THIRTY YEARS AGO, WE REFERRED TO A PROGRAM AS A television show; a window was something you looked out of; a memory was something you cherished; a hard drive was a long road trip; an application was for employment; a web was a spider's home; and a virus was the flu. Now these words have taken on new meanings, keeping pace with the rapid evolution of technology.
We have seen society shift from an Industrial Age, an age of motors and the assembly line, to an Information Age, an age of computer networks, to a Digital Age, an age of Internet and wireless access.
During its 30-year-history, BLACK ENTERPRISE has told the stories of black Silicon Valley pioneers such as John W. Thompson, chairman, president and CEO of software giant Symantec Corp. We have reported on the accomplishments of today's black digerati, among them Dwayne M. Walker, CEO of ShopNow.com, a publicly traded Internet company.
Despite their vast contributions to past and present technology, issues and challenges still face African American executives and entrepreneurs. They must create and use technology to improve education, economics, and employment within their families and communities.
Indeed, the revolution will not be televised because it's happening online. And the weapon that is going to help liberate African Americans in this digital economy is information technology. Information is fast becoming the world's most resource.
It's perfectly clear, however, there is a huge gap between the "haves" and the "have nots" when it comes to equal access to information and the tools of technology--be it computers in the home, Internet connectivity, or wireless devices--which can be applied to better one's quality of life.
That's not to say that there aren't a number of African Americans who have fully embraced technology for personal and business use. In fact, those who do have access to the Internet are going online at a rate twice that of the general population. African Americans are expected to purchase more computers than other groups over the next couple of years.
As African Americans play catch-up with the rest of the nation, they can't afford to miss a step. The following five strategies will enable you to survive and thrive in the new millennium and ready yourself for the next technological age.
* UNDERSTAND AND EMBRACE NEW TECHNOLOGY. Our world changes so quickly, it has become increasingly difficult to keep up with new technological developments and to understand their implications. Already futurists are talking about an electronic wallet--a smart card that replaces your money, keys, driver's license, medical records, and other necessities. By the year 2006 hybrid-powered cars that run on electricity and natural gas will be commercially available. Just around the corner are smart homes that will make the typical family resemble the Jetsons, not the Jeffersons. An automated home will free up your time.
You will be able to capitalize on the forces and trends shaping the world of tomorrow, but only if you have the right information and technological tools. The real hook up is being online. Not only does it enable small businesses to compete with large companies, but preferential treatment is given to companies that do business with each other electronically.
Looking for a new job or to buy a new home? There are more listings posted on the Web than there are ads in newspapers. Being online also has its financial benefits. You can pay your bills and keep tabs on your 401(k) plan. Online trading can be cheaper than using a stockbroker. Some of the lowest prices for goods, especially hard-to-find items, are found at stores whose addresses end with dotcom.
Just a few years ago, dial-up (through standard phone lines) was the only way to get on to the Net. Online service providers are offering high-speed broadband access via cable modem or DSL (digital subscriber line).
Broadband is more than a technology, says David Angell, author of DSL For Dummies (IDG Books, $24.99). "It changes the way we live, learn, and work, by tapping into the full promise of the Internet" for running a household, managing a business, investing in the stock market, and connecting to friends, family, and clients.
In the meantime, wireless handheld devices, such as your Palm organizer and cell phone, will become your most trusted form of communication. Imagine using a personal digital unit to create a smart map that will help you avoid traffic.
It seems there's nothing a computer chip can't do once you slip it into the right place. The promise of tomorrow is that you can access any information--and anyone--from anywhere at anytime within the blink of an eye.
* BE AN ACTIVE PARTICIPANT CLOSING THE DIGITAL DIVIDE Beyond the role of public and private partnerships, everyone has a part to play. Overcoming the digital divide begins at home. Whereas it is commonplace to have a television set in nearly every room, African American families should have more than one computer--one for mom, one for dad, and another for the kids.
"Technology, computing, and Internet access are a given in my home," says Al Zollar, president and CEO of Lotus Development Corp., an IBM company. "It is integrated in our lives." The 23-year veteran, one of the highest ranking African Americans at IBM, cites, for example, that he anticipated his daughter's phone bills at college would be high. However, it turns out that Keisah Zollar, a 19-year-old student at the University of California at San Diego, uses instant messaging. This way she keeps in touch with her family and friends via the Internet.
"Closing the Digital Divide gap is a crucial agenda," he stresses, "because we live in a society that increasingly relies on computers and the Internet to deliver and enhance communication."
