Indianapolis Recorder, Indianapolis, Marion County, 9 January 2004 — Page 23
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Classified • Memoriams • Sports Business
D SECTION FRIDAY, JANUARY 9, 2004
YOUR MONEY MAHERS Power for economic freedom in our hands By MICHAEL G. SHINN For The Recorder | tret', until we neconomically free," empliaticall) states
J m e Clingman,
thor and na- , tionally syndicated columnist. “We have everything we need to achieve our economic freedom, we just have to use our own resources and work
together."
According to the 2000 Census, Africa n Americans have $650 billion in annual purchasing power. However, the 823,500 Black businesses had only $100 billion in total sales. There is $550 billion trade deficit in the Black community. Black dollars are creating wealth, however, it is wealth for others and not us. In the biblical Parable of the Talents (Matthew 25:14-30) the story is told of a master who is going on a journey and entrusts his money (talents) to three slaves. Upon his return, two of the slaves had doubled the money given to them. The master praises them and entrusts them with even more and asks them “to enter
into the joy of their mas-
ter.”
The third
slave who received only one talent buried his and waited for the master’s return. The master rebuked him and took the talent away and gave it to one of the other two slaves. The master said,
“For to all those who have, more will be given and they will have an abundance; but from those who have nothing, even what they have will be taken away.” (Matthew
25: 29).
Are. we as Black people in jeopardy of having our talents taken away and being given to someone
else?
Today, the Madison Avenue marketing hype has us trading our talents for trinkets. Visit a Cadillac dealership, Best Buy electronics store or a Foot Locker shoe store and who do you see there? Black people in big numbers, buying Escalades, flat screen TVs and even the new LeBron tennis shoe at $110 per pair. (Now, 1 love to watch LeBron James, play basketball, but 1 am not going to give Nike $110 for a pair of tennis shoes, when I can just as easily buy a comparable pair for half as much.) By trading our talents for trinkets, w'e are giving away our potential to build wealth, create jobs and become economically free. To achieve economic freedom, Black Americans must do two key things. First, we must fully utilize existing Black businesses and insure the creation of more Black businesses.
"We're not free, until
we're
economically
free/'...
"We have everything we need to achieve our economic
freedom, we just have to use our own
resources
and work
together.”
► See POWER, PaqeDZ
TV One network l-o begin - Jan. 19 on Comcast
Clockwise: TV One is set to air their network on Jan. 19 with a tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Other television series will include Donna Richardson's health and fitness show, Tom Joyner's "Sky Morning Show,” and comedies "227" and "Good Times."
By ERICKA C. WHEELER kick off with a King mini-series. Staff Writer TV 7 One, in collaboration with Comcast and Radio One, was es“To become the premier tele- tablished claiming that long-time \ision destination for African- BET network was neglecting the American adults by offering a 32 to 54-year-old audience, broad range of entertainment- Only Comcast subscribers will oriented programming that re- have access to the new network spects the values and intellec- geared to Blacks, tual diversity of the adult Afri- “Comcast is pleased to debut cari-American audience.” TV One, one of the most anticiThis is the mission of the new pated, innovative and exciting TV One network. The network new networks in a long time, to isexpectedtolaunchon Jan. 19 our subscribers in some of the at 12:01 a.m. In honor of Dr. country’s top urban markets,” said Martin Luther King Jr. holiday Comcast Cable President Steve celebration, the network will Burke. “TV 7 One is representative
of our efforts to provide viewers with the widest possible array of programming choices." “We are delighted that urban viewers in these systems, especially African-American adults, will have early access to TV One, and we thank Comcast for its strong support for this new service,” said TV One President and CEO Johnathan Rodgers. “We hope to make TV One more than simply a new \iewing choice for African-American adults. We
► See NETWORK, Page D2
