A Harlem minister has proposed a b
oycott against certain businesses that operate in an area he designates a “drought zone.” The minister of Atlah on 123rd Street has written a 23 page pamphlet that details the extent of the ban, including the types of businesses that are exempt from the boycott.
What bothers Manning, however, is that his church and its parishioners, after years of helping out during the dark days, are being passed over and pushed out by gentrification. The “indigenous people” of Harlem, as Manning puts it, are being priced out by projects like Columbia University’s slow but steady crawl north.
“They are investing in property, but not investing in the people,” he says. Source: Village Voice
Related: Watch No Dew No Rain or read pamphet online
amazed
August 28, 2008
This is pretty crazy. Let’s run all the business out- which means we run all the jobs out. Then nobody will have a job or the money to buy the empty houses and buildings. Only stupid, mindless and easily misled people would believe this. And, not everybody in Harlem is black. He/they need to stop acting like Harlem is another Chocolate City that only belongs to blacks.
Lovelyday
April 14, 2007
Granted that the mans assesment has some challenges; the vast majority of Black-identified folks in Harlem do know exactly where the feelings eminate from! Let’s take it from there.
Harlem Interloper
April 11, 2007
It would make for a humorous read as satire. It’s so ridiculuous and he’s so hypocritical (using Fresh Direct and opening up his our grocery) that I’m having a hard time believing that it’s real or that anyone is buying into it. It sounds more like he’s asking for protection money. (“Make a donation and you’ll get a sticker. Otherwise, your business is in jeopardy.”)
As a white, brownstone-owner living not too far away from Pastor Manning’s church (and presumably one of the “interlopers” that he mentions), reduced amenities will not make me move back below 110th street.
At least I’m not Chase Bank. I wonder what they did to Manning to deserve such focused ire.
Harlem Supporter
April 11, 2007
Wow I’m speechless. I guess its further evidence that you can mix almost anything with religion and people will blindly follow. Given the objective of supporting businesses that are owned by Harlem dwellers, what the hell is a photo of a McDonalds doing in the segment outlined “open your own businesses”. I can’t name one major corporate entity with its roots in Harlem. How is opening a McDonalds in Harlem helping Harlem? And then to have a section about being healthy? While also stating to not purchase anything from McDonalds in an earlier paragraph. I’m very confused. How are the businesses listed on the ‘Approved List’ in keeping with this manifesto? The majority of the entities on this list provide no benefit to the residents of Harlem. I can go on and on about this. There is just so much that is wrong with it. For God to be described as perfect he seems to be telling people a lot of bullsh*t.
Crawford
April 11, 2007
Honestly this is the dumbest anti-gentrification plan I have ever heard. How stupid or crazy is this reverend? What’s up with the exception for “beauty salons”? Getting nails done is allowed while buying groceries is forbidden? Of course donating to the good Rev is perfectly fine.
If anything, this will speed up the process of gentrification. Do you really think these church ladies living on fixed incomes are patronizing the businesses in the “New” Harlem? Of course not. They are spending their limited money in the businesses remaining from the “Old” Harlem. This will only deprive the older businesses of revenue, and will speed up the turnover of businesses from the old demographics to the new.
If a random corner store is selling less stuff to random low-income church ladies, they will shift their focus to attract newcomers (higher quality, higher-priced products).
Hugo
April 11, 2007
wow, i honestly did not believe this when i read the post so I went to the church’s website and downloaded he brochure.this is just insane! i know that we rant all over the gentrification topic and i think that we all have said that in general some good things have come about with a couple pockets of dubious benefit, but how can you tell people to not supporting businesses in harlem. sure, just cutoff the blood to the main artery…that’ll show them! whoe exactly?! if he wanted to be fair he should’ve told the church to send their tithes and offerings to a church on 96th street as well. come on!
ac
April 11, 2007
not only is it extreemist–but actually just the dumbest plan i’ve ever heard. he thinks we should take our dollars OUTSIDE of harlem, so we can chase out and put out of business those who are currently serving our community (like flower shop, produce store, clothing, pharmacy, etc)? he thinks it would somehow be better to not have any businesses in harlem so it can go back to being a barren wasteland of nothing but poverty and crime??? yeah bring back those days, thanks.
plus he uses fresh direct?????? and that’s ok to give your money to the white business owner as long as that business is not in harlem? it makes no sense at all! but of course it will be ok to shop at his grocery store that he’ll be opening.
im sorry but if someone comes up with a good plan to preserve some black ownership in harlem then sign me up, but this is just ridiculous.
TL
April 11, 2007
This just goes to show that extremism exists everywhere. (and in most cases under the charade of religion)
How is this any different from the Islamic extremists that want to drive the world back to the Dark Ages.
Anonymous
April 11, 2007
The “indigenous people” of Harlem? That could only be the Native Americans. Who’s he talking about? The Scandanavians dwelled in Harlem longer than the Blacks have and before them, is he fighting for them?
Wanna bet like many churches this pastor too would sell his building if the price was right? They’re a whacked out Church anyway, they’ve bought and had some funny messeges on the billboard on 125th & Lenox on the Starbucks corner.
So what’s he boycotting? Money? Seriously, I can recall in the 90′s when the only bank was Carver,now they’re all over the place, am I supposed to boycott using a Bank? Should I boycott going to HR Block before the 15th of this month too?