Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource "Voices That Must Be Heard" Articles Description An account of the resource The Independent Press Association (IPA) translates articles from the ethnic press (when necessary) and distributes them via web and fax newsletter to mainstream and ethnic press, government offices, nonprofits, and interested individuals. Voices That Must be Heard was designed by the Independent Press Association staff in New York City in response to the horrifying events of September 11. After Sept. 11th, Voices focused on the South Asian, Arab and Middle Eastern communities in New York. Since February 2002, the project has expanded, selecting articles from the broad range of ethnic and community newspapers throughout the city. Here, the Archive has preserved the Voices collection from its inception until November 2002. VTMBH Article VTMBH Article: Edition 37 VTMBH Article: Article Order 1 VTMBH Article: Title Copycats, mainstream United States and Africans VTMBH Article: Author VTMBH Article: Publication African Abroad VTMBH Article: Original Language English VTMBH Article: Translator VTMBH Article: Section edits VTMBH Article: Blurb Either you will stay in America or you will return to Africa. If you are not able to decide what you want, its a sure bet you will end up nowhere. We may as well begin the process of integrating into mainstream American society, assimilating the best of the American way, while rejecting the worst. VTMBH Article: Keywords VTMBH Article: Body Copycats, mainstream U.S. and Africans, African Abroad, 30 September 2002. English Language. Let us begin by admitting that many African immigrants in the United Sates are here to stay. Even though this is very difficult to say within our culture, yet it must be said that many will also die here. This subject is being introduced today to end our divided attentions about our future. Either you will stay in America or you will return to Africa. If you are not able to decide what you want, its a sure bet you will end up nowhere. We may as well begin the process of integrating into mainstream American society, assimilating the best of the American way, while rejecting the worst. I have seen immigrants living in the United States for 10 to 20 years who have not been able to accomplish much because of indecision. When the time came for them to take a stab at the American dream, like buying a house, they put it off with the lame excuse that they intend to relocate to Africa in two to three years. But as time flies in America, it does not take long before 10 years becomes 20and folks remain stuck in a one-bedroom project apartment somewhere. Some have been known to argue that as soon as things get better in Nigeria or Ghana, they will go back. Guess what? Things have not gotten better after all these years! Many of those who have decided to settle here are bogged down in the mire of copycat and follow-follow. For instance, Alex Kabba has started a newspaper, Mister follow-follow will start one too, abandoning the dreams for which they are better suited. Today, we have legions of African-owned businesses focusing on African immigrants only. It is time we moved beyond this copycat mentality and do something original, like entering mainstream America. The fact that chief Disu Aribidesi, for instance, has a thriving African Market outfit in New York, is not an excuse for all of us to enter into that line of business. If you dont plan, you are likely to fail. We have so many mainstream businesses awaiting Africans to make them rich that it is a shame they have not taken advantage of these. I would like a situation where many African immigrants will branch out into laundries, supermarkets, fast food franchises and transportation businesses. We must learn to emulate the Chinese, who own restaurants; Indians, who are taking over Dunkin Donut franchises; and Koreans, who cater to mainstream America with their grocery stores scattered across the United States. For now, only African lawyers entered mainstream corporate America, in as much as their expertise is in hot demand and they own their own businesses. Working as medical doctors, case workers and others is good, but not enough. There are several credit facilities and the opportunities are vast, so that if African immigrants put half of what they put into their two or three jobs into building their own businesses, they would be on their way to sure success. The bottom line is that keeping three jobs cannot guarantee a safe and financially secure future for our families. Income from such jobs only ends up paying the bills, keeping the body and soul together and not much else. So let us start today to inquire about the mainstream business that we can successfully manage. We cannot all be businessmen, but the space is still open for many Africans to try and make a success of it, and they dont have to quit their other jobs until the business stabilizes. We should all move away from the copycat syndrome. Chew on this and see how it grabs you. VTMBH Article: Line Breaks 1 VTMBH Article: Date 2002-09-30 VTMBH Article: Thumb VTMBH Article: Article File VTMBH Article: Hit Count 88 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Copycats, mainstream United States and Africans 911DA Item Elements describing a September 11 Digital Archive item. Status The process status of this item. approved Consent Whether September 11 Digital Archive has permission to possess this item. unknown Posting Whether the contributor gave permission to post this item. yes Copyright Whether the contributor holds copyright to this item. yes Source The source of this item. born-digital Media Type The media type of this item. article Original Name The original name of this item. Either you will stay in America or you will return to Africa. If you are not able to decide what you Created by Author Whether the author created this item. yes Described by Author Whether the description of this item was submitted by the author. no Date Entered The date this item was entered into the archive. 2002-09-30