But if we're not plugged in, we can't play. And if we don't play, we can't expect to win. One way you can help ensure that everyone has access to information technology is by getting your employer to donate computers to schools or churches in the area. Volunteer your services teaching computer and Internet skills at any of the more than 350 Community Technology Centers nationwide. Visit the CTC Network Website (www.ctcnet.org). The Digital Divide Network (www.digital-dividenetwork.org) has extensive listings of volunteer opportunities.
* PREPARE THE NEXT GENERATION OF BLACK DIGERATI. Opportunities abound in the high-tech sector. Yet, the nation's Cop tech companies resemble the rest of corporate America. Minorities are moving laterally while other groups are moving up. Also, too few African American students are earning science and engineering degrees, says George Campbell Jr., president and CEO of the National Action Council for Minorities in Engineering (NACME).
Statistics from NACME's "Math is Power" campaign show that African American students lose interest in math and science after the sixth grade. Ironically, Generation Y has grown up on technology. Today's youth are familiar with interactive characters and 3D graphic video games. Never mind listening to CDs on A Sony Discman; we're talking downloading music from the Net and listening to it on portable digital players.
You need to do whatever you can to help the children around you--including nieces, nephews, grandchildren, as well as your own youngsters--to understand and appreciate the value of science and math. Trips to science museums should be a part of every family's regular outings. Board games and software programs about black scientists and inventors should be in every home. Don't forget to constantly upgrade your own skills so you can compete in an increasingly technological workforce.
Using current technology to educate the next generation must be a priority, This is a call to arms for African American churches, fraternities, sororities, and businesses.
* BUILD PROFITABLE E-COMMERCE COMPANIES. For would-be Internet moguls, private-equity markets are more pliable than ever before. The amount of venture capital investments ballooned to $21 billion in 1999, with Internet companies getting the biggest share. It is becoming less difficult for African American netpreneurs to get start-up capital thanks to a growing community of tech-focused African American venture capitalists.
How well have you integrated the Internet into your company's operations? Not every e-business needs to be an e-commerce site. Your Website may serve as a calling card to improve brand awareness.
Poor planning, severe cost-cutting and un-realistic notions about how to conduct on-line business will contribute to the decline of many e-commerce sites, according to Karen Lake, founder and president of StrategyWeek.com To ensure that your current or anticipated e-commerce business falls into that 20% that succeed, listen to your customers and respond quickly to their needs. Also, look beyond the U.S. and learn to accommodate an international customer base. Globalization will be even hotter tomorrow than it is today.
* JOIN ONLINE COMMUNITIES. The World Wide Web is becoming a powerful medium for bringing about a greater sense of community online and off. The Net has become a meeting place for people to share resources and exchange ideas. Netizans are coming together in person to put their words into action--from forming book clubs to starting investment clubs.
Make no mistake about it, the Net has a soulful side, offering plenty of opportunities for you to network, shop, find jobs, and meet that perfect mate. There are more than a dozen black-oriented Web portals and destination sites, from NetNoir, one of the first cyberspace explorers, to BlackPlanet.com, one of the fastest growing community sites today.
At Africana.com, "we're bridging the gap between a national and an international community," says Philippe Wamba, the site's editor in chief. "We want our site to be useful and relevant to people's lives, For example, we ran a series `from job to career,' which provided advice on how to package and present yourself."
It is paramount for African Americans to harness all the information the Net has to offer from every possible venue. It has the potential to improve every aspect of human life. Through distant learning and interactive multimedia, the Net can enhance the educational experience. Forget about holding a traditional job, telecommuting will allow you to market your skills to organizations around the world.
There are no signs that the digital economy will slow down. It will continue to spur job growth and open the doors to prosperity for Web-savvy entrepreneurs. In the 21st century, African Americans must make sure that they, too, share in the spoils of the digital revolution.
kim folsom
president and ceo, seminarsource.com on implementing technology in small business
TECHNOLOGY IS TRULY LEVELING THE PLAYING field. So investing in technology and applying it to your business is very much a winning strategy for completing in the open market. Currently, about 2% of all businesses in the world have a presence on the Web. That means 98% don't, an opportunity that you can use to increase your ability to succeed in business. For example, e-commerce can allow you to easily reach global markets that you probably wouldn't otherwise be able to access.
Using technology will mean more access to capital for African American business owners. With the [stock] market where it is today, people are more willing to invest. But it has to be a sound investment. You'll still need to show potential investors that you're going to give them a return and show how your management team and business plan and your model will mitigate their risk and get that return.
