Greetings family,
The holidays are quickly approaching and all the industry reports are pointing to an up year in online sales and purchases. Last year established the Monday after Thanksgiving, as officially the Internet's best online shopping day of the year...Cyber Monday!

Web shoppers are expected to boost holiday spending online to $18 billion this year, a 25 percent increase from 2004, according to Forrester Research.

Unfortunately, Black websites have not experienced similar e-commerce activity. It seems the only way an ethnic site can exist (or should I say profit), is if its owned by corporate America (think white man). You would think with all the emphasis this year on the growth of Blacks and minorities online, that things would be different. So this year, instead of your traditional "Best Of" holiday shopping list, I'm encouraging all of you, to purchase at least one item from my "Best Black Shopping Sites" list below.

We as an online community must support our own. I've said this a thousand times, if I've said it once; If you claim to support Black Business; If you want to see more Black products and services; If you want to see your people reach social and economic parity on the Net .... Then Purchase something from, Subscribe to, Volunteer or Visit a Black online website. WE NEED YOUR SUPPORT NOW!!! Between Christmas, Kwanza, and the customary office party, you will be spending money anyway...why not spend it at websites that are enriching your life, all year long.

We (meaning Black America) are the creators of pop culture. We start the trends and America follows. For example, look at the music, fashion, or automotive industry (even corporate executives are bouncing on Doves (20" rims) that don't stop spinning). With the advent of the Internet and acceptance of it, as a valid distribution channel for digital products, we no longer have any excuses. I used to say, that the powers-that-be won't let me put my screen saver products on the shelves of the mass merchandisers (Sears, Circuit City, etc.) but that excuse is no longer valid.

There are 18.4 million Blacks online (according to eMarketer.com) and if we only agreed to purchase one Black product online during this holiday season, we could change the face of the Black community. Think about it! ... 18 million people spending an average of $20 in a targeted time period. What would this say to corporate advertisers? How many new jobs would be created in our communities? Think about the new products and services this type of community self-empowerment would generate, not only online but in neighborhoods all across this country.

Corporate America has always taken the Black dollar for granted. For example; There are more Blacks online than there are Hispanics, and Blacks spend more money online then Hispanics. But according to a survey conducted by the American Advertising Federation, advertising executives said that marketing to Hispanics is a more important goal, than marketing to African Americans. If that wasn't bad enough, studies also indicate that we as a people, are our own worst enemy! Blacks would rather buy at a mainstream web site then shop at Black web sites.

Twice as many Blacks say they primarily use mainstream web sites than use ethnic sites, according to research on ethnic media by Bendixen & Associates...The White Mans Ice Is Always Colder! Why can't we use this electronic distribution vehicle called the Internet, to generate new sources of revenue, new markets, and new opportunities for Black America???

below are some examples of the jewels of knowledge, opportunities, services and products that can be found in this treasure-trove of information, called the Black online Diaspora. I strongly recommend you support the organizations and people below. All of them have given more to our online community in time, and energy, then money can ever repay. Delores Chamblin of AfriCreations is famous for positive news and service to the Black online community.

Lee Green founder of the NBBTA, is an inspiration to "Digital Drummers" all over the world. He truly embodies the saying; Share The Knowledge, Share The Dollars. Roger Madison, creator of iZania, is a living example of the spirit of Ubuntu... I am because you are! I can not say enough about Yvette Moyo and MOBE. She has generated millions of dollars for Black business. Her RealMenCook.com promotion is quickly becoming a new national Black family holiday.

Please forward this messages to your network of online friends and encourage them to participate in this unique Black online shopping campaign to recycle Black dollars, and empower our Black online community. Thank you for your support in building our local online community. We Must Share The Knowledge, To Share The Dollars.

