Read the essay below. Afterwards, try to get the best understanding you can of the following questions.
(1) Is knowledge power or is knowledge made powerful?
(2) What must a Black Power Economist do that other Black leaders have failed to do?
(3) Where can We look for proof that a system always wins?
(4) How can an economic guerilla, gang member, mainstream chameleon or electronic Jesse James determine the fate of a Black Power Economics system?

How much is knowledge worth? Frantz Fanon reminded Us 50 or so years ago that knowledge has never saved anyone. Knowledge has never saved anyone because what one does is what matters the most.

What Black Power Economist must do is build a Black Power Economics System. A Black Power Economics System is essential because it takes a system to be competitive. Black businesses without a Black Power Economics System will benefit white power and further debilitate Black People. In order for a Black business to benefit Black People, it must operate within the context of a Black Power Economics System. A system will always win, and if Black People do not have an independent system, the goods, services and wealth generated by Black businesses will benefit white power more than anything else because it is part of a white dominated system.

One devastating example of this is the following: Nearly 50 years ago, Kwame Nkrumah declared, "Africa Must Unite." Africans throughout the world applauded him, but Africa today is as far away from uniting as ever. No independent Black Power Economics System emerged in Africa, so Africa continued to function to the benefit of white power economics.

As a result, Africa has remained white power's golden goose. For every dollar Africa receives from white power in aid, white power gets at least two dollars back. The same is true for trade deals. Why? Because white power's system dictates and manipulates everything from trade terms to market conditions to exchange rates. With each transaction, white power gets richer and more powerful, while Africa (Black Power) gets poorer and weaker.

The same type of one sided transactions take place in the United States of America. Black People work hard and plan as wisely as they can, but always within the context of white power. As a consequence, each "gain" Black People make ends up benefitting the white power system and leaves Black People in a deeper state of dependency. It took some of Us decades to see what was really happening, but as We look in the rear view mirror, what We see is as clear as can be. White power's system abuses Black People's wealth and manipulates every one of Black People's "gains" to white power's advantage and Black Power's demise.

When Toussaint L'Ouverture took Haiti on an independent path, Haiti was in a better position to compete. When Fidel Castro took Cuba on an independent path, Cuba was in a better position to compete. And now that Hugo Chavez is taking Venezuela on an independent path, Venezuela will be in a better position to compete. Black Power Economist must find a way to take themselves and Black People on an independent path. Be it as an economic guerilla, enlightened gang member, mainstream mole, electronic Jesse James or whatever, We have to break away from white power's system and establish Ourselves as an independent competitive force.

As much as Nkrumah, Lumumba, Toure, Garvey, Malcolm and the rest talked, they failed to take Black People on an independent economic path. Black Power Economists must figure out how to succeed where others have failed.

Each Black person is a potential Black Power Economist. You don't have to wait for instructions to get a viable process in motion. Be it as an economic guerilla, enlightened gang member, mainstream chameleon, electronic Jesse James or whatever; a Black Power Economist must think the thoughts that need to be thought and carry out the acts that need to be carried out to make Black People independently competitive.