Shopping in South-Central

Your series “Abandoned Consumers: Flight of Business From South Los Angeles” (Nov. 24-26) was excellent and raised a compelling question. Why aren’t these banks, retail, drug and grocery chains willing to use the expertise of African-American marketing professionals?

Someone with successful ethnic marketing experience understands that the African-American community is not one monolithic group. It has subtle yet distinctive differences, a diversity that is reflected throughout its purchasing patterns. And it represents a powerful consumer market segment.

These businesses must acknowledge that an effective marketing strategy demands a strong presence in ethnic communities.

We must collectively question ventures in South-Central such as the Coliseum renovation project, which will make millions but do not have African-Americans in any significant upper-management positions. These firms must be made accountable to our community.

Banks need more people of color working as loan officers, not just tellers. Grocery and drug chains need African-Americans and Latinos in upper management, not as checkout clerks. At decision and policy-making levels we can encourage business to create new markets and partnerships within our ethnic communities.

Until corporate America is willing to share its power and hire and promote African-Americans and other people of color into upper management, it will continue careening toward economic disaster.

JAMES A. BRYANT, Burbank