---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: African-Americans don't need handouts and…"
description: "\"African-Americans don't need handouts and donations; we can hire ourselves if white corporate America does business with us in a fair and equitable way..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ac/byron-allen-30293_america_african-americans-don-t-need-handouts-an_3214576.jpg"
---

#  African-Americans don't need handouts and donations; we…

![“African-Americans don't need handouts and donations; we can hire ourselves if white corporate America does business with us in a fair and equitable way.” quote by Byron Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ac/byron-allen-30293_america_african-americans-don-t-need-handouts-an_3214576.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ac/byron-allen-30293_america_african-americans-don-t-need-handouts-an_3214576.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ac/byron-allen-30293_america_african-americans-don-t-need-handouts-an_3214576.jpg)

> “African-Americans don't need handouts and donations; we can hire ourselves if white corporate America does business with us in a fair and equitable way.”

[Byron Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/byron-allen/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

The statement argues that African‑American economic empowerment depends on fair business practices from white corporations, not on charity.

**In simple terms:** Economic progress requires fair corporate partnerships, not handouts.

Key Takeaway

Support equitable business deals to empower communities.

Themes

economics social justice empowerment

Mood

determined optimistic

Type

social economic

When to use this quote

- job creation
- community investment
- supplier diversity

Key Concepts

fair trade economic self‑sufficiency corporate responsibility

Questions to Reflect On

- What policies could ensure fair business practices?
- How can communities build economic resilience beyond corporate partnerships?

A Different Perspective

Relying solely on corporate goodwill may be insufficient without systemic policy changes.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[America](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/america/) [Business](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/business/) [Corporate america](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/corporate-america/) [Equitable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/equitable/) [Equitable Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/equitable-way-6019426/) [Fair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fair/) [Fair Equitable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fair-equitable-1202656/) [Hire White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hire-white-5928217/) [Us](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/us/) [Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way/)

## Related quotes

> [Ferguson and St. Louis County are not the first places that we have become engaged to ensure fair and equitable policing, and they will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-holder/ferguson-and-st-louis-county-are-not-the-first-places-that-we-have/)

[Eric Holder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-holder/)

> [Apart from values and ethics which I have tried to live by, the legacy I would like to leave behind is a very simple…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ratan-tata/apart-from-values-and-ethics-which-i-have-tried-to-live-by-the-legacy/)

[Ratan Tata](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ratan-tata/)

> [We have long moved away from some of the principles of law as to what is fair and equitable in the United States. We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-jones/we-have-long-moved-away-from-some-of-the-principles-of-law-as-to-what/)

[Jerry Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-jones/)

> [All we seek is an America where every person is given the chance to productively contribute to his country and where he can receive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/coretta-scott-king/all-we-seek-is-an-america-where-every-person-is-given-the-chance-to/)

[Coretta Scott King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/coretta-scott-king/)

> [When you surround yourself with white people, you continue to hire white people, and when you make an effort to hire people of color,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raphael-bob-waksberg/when-you-surround-yourself-with-white-people-you-continue-to-hire/)

[Raphael Bob-Waksberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raphael-bob-waksberg/)

> [Principles of fair and equitable treatment included in many treaties are uncontroversial as general principles of good public governance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-angel-gurria/principles-of-fair-and-equitable-treatment-included-in-many-treaties/)

[Jose Angel Gurria](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jose-angel-gurria/)

> [“Some people would regard people who look like they do as ugly if they did not look like them.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mokokoma-mokhonoana/some-people-would-regard-people-who-look-like-they-do-as-ugly-if-they/)

[Mokokoma Mokhonoana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mokokoma-mokhonoana/)

> [The Captains of Industry have always counseled the rest of us "to be realistic." Let us, therefore, be realistic. Is it realistic to assume…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendell-berry/the-captains-of-industry-have-always-counseled-the-rest-of-us-to-be/)

[Wendell Berry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendell-berry/)

> [To build a more healthy, peaceful and equitable world the classrooms of the world have to be full of girls as well as boys](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kofi-annan/to-build-a-more-healthy-peaceful-and-equitable-world-the-classrooms/)

[Kofi Annan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kofi-annan/)

> [There was no private property in the past. Everything was communal property. In the Indian community where I was born, everything belonged to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evo-morales/there-was-no-private-property-in-the-past-everything-was-communal/)

[Evo Morales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evo-morales/)

> [We applaud Congress for extending equitable abortion coverage to female Peace Corps volunteers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cecile-richards/we-applaud-congress-for-extending-equitable-abortion-coverage-to/)

[Cecile Richards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cecile-richards/)

