From:   The Courier Post Newspaper, Dec. 26, 1997

Spotlight on Black Business History

The authors want their book to inspire minority youths to become business leaders.

CAMDEN - Aaron Bocage and George Waters have a story to tell about the rich history of black businesses in America.

The local men are co-authors of a 110-page book, Making Money the Old-fashioned Way: A Story of Black Entrepreneurship. It cites a string of financial success stories that occurred despite the obstacles of bias, segregation and even slavery.

The book, available next month for $13.95, is intended to inspire minority youths to become business leaders. Bocage and Waters saw the need for the work as executives at a Camden firm, Education Training and Enterprise Center (EDTEC).

"In more than 10 years of training youth, we've learned that oftentimes, black youth are not aware of the history of entrepreneurship that predates the civil rights movement of the 1960s," said Waters, EDTEC's vice president. "There is such a long history of people who have overcome all kinds of problems - slave entrepreneurs who bought their own freedom, for example."

We want to point out to people that if someone can make it with all kinds of obstacles in their path, they can make it today when there are opportunities," said Bocage, EDTEC's president.

The book, which is being sold through EDTEC, includes ideas for teachers and parents who want to encourage a youngster's business interests. EDTEC, a minority-owned firm founded in 1985, focuses on the education of youth in poor communities.

Because the firm offers entrepreneurial training, the new book can serve as an educational tool for its students. But that doesn't make it a textbook, said Bocage. "We have purposely written this as a story, not a textbook," he said. "We don't want to lose the attention of our audience."  Bocage said the book's message is a basic one - self reliance.

"We are not teaching theory here," he said. "We are trying to tell kids how they can make money if they want to go buy some sneaks now.

"I don't care if the entrepreneur program and this book produces the future owners of chain stores," Bocage said. "I'd be happy if we can teach kids how to make $50 on their own, legally. Once you know how to make money, you can always take care of yourself."

For copies of Making Money the Old-Fashioned Way A Story of Black Entrepreneurship, call EDTEC at 856-342-8277 or 1-800-963- 9361. Or check the Internet at www.edtecinc.com.

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