He [Du Bois] said in one of my favorite speeches that “we unwittingly stand at the crossroads—should we go the way of capitalism and try to become individually rich as capitalists, or should we go the way of cooperatives and economic cooperation where we and our whole community could be rich together?” He was afraid that we were choosing the wrong path – individualism.
Source: Black Co-ops Were A Method of Economic Survival | Grassroots Economic Organizing
Well, we’ve known for a while that his fear was made real. Good to know we at least gave it a go. The book from the NY Historical Society’s “Slavery in New York” exhibit (2006) of the same title gives some good insight into why and how African-led economic collectives and associations were thwarted by abolitionists and “well-meaning” white philanthropists.
Lorande is a combination of my two first names, one of them being Adande.
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I will definitely add that book to my tbr list. Thanks! I used to know an Adande when I lived in Cali…
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Tichaona Chinyelu 
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