Validation of the Black Entrepreneur
The prophet is not accepted in his own hometown. Mark 6:4; Luke 4:24
You’re from where I’m from. You remind me of me. I don’t like me and I don’t think I’m good enough. I need validation that I’m not getting and you look like me, so why would I validate you, your gifts or your talents!
This is the subconscious mindset of those who are from where you are from. They truly identify with you and consequently judge you by the very standards they judge themselves. They will see your shine and potential, admire it, be inspired by it and still keep scrolling without a like or comment. They will tell you they are proud of your business, love your product and that the world needs to hear your music, but they will not share it with anyone nor make a purchase. Sometimes, they will purchase, but never post. It’s not hate, not consciously anyway. It is a repression of their own fear of failure as well as the fact that you and your belief in yourself become a mirror to which their fear is being exposed. It’s an interesting place. Mixed in with that fear is the knowledge that your potential just may get you there. This highlights their inadequacy. They say “You will leave me behind.”or “ I’m not as good as you.”. They tell themselves “I can’t do that.” They say to you in their minds, “How dare you believe in yourself?”.
Some may truly be happy for you, but their lack of respect and honor of where they come from will lead them to disassociation. Not dissociation in terms of cutting a you off, but in the terms of not publicly cheering you on. When seeing their “hood” as less than or a person as “less than” it becomes a matter of class and status. Shame is the culprit, yes, subconsciously, shame. Let’s remember, as a culture, we have had to assimilate into “American” majority society.
Seen as a minority, we accepted the belief that those things that reminded us of our minority status were to be shunned and hidden from sight.
Even when we are in the same boat, we, at times, will still disassociate from that which reminds us of this status. This is why even in the hood, we will prioritize “hood rich” over generational wealth. Preferring to look rich than actually being rich. Status, no matter how illusionary, is vital to perception. This is subconscious self sabotage. But no, we harm more than just ourselves. Sabotage or ignorance. Either way, this is a dangerous mindset that affects the way that we interact with one another. It needs to be thoroughly analyzed and collectively addressed if we are to come out of this revolution as an economically strong community.
The dissociation ends only, when someone seen as “other” whether status, class or race, acknowledges or validates the individual, business or artistry, that they then are seen as worthy. Then they want to be seen with the entrepreneur. This is when you hear statements like “I always believed in you! I knew you’d go all the way! I supported you from the very beginning.” leaving you with a bad case of side-eye.
But, you’re an independent artist, new entrepreneur or someone who is stepping out on faith in your craft and you are thinking, “I’ve got to get out of here. I’ll never make it. The love ain’t here.” You’ve been telling yourself that you’re leaving for years saying “They want to wait until someone else starts to love you before they show their support.”
That may be true but on the flip side, as you continue on, you will find that your greatest supporters are strangers.
Before social media, many artists and entrepreneurs saw leaving their hometowns to pursue their dreams as an absolute necessity. Actors and musicians fled to the lands of opportunity, Hollywood, New York and Atlanta which made sense as those are places that support those professions.
But now that social media has taken over the worlds of artistry and business, the land of opportunity is on your smartphone.
When it comes to this topic, part of me wants to tell you, “Forget them! It doesn’t matter if people support you or not. Do you.” But I’m always on my revolutionary ish. When it comes to our community and my belief that in order to become a liberated community, that we must embrace the responsibility to become an economic force collectively. This means that 50 black millionaires in our city is not enough. We need every able minded person to be in a position to create and generate generational wealth. We need each other to make that happen.
The transformation of our minds is the only way.
We must uproot the psychosis that has us looking at ourselves and others as unworthy until someone else validates them. We must be educated on ways to validate ourselves and to not shun the opportunity to pour into those who need as many reminders of their lights as we do. Validation is not a bad thing. We are golden and don’t require permission to be great, but it does not hurt or cost to keep a pocket of validation called give-a-f*cks to make someone’s day and empower them to continue to be a part of an act so revolutionary as entrepreneurship.
Now I don’t want you to read this and lump everyone together. This is a generalization, understanding that “not all” people from your community are this way.
There are several reasons a person may appear to not support you.
They can't afford to support.
You must consider what you view as support. If you expect financial support from everyone, your standards may be a little too high.
They don't like your product.
For me, this shouldn't even matter for those you love. Whether you can use the product or not, you can donate, sponsor or share with those who can use it. Just because you don't identify with the product doesn't mean that there isn't an audience for it.
They don't believe in you.
Maybe you really suck! Lol. But even if you do, you can work to get better. Albert Einstein failed 1,330 times and Thomas Edison was said to have failed over 1000 before successfully creating the light bulb prototype. Both were criticized during their time. Even if you are the greatest to ever do it, people not believing in you is not your problem. Save that energy for perfecting your craft.
Being the divine beings that we are, we want to always exercise grace and understanding. So with that I want to leave you with ways to support your fellow entrepreneurs at $0 cost.
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