of us who deem ourselves morning people…

That said, I think it would be a great opportunity for many of us to get together for a breakfast every once in a while, no matter how infrequently. Unlike gas prices, the frequency of the Breakfast Club will be determined the marketplace (i.e. you!), so whether it’s every week, every month, or every year, it shall be done! The purpose of the Breakfast Club will certainly vary as we try to see what best attracts you to get out of bed early in the morning. But ideas such as having speakers, workshops, or even E&E’s (exercise and eat) have been thrown at me. I’m willing to try all of those at some point, and whichever event or events that you all decide best accomplish our mission statement of “life”, then that is what we will go with.

6. Banquets
As if food and drink haven’t been included in this list enough, this final idea encompasses them both. Hopefully though, these banquets will consist of much more sustenance than just what you put in your stomachs…

I’m thinking of something along the lines of dinner and dancing, auctions, Masquerades, trips to places outside of the city, or even just chilling and going to a nice jazz bar. We’ll certainly be creative with this, but I think it is very important that in trying to spark conversation and change, we build a sense of community. I think this event, in particular, will provide us with an unparalleled opportunity to interact and fabricate bonds that may not be facilitated through the other venues.