My Trip To An "Urban Flea Market" To Study The Black/Korean Symbiotic Retail Relationship

Today I traveled to a local flea market in Metro-Atlanta.
There are few other places that can provide a fairly descriptive picture of the fashions and hairstyles that are seen on the street within the poor and working class Black community.

The competitive struggle for the "Black American Dollar" being waged between the Korean retailer and the Black Immigrant retailer takes place on this stage.

I had been to this particular flea market previously as I searched for a distribution outlet of 'The Final Call' newspaper.  The Black owned restaurant inside sold it and "Muhammad Speaks", along with some other print publications.  I had just eaten lunch so instead of food I thought to purchase a printed piece of material from them when I arrived.

Unfortunately - I had arrived far too late to purchase anything from the Muslim owned restaurant.  The place was shuddered it had been closed down for several months.  Only the menu still hung from the wall.

Though the front entrance to the flea market still had a large, welcoming banner for "Brotherhood Steak N Take" adorning the outside of the building..............there was no "Brotherhood" still in business once inside.  It has ceased to operate as a going concern.

I got beyond my disappointment and turned right next door to the clothing both that was manned by a Korean woman and what looked to be a male from Thailand (but don't quote me).

I assure you that the majority of those "message t-shirts" that you see people wearing on the streets come from the flea markets in their respective areas.

I decided to initiate my "Obama T-Shirt Watch 2012" after noting that in 2008 the various "Urban Malls" in Atlanta saw a dramatic change in their sales volume as "Young Jeezy", "Lil Wayne" and "Jay-Z" was bumped from their top sales spots as "Barack Obama - Yes We Can" t-shirts were prominently marketed and sold.  (I wish I was lying about this).

The first clothing rack beyond the defunct "Brotherhood Steak-N-Take" had a bevy of Obama oversized t-shirts for purchase.   After rifling through a few of them I waved to get the attention of the Korean lady to ask how much they are.   "$5 each", she said.   I then asked her if she took debit cards.   "Only if you charge over $10".

I decided to wait.  I need to run out and get some cash and purchase at least one of them later.





The "Money Shot" which sums up the present prevailing condition of Black Consciousness is as follows:

As A Black Owned Business Is Shuttered,  Unable To Remain Economically Viable............
.......The Image Obama Hangs High Within The Context Of The Present Prevailing
 Black Consciousness
The Imagery That Has Been Enforced Within The Black Community Has The Balance
Of Black American Progressives Assigning Their HOPE That The Operating Status
Of This Black Owned Businesses And Others Will CHANGE To "Open" After
Their Investment In A Second Term.

All The While The KOREANS And The African Immigrants Who Are Not Of The "Native Culture"
Remain Open For Business, Selling To The Blacks Who Have The Consciousness Of A
CONSUMER

As I made my way through the flea market - the truth was clear.   All of the vendors were "Koreans" or "Black Immigrants".  NO exceptions.

• Hair Braiding Salons - 3 Of Them - (Only 1 open at the time) An African girl
• Several Black Owned Clothing Stores - one lady said she was from Panama.  Another lady who tried to flirt with me into coming into her female clothing store to purchase something for "my wife, girlfriend or daughter" had an accent from somewhere in West Africa
• The jewelry store in the back - Korean
• The clothing store at the front - on one side Korean and the otherside with the sign from "Mali" - obviously from Africa

I Wonder If The Characterization Of Herman Cain Was
Crafted After He Was Seeing Wearing The Shirt On The Right?

As I walked around, snapping pictures its seems that I raised some suspicious among the vendors.  Just as I took a picture of a Korean clothing vendor a Black man walked up to me and asked - "Why are you taking pictures sir?".

If there is one thing that my young Black brothers should learn - it is how their initial response when challenged in such a manner will either amplify the situation or bring it back down to a level in which a rational conversation can be had.

Of course the first thing that ran through my mind was "Who is this {fill in the blank} asking me this question about what I am doing?".   He is not a police man or security guard.  He surely is not the owner of the place.  Who is he?

I had to respond to his question while sizing his intentions up at the same time.
I told him "I am just going around taking pictures of the merchandise in the place.  I have a blog which discusses the issue of Korean retailers in Black communities.  I just came in to look around for the sake of continuing the discussion".

He did not show any sign of aggression.  The next thing he said was "I am a clothing vendor.  I have my shop right down here.  Why don't you take a look at what I have."

As we were walking the security guard - a Black male - came over to us and said "Oh this is the guy who is taking the pictures.  The management doesn't want you taking pictures inside the building".  I saw that he also was not belligerent with me.   I then jokingly said - "So you think that I am scoping the place to find out where the goods are positioned so I can come back with my crew and knock the place off.  I get it".    The guard said to the other guy   "As long as he is with you he is OK with me.".  Then he left, back to the security monitors in the front of the store.

I ended up purchasing some items from the vendor (from Panama).
He asked me again about my blog but never asked me for the address so he could check out what I had written on the subject.
I left the flea market - waving 'bye' to the security guard on the way out.

Don't Worry Folks "YOU" Are Not "The Management"
He Can't Understand The English That You Speak So Don't Bother To Claim
That This Policy Posted Outside Is "Discriminatory" Because
It "Suppresses Black Dollars From Being Spent"

The pattern is clear.
The prevailing Black consciousness is that of "Consumerism". 
Others are watching Black Americans just as I am doing - both as a means of understanding.

It is not the "race" of the people that distinguishes those who position themselves as salesmen to our people.  The more relevant attribute is that they, like Barack Obama were rooted in a CULTURE that is something other than the "Black American 'Slave Descendant Culture' " and how it compels many of us to think.

I refuse to allow the people who, on the one hand, use this "Slave Ancestry" as a "badge of honor" - a sign of "Being Down With The Struggle", which provides "group connectedness" to then turn around and claim that my critical analysis of all of their antics and how THEY are the central agent in PERPETUATING this claims of "damage from slavery" - all for the purposes of ultimately "Transacting Black Inferiority" for their own advantage.

They should be challenged and forced to provide details of the 'UN-Least Of These People" they have produced as a measure of their effectiveness.  The only thing they can claim at this point is their ability to "hold the congregation together in unity".

It stands to reason that if Black people from African can immigrate into America - their direct family having suffered from colonial oppression on the continent and yet when they land in America and they cleave to certain "culturally-instinctive" actions that the "Black American SLAVE CULTURE" is what is damaged AND the "Psuedo-Intellectual Embedded Confidence Men" that tap into this "Slave Culture" as they transact both political benefit from our claimed inferior state and IDEOLOGICAL benefit are the ones that need to be checked.  They work to advance the common suffering that the "congregation" has in common.  THEY are the ones who should be expelled from their position of confidence - before any organic and enduring increase can take place among the young minds who matriculate through the ecosystem of the community who's institutions they now dominate.

"Black America's MISSION ACCOMPLISHED MOMENT".........The Banner Hung Up By Black Progressive-Fundamentalist Now Being Sold To Blacks By Koreans 
Trinkets Worn With Pride Of Accomplishment Made In Bangladesh, Pakistan And Honduras Even Though "The Blacks" Are Contented When They Blame Globalization (And Ronald Reagan)
 For Their Job Losses In The Areas That They Have "WON"
They Can't Articulate WHAT "WE" HAVE WON