Beware of tax schemes From LINDA CARMODY • Phony Tax Payment Checks Better Business Bureau Con artists sell fictitious tinanpresident cial instruments called “sight drafts” that look like checks to Again this year the Internal pay tax liability, mortgage or other Revenue Service (IRS) has re- debts. They claim you can overleased its list ot the biggest tax pay your taxes, then get a refund scams. Some consumers in the from the IRS for the overpayment. Indianapolis area will certainly Sorry; paying taxes with sight fall victim to these. Here is a drafts is illegal, partial list ofthe major rackets: . No Taxes Withheld From • African Americans Get a Wages. Special Tax Refund. Schemers instruct employers Thousands of African Ameri- not to withhold federal income cans have been misled by people tax or employment taxes from offering to file for tax refunds wages. Taxpayers with concerns related to reparations for sla- about their employment taxes can very. There is no such law. Some call the IRS at 1-800-829-1040. promoters charge to prepare • Home-Based Business, these claims, but they are a Promoters claim you can dewaste of money and taxpayers duct most, or all, of your personal could face a $500 penaltv for filing them. ► See TAX - Pa< Je 02
Your W-2: what you need to know NAPSI) - By Feb. 2, 2004, eveiy employer that paid you during 2003 must provide you with a Form W-2, Wage and Tax Statement - even if you worked for only one day. The nation’s leader in payroll education, the American Payroll Association, offers these tips to help you check your W-2: • Ifyou haven’t received your W-2, contact thecompany’s payroll department. Be prepared with your full name, your Social Security number, and your employee number. Ifyou moved during the past year, be prepared to give any prior addresses, as well as your new address, so your W-2 can be mailed ► See W-2, Page D2
WRTV6 recognition WRTV 6 recently presented their Community Leadership Award to Marc Brown, executive director of Fostercare Luggage. (Left to right) Ann Lamberg, Ann Burton, Tiffany Rose, Bill Creech, David Wydock, Martha Weaver, Marc Brown, Harold Brown Jr., Bettie Brown, Robert Brown and Harold Brown Sr. (Photo/ J. Hurst)
Black Business Profile
Full name of business: McNeely Group Inc. Address: 2511 E. 46th St.. Building S Indianapolis, IN 46205 Phone: (317)542-1102 Fax: (317)542-1103 Year opened: 1998 l Owner: CubithV. Neelv Jr.
Cubith V. Neely Jr.
Number of paid employees: 3
Product/semees: Pharmaceutical packaging and compliance technolog)’ Significant business advances/achievements: The only pharmaceutical alerting devices of their type to enter the market. Owning the technology globally. Endorsed by the National Federation ofthe Blind. Successfully designed and developed and patented products. Future goals: The company’s immediate future goal is to launch two new products after achieving a large percent of the market with the current products. Why did you start the business and how has it grown? To help my mother remember to take her medicine. After researching I found that it is a very large market in the billions and there was a need for an economical and user friendly product of this type. Also, pharmaceutical noncompliance is a very major issue in the medical community.
What are some ofthe obstacles you faced and how did you overcome them? One ofthe obstacles that I faced early on was not knowing where to go and who to talk to. I found myself in a daze trying to figure out the right person, so that I was able to get off my feet. A lot of times I was given the run around for so long. I overcame it by researching the market.
Who does your business best serve and why? Everyone, a lot of people just think about the elderly who sometimes take several medications, making it hard for them to remember when to take the right medication at the right time. However, younger people who are not used to taking medications will forget to take their medications because their not use to taking medicines.
How has your experience helped to meet the needs of your clients? I am able to assist each of my clients by giving them the most user friendly and cost effective way of taking their medications, therefore, leading to a healthier and more active life.
Where did you get the name of your company and does it
have any significant meaning?
Our last name is Neely, my mother's name is McKellar Neely as she was growing up and still today her siblings and some of her friends call her Mac for short. Since she was the reason for this product in the beginning, as we searched for a name, it was only natural that we put her in this. So as a tribute to her we named the
comnanv The McNeelv Group Inc.
Owner, Cubith Neely unpacks his new shipment of pharmaceutical packaging. (Photo/E. Wheeler)
If you would like to be featured in the Recorder’s Black Business Profile, call 924-5143.
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