Black Gala Events, Why does everyone try to escape the high cost of a Black Address?

Why does everyone try to escape the high costhistory did it become more acceptable to hold
of a Black Address?events outside the community? Was this
Why after more than 40 years after the riots ofconsidered a step up, moving on out, what does
the 60’s does North Minneapolis, as well asit signify? The Minneapolis Urban League holds up
most Black communities, look like a war zone ofthe Black community as to which they supposedly
abandon buildings, of a boarded up businessrepresent as the benefactors of the proceeds of
district, patrolled streets by squads of policethese events as due numerous other Black
similar to Iraq?organizations. Well, let’s keep this real. The
What? Huh? Yes. Does this fact appear shocking?Urban League, as well as the others, are soliciting
If not, why not?funds to pay salaries of the staff more so than
I ask, “Why does everyone try to escapeadminister programs. The Urban League has long
the high cost of the Black address”?since lost the right to state they are
Here is a list of a few of the events held by orrepresentatives for the lower and impoverished
for the Black community in the finest hotels,for which they exist today, or the views of Black
convention centers, and banquet facilities inAmerica. The Urban League was not founded on
America. None of these events however, will bethe principles of assisting the lower population.
held in ghetto neighborhoods.Membership or support from the many individuals
The annual Minneapolis Urban League Dinner will bethe corporations will give token dinner tickets will
held in the Hilton located in downtown Minneapolis.be almost non-existence. Might you know who the
The annual NAACP convention held in the finestname of the President of the Minneapolis Urban
hotel in NYC. The annual General Mills sponsoredLeague, or say the St. Paul, or even the National
Martin Luther King Jr. Breakfast held in MinneapolisUrban League? If not, why not?
Convention center. The annual corporate awardsLet’s take a look at the money. Who will get
sponsored by Twin Cities Black MBAs. The annualthe bulk of the proceeds? The Hilton receives
galas held by the Black Sororities or Fraternities,payment for the facility, the meals, the bars, and
and other professional organizations. This behaviormost likely the hotels rooms because they will
repeats itself throughout Black America.give a great rate for the attendees. More
What? Huh? Yes. Does this fact appear shocking?importantly, they get to keep the dollars away
If not, why not?from the Black community. Oh, sure the Urban
Ok, so that you might have another approach toLeague will receive a few dollars. Now the Hilton
viewing my point, let’s think of the opposite.has just received a huge injection of cash to help
The National Association of Any Whitemaintain their fine establishment. Will the Hilton be
Organization of America will be holding their annuallocating in a ghetto neighborhood in the near
events in areas such as North Minneapolis, Harlemfuture? No, and nor should they. The president of
in New York, South Side of Chicago, Gary,the Minneapolis Urban League will be smiling from
Indiana, or a ghetto nearest to you soon. Pictureear to ear as he pays the bill for the event. Our
becomes clearer?fine Black organizations keep going to Hilton’s.
Let’s take a look at the ramification of suchNow would it be too much to request the
activities from the both the economic standpointcatering be performed by a local Black catering
and social aspects. Let’s make sure we arecompany? Some of that good ole soul food
speaking terms of dollars, millions of them.served on that fine linen table cloth. Not. The
The Minneapolis Urban League will be hosting theirHilton has an exclusive catering contract that will
83rd Annual Dinner at the Hilton Hotel located innot allow that great soul food from that Black
beautiful downtown Minneapolis with guestowned and operated catering company. Imagine,
speaker Michael Eric Dyson. Admission is $80 pereven more importantly, the Hilton does that to
ticket or a table of 10 for $1,000 (I know theensure the needed cash flow to sustain and grow
math does not add up, but let’s leave thattheir catering operations from a portion of the
one alone). All the proceeds will go to the Hilton$80 dollar ticket prices corporate America will be
except for a small percentage to the Minneapolisforking over to them.
Urban League. Expected are 800 guests which willMight these fine Black organizations planned
include the community movers and shakers,properly whose focus is on helping the Black
politicians, etc. etc. etc.Community sponsoring all these dress up affairs
When questioned, various reasons will be givenchip in together, what might just happen? Hum, a
why the events will not be held in the Blackbusiness as successful as the Hilton might develop.
community for which the Minneapolis UrbanImagine the possible creation of a facility that can
League serves such as safety, available facility,accommodate 800 people for a fine event. Wait,
and most importantly accommodations for gettingconsider this, if safety is a concern, will the Black
that $80 ticket or $1,000 for a table of 10 (again,communities all across America not be a better
this is not a math class). Let’s keep this realplace with more jobs created? Is economic
as the targeted audience is supposedly corporateprosperity not a deterrent for crime within the
wallets. Being that the Twin Cities has severalcommunity? Isn’t that why the Hilton chose
corporations, none of which are located within theto operate in the better communities, more
Black impoverished community of Northdisposable income within the communities to pay
Minneapolis of which the Minneapolis Urban Leaguefor their services? This in not an attack on the
is located. Ironically, corporations often buy theHilton, they are making money one customer at a
tickets as a token gesture, then pass them totime as any business should.
their Black employees with the intent they willLet’s recap my earlier questions. Why does
represent them proudly at the dinner.everyone try to escape the high cost of the
Here is where this gets interesting. Given theBlack address? At what point in our Black history
Minneapolis Urban League has held these eventsdid it become more acceptable to hold events
for 83 years, where do you think the originaloutside the community? Was this considered a
events were held? Regardless if the event wasstep up, moving on out, what does it signify?
the Urban League or any other benevolentWhat? Huh? Yes. Does this fact appear shocking?
society from the past? At what point in our BlackIf not, why not?