Peace & Gods Blessings, Jim Neusom

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"BEST BLACK SHOPPING SITES"

MadVoice - http://www.madvoice.com
MadVoice is the Internet's only Black owned e-Commerce shopping mall. It's been said, that MadVoice is to e-Commerce, what Google is to search engines. You can find all major brands and special values from great merchants you know and trust.

MAD is an acronym for Making A Difference! Making A Difference doing what you might ask? Creating WEALTH for individuals, churches, groups, financial institutions, schools, non-profits and businesses. Through their unique approach to collabrative empowerment, MadVocie provide funds to allow you to do, what it is you love...so that you too can Make A Difference in our community.

"National Black Business Trade Association" (NBBTA) http://www.nbbta.org/
The NBBTA is the virtual network for Black Entrepreneurs and business owners. You'll find timely and informative postings by, for, and about black business people and professionals.

They are committed to being the preeminent online destination for information regarding Black entrepreneurship, investing, wealth building, personal finance, business, and career information. NBBTA's ongoing promotional campaign stresses the idea that "every month is Black business awareness month".

"iZania" - http://www.izania.com/
iZania's mission is to create a “Virtual Black Community” that provides networking tools for entrepreneurs and professionals, and links to e-commerce enabled Black businesses. The result is greater choice and access for consumers who desire to choose Black alternatives for their disposable expenditures.

Martin Luther King Jr. said that if a man won’t stand up for something, he will fall for anything. iZania promotes the philosophy that we as a people, need to stand up for the Back values, Black culture, and Black independence -- independence from the whims of our oppressors and other economic forces. We can take control of our destiny simply by choosing to do business with each other whenever possible.

AfriCreations - http://www.africreations.com/
Is an informative, uplifting web site dedicated to African Art, Culture & Language. There you will find Handmade Items & Hats, Educational Pages for Kids & Youths, Online Homebased Business Opportunities, Black History and News Links, Kwanzaa, Poetry, Positive Black Music, Videos, Books and Much More. AfriCreations Website Best Viewed With Your Speakers on.

Cushcity.com - http://www.cushcity.com/
Cushcity.com is named for the Biblical individual Cush, who was the father of many African nations around the world. This is the oldest black-owned shopping portal on the Net. It was established in Dec. 10, 1998 as a major e-commerce location where African-Americans and others interested in Afrocentric stage plays, books, videos and other items could go to purchase many of the products that they seek.

The founders Willie and Gwen Richardson, have been featured in Ebony, Black Enterprise and Essence magazines, as well as The New York Times, CNN and Fox television networks. Cushcity.com is now the most highly-trafficked African-American e-commerce site in cyberspace, receiving more than 2 million impressions per month. Cushcity has more than 30,000 customers in the U.S. and worldwide.

BlackSoftware.com - http://www.blacksoftware.com/
Low priced Black Art Screen Savers, Games and Black Clip Art. This link carries you to their online store featuring the Black Business Clip Art CD, the Black Church Clips CD, and the newest addition-- the Black Clips "Library" CD with Black and White images. Not to mention, news and current events taking place in the east coast Black community.

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This Online Journal was brought to you by InterServe Networks. Feel Free To Forward To Your Network Of Online Friends

We Practice Responsible E-Commerce Marketing and Privacy Policies. We do not indulge in or encourage Spamming. We never send unsolicited emails. You are receiving this message as part of our opt-in subscriber mailing list or you are a member of an affiliated newsgroup.

For comments or suggestions please contact us at the following;

Jim Neusom
Executive Director/Publisher
InterServe Networks/City Lights S
oftware, Inc.
www.citylightssoftware.com (702) 348-2041 Las Vegas
(323) 294-1755 Los Angeles

© November 2005 By Afromerica

Brother Jim Neusom will be keeping the Black community updated on the most current social and technology news. Visit regularly for new information that could help you overcome and make the best of your everyday experiences.

To subscribe to Neusom's column join the Afromerica email list to receive new information as it is updated. Or E-mail Neusom at: jneusom@yahoo.com

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