> [One of the fundamental questions of today's world is undoubtedly the question of equitable globalisation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janez-drnovsek/one-of-the-fundamental-questions-of-today-s-world-is-undoubtedly-the/)

[Janez Drnovsek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janez-drnovsek/)

> [Since January 2003, at the height of the debate on the possible unilateral strike against Iraq, I have advocated for a reinstatement of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-b-rangel/since-january-2003-at-the-height-of-the-debate-on-the-possible/)

[Charles B. Rangel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-b-rangel/)

> [It is of the highest importance to provide equal access to the labour market. Governments should act to establish equitable employment standards and penalise…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tariq-ramadan/it-is-of-the-highest-importance-to-provide-equal-access-to-the-labour/)

[Tariq Ramadan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tariq-ramadan/)

> [We must work together to ensure the equitable distribution of wealth, opportunity and power in our society.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelson-mandela/we-must-work-together-to-ensure-the-equitable-distribution-of-wealth/)

[Nelson Mandela](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelson-mandela/)

## More by Byron Allen

> [I personally knew and worked with Sammy Davis, Jr. Sammy hired me to open for him at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas when I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/byron-allen/i-personally-knew-and-worked-with-sammy-davis-jr-sammy-hired-me-to/)

[Byron Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/byron-allen/)

> [Black America now has the power to achieve economic inclusion, which we rightfully deserve because we built this country. This is a conversation that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/byron-allen/black-america-now-has-the-power-to-achieve-economic-inclusion-which/)

[Byron Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/byron-allen/)

> [I'm not chasing independence, I'm chasing Walt Disney. I'm looking for a large piece of that box-office pie, not a tiny piece of that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/byron-allen/i-m-not-chasing-independence-i-m-chasing-walt-disney-i-m-looking-for/)

[Byron Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/byron-allen/)

> [It's odd to say we had our first African American president before our first African-American-owned movie studio, but we're making progress.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/byron-allen/it-s-odd-to-say-we-had-our-first-african-american-president-before/)

[Byron Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/byron-allen/)

> [We need one America - one that includes housing, education, jobs, access to capital, and economic inclusion for every American. This will create a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/byron-allen/we-need-one-america-one-that-includes-housing-education-jobs-access/)

[Byron Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/byron-allen/)

> [What we have to do is get the corporations to understand you must include African-American-owned media.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/byron-allen/what-we-have-to-do-is-get-the-corporations-to-understand-you-must/)

[Byron Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/byron-allen/)

> [There has to be a place carved out for independents, films where the heroes don't fly around in capes, but there are journeys and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/byron-allen/there-has-to-be-a-place-carved-out-for-independents-films-where-the/)

[Byron Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/byron-allen/)

> [When you start punishing and censoring comedians, that's a real bad sign of us as Americans losing our First Amendment rights. As a comedian,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/byron-allen/when-you-start-punishing-and-censoring-comedians-that-s-a-real-bad/)

[Byron Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/byron-allen/)

> [I'm listening to the audience. Too many people in Hollywood make what they want to see and not what we want to see. I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/byron-allen/i-m-listening-to-the-audience-too-many-people-in-hollywood-make-what/)

[Byron Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/byron-allen/)

> [When 'Real People' aired in 1979, we did OK in Los Angeles and New York. What kept that show from being canceled were the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/byron-allen/when-real-people-aired-in-1979-we-did-ok-in-los-angeles-and-new-york/)

[Byron Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/byron-allen/)

> [Al Sharpton is not important. He's nothing more than a black pawn in a very sophisticated white economic chess game.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/byron-allen/al-sharpton-is-not-important-he-s-nothing-more-than-a-black-pawn-in-a/)

[Byron Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/byron-allen/)

> [I think you develop strong instincts when you're a comedian. You have to pay your bills by making people laugh every six seconds... or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/byron-allen/i-think-you-develop-strong-instincts-when-you-re-a-comedian-you-have/)

[Byron Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/byron-allen/)

> [I have to have a seat at the table. I have to have a say on how we, as African-Americans, are produced and depicted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/byron-allen/i-have-to-have-a-seat-at-the-table-i-have-to-have-a-say-on-how-we-as/)

[Byron Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/byron-allen/)

> [When you look at America and its diversity, it's not a coincidence it's the best country on earth. Subtract that diversity, and it wouldn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/byron-allen/when-you-look-at-america-and-its-diversity-it-s-not-a-coincidence-it/)

[Byron Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/byron-allen/)

> [Hollywood is a casino. You have to put your chips on the table and hope for the best.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/byron-allen/hollywood-is-a-casino-you-have-to-put-your-chips-on-the-table-and/)

