At the 12th annual meeting of the NNBL, Harry H. Pace of the supreme liberty life insurance Company of Chicago shared a slogan in his remarks to the 300 black entrepreneurs in attendance: “organize, advertise, and patronize,” he called the slogan the key to African-American economic independence. “We must organize our businesses efficiently . . . advertise our products regularly” and purchase goods in larger quantities from African-American farms. Roy Barker, who owned three grocery stores in Kansas City, Missouri, added, the best products and service guarantees repeat sales from customers of all complexions. He insisted great quality and service to all had a better return on investment than ethnic loyalty. NNBL Secretary Albon L. Holsey recommended the organization of 500 African-American owned grocery stores in Chicago join the CMA. Grocery store owners in Chicago served as the forerunner for black cooperative businesses in the city. Holsey called the cooperative business movement as the key to the economic freedom of black folks in the Windy City and elsewhere.
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