One of the fears many companies have about using technology is the perception that you first have to know it and understand it. No, you don't. You can hire or partner with people who have the knowledge. Get to know people who can help you and leverage them; that's what's called strategic relationships. Don't use your personal lack of technology know-how as an excuse not to implement it. Technology isn't going to replace traditional business concepts like brand recognition. It will only enhance them. There are enough companies out there that can help you get set up so that you can use your business as a model and show others how it's supposed to be done. How you execute your business is up to you, but know that success through applied technology is attainable.
Kim Folsom has over 20 years of experience in the analysis, design, development, and installation of high-volume transaction-based financial and e-commerce systems, as well as managing business operations and personnel for financial institutions and high-growth companies, such as Central Federal Savings, Great American Bank, Advanta Mortgage Corp., Alltel Communications, and the National Dispatch Center. Stationed in San Diego, Folsom holds a bachelor of science degree in information systems from San Diego State University and is a candidate for an M.B.A at Pepperdine University.
magic johnson
founder, urbanmagic.com on e-business
I THOUGHT THE LAKERS RAN A FAST BREAK, BUT I CAN'T BELIEVE THE PACE AT WHICH THE Internet changes. The key in sports and in business is who you play with. You must have a strong team. In business, you have to have a strong team. If you don't, you will fail. The great challenge [for e-biz] is that what you do has to be great, different. If the content is not fabulous, you're going to lose right out of the box. There are a lot of companies that saw so many others becoming millionaires overnight that they rushed out there to try to copy. You have to see the landscape, know your competition--"Who's out there? Why did they fail?"--and do it differently.
ON CHALLENGES FACING BLACK ENTREPRENEURS
In one word: money. If you don't have the capital, you aren't going to have good people and good content. Businesses are starting to realize that many of their consumers are minorities, so they are starting to target us. [To start UrbanMagic.com], I had to go to school, in a sense. A lot of people said I couldn't do this. They didn't take me seriously. But you've got to keep trying, get people to buy into your vision. I hire people who are like me, and then I let them do their thing.
ON THE DIGITAL DIVIDE
The Digital Divide is huge. Right now, 15% of minorities are online. We are falling behind. We have to teach and educate [minorities] about how important it is to be online, rye been supportive of groups that create tech centers all across the country. We need to get the young kids in there and give them free access to the Internet. They need to know how to use it.
ON THE WEB
It has to empower minorities, show them how to do things, like how to go in and get a loan or services. A lot of minorities don't know that a lot of loans are earmarked for them. The Web should help them understand how to go about acquiring [services]. It should teach them about business and health--the list goes on and on. But first you have to draw them to site. Entertainers and athletes will be key, but you have to go further and teach them something that they didn't know.
Before he suited up for business, Earvin "Magic'" Johnson captivated sports fans for 13 years as a forward for the Los Angeles Lakers. As if five businesses weren't enough, the congenial chief executive is about to launch UrbanMagic.com, an entertainment-and-music-oriented Website targeting urban youth.
al zollar
president and ceo, lotus development corp. on preparing the next tech-savvy generation
WEALTH CREATION IN OUR SOCIETY HAS BEEN DRIVEN BY TECHNOLOGY, ESPECIALLY OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS. IT'S extremely important to me that African Americans and people of color in general not be left out of this wealth creation wave, as we have been left out of other wealth creation waves throughout history. In order for that to happen, we have to become very comfortable with technology. That starts with our youth.
We really have to solve the problem of our African American and Hispanic children. Many of them are opting out of math and science; attrition is particularly acute around the sixth grade. I think many of the reasons for this have to do with the educational system in general. It's up to us to make sure that we are adequately prepared through the rigorous study of math and science. Many of the schools that our children attend have teachers who don't have the same credentials as those in other communities and private schools teaching math and science. The ability to motivate students to pursue these fields is always going to be linked to the teacher's ability to connect with these students. To use my own personal example, it was a series of teachers through my high school years who motivated me to become interested in math and, ultimately, pursue a college degree in the subject.
Mentoring programs are also very important, and it's crucial for African Americans who are in the technology field to give back and provide that type of guidance. We talk a lot about the Digital Divide and how we have to get access to technology. But at the end of the day, it's people who inspire each other, not the tools they use.
Al Zollar was named president and CEO of Lotus Development Corp., the industry leader in messaging collaboration and knowledge management software, earlier this year. Prior to that, he was general managers of IBM's Network Computing Software Division. He holds a master of arts degree in applied mathematics from the University of California at San Diego.
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