Building Our Own

Building our own currency system can benefit us in the same way. Our community is grappling with job loss, foreclosure, inflation, etc. that often leaves our income flows drained or severely stopped up. In these hard economic times, we are our own best solution! During times like these, it is likely that we will have little money, but as long as we have skills, products, and services to offer, we can have what we need, if we use what we have.

Membership in this currency system provides a platform to better spread our resources to each other. It can allow us to acquire much of what we need without being dependent on the outside/national economy for money to buy everything we need – both products and services. Black self reliance: it’s been a dream of many, from Martin Delaney to Marcus Garvey. Ithaca did it. So can we!

The circulation of our own currency would build up our own Black, local economy. Having a unique circulating currency that is only accepted locally will ensure that our money literally never leaves our community, because it cannot be used outside of our community.  Traditional Buy Black campaigns will get a needed boost because a local Black currency system would help us trade with each other to keep our businesses alive when others will only accept currency that we have little of.

A local Black currency would greatly encourage and motivate many of our people to becomeentrepreneurs, to develop skills, services and products of their own, therefore enabling them to havesomething to offer for this unique trade system. This concept alone could help uplift our community, and put us to work in all new ways, and perhaps give our youth and elders a sense of purpose. Elson, anIthaca resident who retired in 1972, earns HOURS doing heating and air conditioning consulting. He says,

(3) "This HOUR system takes me back 20 years and makes me feel constructive again."