Small business has always been the seed of black economic power. From barber shops to funeral homes, these businesses provide goods and services to an underserved community. But now in Ferguson, Missouri, the dreams of small business owners are being destroyed by the same black people they serve. There are widespread reports and video footage of looters ransacking black owned business that provide jobs and goods to the community.
Many of these businesses will never recover, and if so, the business owner must think about the risks of rebuilding in the same community. The looting further sinks an obscure 70 percent black town into financial and social chaos. What we are now seeing in Ferguson is a descent into “Rioting for fun and profit.”
This past weekend, groups of young black men took a different stance. Instead of joining the looting frenzy, these young men actually guarded the businesses in their community. Protesters have taken to Twitter posting images of groups of young black men protecting a beauty store and other local businesses in the area. Asking the crowd “why they are looting, what are they out here for?” and reminding them of the reason for the chaos, the shooting death of Michael Brown by Officer Darren Wilson.
Rev. Jesse Jackson told the crowd last weekend, “You can bend iron while it is red hot, but you don’t destroy yourself in the process.” The crowd seems to be listening and a movement is being organized and behind-the-scenes leadership is forging a possible way out of the rioting.
