Rich Blint Moderates “Race in Business: A Conversation” for Greenwich Village Chelsea Chamber of Commerce
Recently, Rich Blint, Assistant Professor of Literature and Program Director of Race and Ethnicity at Eugene Lang College of Liberal Arts, joined with the Greenwich Village Chelsea Chamber of Commerce (GVCCC) as the organization addressed the issue of systemic racism during its event Race in Business: A Conversation. Designed to provide Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC) and other concerned professionals with necessary space to connect and share experiences, the event drew a healthy mix of business owners and professionals from the local community, and as far away as California, eager to take the necessary steps to find solutions for racism in the business field.
“Racism and anti-blackness have been bound up since the dawn of America. Untangling this vexing and disempowering dynamic is vital to revitalizing businesses in a time of profound uncertainty and financial contraction,” the GVCC acknowledged in its description for the event.
Throughout the evening, Blint guided attendees through a frank discussion of the challenges and barriers they have faced when trying to establish their businesses or working within the neighborhood. Drawing on his knowledge as a James Baldwin scholar, Blint used the Baldwin essay, Fifth Avenue, Uptown – which establishes the focus that African Americans no matter where they are positioned would be judged just by the color of their skin – to provide context and center the discussion. Participants also provided several actionable solutions to GVCCC for how it and similar organizations can provide services to help BIPOC business owners navigate the additional complexities of running a business.
GVCCC was founded in 1949 by a group of small business operators in Greenwich Village and has since grown to include members ranging from locally owned independent businesses and sole proprietorships to major institutions, organizations, and non-profits in Greenwich Village, Chelsea, SoHo, NoHo, Union Square, Flat Iron, and the East and West Villages.