African AmericansBlack AmericaBlack InterestsBlack MenBusinessMoney/Economics

The Business of America is Business by William Reed

0

Henry Thomas is a prime example of the “Black American success story.  A recent Hank Aaron Champion for Justice Honoree, Henry “Hank” James Thomas is man of note as a legendary civil rights activist and entrepreneur.  Thomas was one of the original Freedom Riders, who traveled on Greyhound and Trailways through the South in 1961 to protest racial segregation while performing demonstrations along the way.

Over a hundred years after the Emancipation Proclamation, African Americans in Southern states were still a starkly unequal world of disenfranchisement, segregation and various forms of oppression, including race-inspired violence. “Jim Crow” laws at the local and state levels barring them from classrooms and bathrooms, from theaters and train cars as well as juries and legislatures.  Many leaders rose among African Americans during the Civil Rights era.  These leaders risked – and sometimes lost – their lives in the name of freedom and equality.  The Civil Rights Movement was a long series of events to bring full civil rights and equality under the law to all Americans. The movement, and participants, has had a lasting impact on American society, in its tactics, the increased social and legal acceptance of civil rights.

An all-American hero Thomas is iconic as one of the founders of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) and participant in multiple Freedom Rides.  In 1965, Thomas served in the Vietnam War as a medic. He was injured in battle and subsequently received a Purple Heart.  He is featured in the National Park Service’s Walk of Fame as well as a McDonald’s Corporation 365Black Awards honoree.

Born in1941, in Jacksonville, Florida, Thomas grew up “sitting down’ in “whites only” seats on local buses.  Thomas attended Howard University   in Washington D.C., where he became an active member of the SNCC.  After the Freedom Rides and the Vietnam War, Hank Thomas moved to Atlanta, which he thought was the best place for support and solidarity of black middle-class.  Here, he became an entrepreneur, opening up a laundromat.  Then, Thomas became franchisee of a Burger King and two Dairy Queens, and eventually franchisee of six McDonald’s restaurants.  He currently owns four Marriott Hotels, two Fairfield Inns, and two TownePlace Suites operations.  He is president of the Hayon Group Inc., which owns three McDonald’s franchises in Atlanta, and is the president of Victoria Hospitality Properties Inc., which runs the four Marriott Hotels.

Will the majority of blacks realize better lifestyles and prospects pursuing business over politics?  While most civil rights leaders of his era, became politicians, Thomas is worthy of emulation.  He sets an excellent example of a black in business.   The business of business is business and the goal of business is to earn a profit in the provision of goods and services. The business of government is service — well managed, one hopes, and not wasteful, but never at a profit. There is no such thing as government money. Governments have no money; they have only what they take from citizens, either in taxes or inflation. And if government accrues profit it can only have done so by taxing too much or eroding the value of the citizens’ income and savings — in either case doing harm, not good, to the people.

Blacks need more such leaders.  Small business owners drive innovation, build communities, and better the quality of life for citizens.  In the US, small businesses comprise 99 percent of all employer firms, employ nearly half of the workforce, and account for more than 60 percent of the private sector’s net new jobs.

Mr. Thomas has served on the boards of the APEX Museum, Butler Street YMCA, the 100 Black Men of DeKalb and a Vice Chair of the Board of Trustees of the Piney Woods School (an African American boarding school) in Jackson, MS, a life member of the NAACP and an active fundraiser for the UNCF.  ?it’s worth noting that it’s a family business.  Mr. Thomas is married to Yvonne Thomas who serves as Secretary of Victoria Hospitality Properties and Secretary and CFO of Hayon Group, Inc.

William Reed is publisher of “Who’s Who in Black Corporate America” and available for projects via Busxchng@his.com

Black Men In America.com
Since our launch in 2001, Black Men In America.com has evolved from a news site focusing on black men to a well-rounded social, current events and political website featuring content that people want to share and talk about.  We have thought-provoking content that aims to educate, entertain and inspire our site visitors to become good citizens and role models in their community.  Please do not use this site to post or transmit any unlawful, threatening, abusive, libelous, defamatory, obscene, vulgar, pornographic, profane or indecent information of any kind, including without limitation any transmissions constituting or encouraging conduct that would constitute a criminal offense, give rise to civil liability or otherwise violate any local, state, national or international law. You alone are responsible for the material you post.

A New Shoe Company for Everyday HEROS — Just In Time for the Holidays

Previous article

The Best and Worst Cities for Black Americans

Next article

You may also like

Comments

Leave a Reply