Spokes Black
Lennie Chism – Black Economic Gladiator, Chism States “Get Your Black On, Let Your Black Out, It’s OK. The 13th Amendment Freed US, Get your money”
Lennie Chism, entrepreneurial activist, walks it like he talks it. In a day and age full of so-called community leaders who front, Chism rolls up his sleeves and gets busy looking out, determinedly committed to African American self-empowerment through entrepreneurship.
His track record speaks for itself. Starting out with creating a Twin Cities staple, The Twin Cities Black Pages. Chism started it in 1989 on a shoestring, literally going door-to-door drumming up listings to establish an autonomous network of business men and women. He never lost his love for enterprise. Nor his passion for activism. Chism feels we will never achieve parity without having an economic base. The great Dr. King felt that owning the lunch counter would be much more difficult than sitting there.
Lennie Chism, today, is executive director of Springboard Economic Development Corporation. Its focus is on capacity building as to be able to participate in economic endeavors of our community. Chism is the author of Mobilizing Black Wealth: A Strategy for Black Economic Enlightenment and Empowerment. The book is a practical guide to achieving financial autonomy. Chism also is a motivational speaker and released the DVD Ready, Willing and Able! produced in partnership with Minnesota Department of Transportation.
He has several You Tube videos, including one that smoothly teams him with topical comedian K Jay for an appearance on KFAI Fresh Air Radio. K Jay readily says of Lennie Chism, “Lennie wants to represent the needs of the black community and clearly has a gift. I think the kind of mission Lennie is on will impact change and bring vision to unaddressed issues that affect black people. His method of operations is grassroots, different [than a] politician. He’s a brother that I’m hoping can make big noise.”
In a day and age when it is politically incorrect not to embrace the concepts of integration and assimilation, Chism is unapologetic about being an economic separatist. Not that he has anything against white people. To the contrary, he simply has a great deal of determination to see his own people succeed. I hope to be [an] inspiration for economic parity”, says Chism, “not just social acceptance.” He refuses to accept the disparity characterizing black business in the U.S. And concretely understands that the business world is where black people need to continue forging significant inroads.
Chism looks at history’s icons with an eye on what needs to happen in our lifetime. He sagely reflects, “W. E. B. Du Bois spoke of our greatness Malcolm X spoke of our greatness. A. G. Gaston spoke of our greatness. We all owe it to ourselves to try to achieve that. As did the other [groups in] America.”
With the global economy teetering on bankrupt, with Wall Street and the White House doing an ineffectual song and dance routine of bailouts and, it’s clear that black Americans must seize the reigns of our own destiny. We can ill afford to go along for whatever rollercoaster ride the stock market has in store. Black America has to take charge of its fate.
For Chism, it is not about individuals being able to slip into the mainstream. Chism states “A spoonful of integration is not enough for the rest of us”. Nor is it about social program handouts. James Brown sang, “I don’t want nobody to give me nothin’. Open up the door. I’ll get it, myself.” That may as well be Chism’s mantra.
The fact is Chism is making a big noise. One that increasingly is making itself heard on behalf of black communities. Chism states “Get your black on, Let your black out, its ok.”
Testify Minneapolis City Council
MBW News – Corruption at Minneapolis City Hall
About the Author
black label society spoke in the wheel
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