[Byron Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/byron-allen/)

[Explore all 17 Byron Allen quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/byron-allen/)

## More America quotes

> [The costs of the Bush-Obama wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are now estimated to run as high as $4.4 trillion - a major victory…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/the-costs-of-the-bush-obama-wars-in-iraq-and-afghanistan-are-now/)

[Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/)

> [Young men, especially in America, write to me and ask me to recommend “a course of reading.” Distrust a course of reading! People who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-lang/young-men-especially-in-america-write-to-me-and-ask-me-to-recommend-a/)

[Andrew Lang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-lang/)

> [Well, The Day the Earth Caught Fire was a story... I don't if anybody knows what it is but it was about... in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/val-guest/well-the-day-the-earth-caught-fire-was-a-story-i-don-t-if-anybody/)

[Val Guest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/val-guest/)

> [So here's what I want you to know, and here's what I want all our men and women in uniform to know: Because of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/so-here-s-what-i-want-you-to-know-and-here-s-what-i-want-all-our-men/)

[Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/)

> [Today, the world looks to America for leadership. And America looks to its Corps of Marines.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/today-the-world-looks-to-america-for-leadership-and-america-looks-to/)

[Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/)

> [The image of blacks usually is one of people who are suffering from hunger, unemployment, and poverty. The idea of them as agents and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grace-lee-boggs/the-image-of-blacks-usually-is-one-of-people-who-are-suffering-from/)

[Grace Lee Boggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grace-lee-boggs/)

> [ I'll smoke, I'll cough, I'll get the tumors, I'll die, deal? Thank you America. \[salutes\] ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-hicks/i-ll-smoke-i-ll-cough-i-ll-get-the-tumors-i-ll-die-deal-thank-you/)

[Bill Hicks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-hicks/)

> [America is a democracy and has no Hitler, but I am afraid for her future; there are hard times ahead for the American people,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/america-is-a-democracy-and-has-no-hitler-but-i-am-afraid-for-her/)

[Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/)

> [I'm gonna bring America together.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/i-m-gonna-bring-america-together/)

[Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/)

> [In the nineteenth century some parts of the world were unexplored, but there was almost no restriction on travel.:; Up to 1914 you did…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-orwell/in-the-nineteenth-century-some-parts-of-the-world-were-unexplored-but/)

[George Orwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-orwell/)

> [We need a system that serves our needs, not the needs of others. Remember, under a Trump administration it's called America first. Remember that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/we-need-a-system-that-serves-our-needs-not-the-needs-of-others/)

[Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/)

> [America, you're sending girls a mixed message. On one hand, you're saying to have positive body image and love who we are; on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adora-svitak/america-you-re-sending-girls-a-mixed-message-on-one-hand-you-re/)

[Adora Svitak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adora-svitak/)

> [You live overseas, you see these exotic places and you want to know about them. But, weirdly, it also made me homesick for all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-jennings/you-live-overseas-you-see-these-exotic-places-and-you-want-to-know/)

[Ken Jennings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-jennings/)

> [Freedom in every sense but primarily political sense, a rise in repression that stems from a repression of sexuality. It's AIDS, it's herpes, it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-nicholson/freedom-in-every-sense-but-primarily-political-sense-a-rise-in/)

[Jack Nicholson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-nicholson/)

> [“In American terms, the accomplishment of Genghis Khan might be understood if the United States, instead of being created by a group of educated…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-weatherford/in-american-terms-the-accomplishment-of-genghis-khan-might-be/)

[Jack Weatherford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-weatherford/)

[Browse all 20,382 America quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/america/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "African-Americans don't need handouts and donations; we can hire ourselves if white corporate America does business with us in a fair and equitable way.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Byron Allen"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/byron-allen/african-americans-don-t-need-handouts-and-donations-we-can-hire/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "America"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/byron-allen/african-americans-don-t-need-handouts-and-donations-we-can-hire/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ac/byron-allen-30293_america_african-americans-don-t-need-handouts-an_3214576.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ac/byron-allen-30293_america_african-americans-don-t-need-handouts-an_3214576.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ac/byron-allen-30293_america_african-americans-don-t-need-handouts-an_3214576.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“African-Americans don't need handouts and donations; we can hire ourselves if white corporate America does…” — Byron Allen",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Byron Allen",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/byron-allen/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "African-Americans don't need handouts and donations;...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/byron-allen/african-americans-don-t-need-handouts-and-donations-we-can-hire/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/byron-allen/african-americans-don-t-need-handouts-and-donations-we-can-hire/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
