Black Economy, White Privilege – Ford Hall Forum 1



I am moderating this panel for the Ford Hall Forum.

Black Economy, White Privilege


Sponsored by the Greater New England 
Minority Supplier Development Council


Black businesses lag behind businesses of all other racial groups in every measure of success. Is it necessary – or even possible – for the black community to sustain its own economy? Author Maggie Anderson shares her highly-publicized year-long journey completely living off Black businesses, called The Empowerment Experiment, and how she encountered a community that refused to support its own, an economy that had Black businesses wholly disenfranchised, and virulent criticism from those outside the Black community who called her a racist. Meanwhile, sociology professor Thomas Shapiro warns that blacks are failing in asset accumulation and homeownership, to the point of negating gains in employment and income. Drawing on economic research, social history, surveys, interviews, and their own personal experiences, these authors show moderator Candelaria Silva how racial inequality is transmitted across generations and pinpoint why the black economy continues to suffer.

At the end of the event, the speakers will be signing and selling copies of their books,Our Black Year: One Family’s Request to Buy Black in America’s Racially Divided Economy” by Maggie Anderson, and “The Hidden Cost of Being African American: How Wealth Perpetuates Inequality” by Thomas Shapiro.

Thursday, October 4, 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Modern Theatre, Suffolk University


 


Ford Hall Forum


About Candelaria Silva

Candelaria Silva-Collins is a marketing, community outreach and programming consultant; writer; and trainer/facilitator who lives in Boston, Massachusetts. She has designed and facilitated workshops on a wide variety of topics including communication, facilitation, job search skills, team building, and parenting issues. She currently coordinates the Community Membership Program of the Huntington Theatre Company. Her work as Director of ACT Roxbury was profiled in several publications, including The Creative Communities Builders Handbook. Candelaria’s children’s stories, short stories, essays and reviews have been published in local and national publications and she is an active blogger. Her publications include the booklets, Handling Rejection; Pushing through Shyness: Networking Tips when You’re Shy, Slow to Warm Up or Just don’t Feel you Belong; and Real Questions about Sex & Relationships for Teens: A Discussion Guide for Parents. She has served on the boards of Goddard College, Wheelock Family Theatre, Boston Foundation for Architecture, and Discover Roxbury. She is currently Chair, Designators of the Henderson Foundation.

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