When Tom Bailey founded the Missouri Black Expo 20 years ago, George H.W. Bush was president of the United States. Barack Obama was preparing to graduate from Harvard Law School. The World Trade Towers were still standing in New York City. And the people were thinking Afrocentric when they were thinking about a black expo.
“When we first started, people were interested in Afrocentric ideas,” Bailey said. “When black expos began to pop up, they were cultural celebrations. People were looking for Afrocentric wear.”
In 2011, as he prepares for the 20th anniversary of the MBE, there is a black man with an African father in the White House, but black household wealth is at an historic modern low and black unemployment hovers near a catastrophic 16 percent. The black expo has evolved to reflect that.
“As times have changed, we have come to focus more on economic impact and jobs and their impact on the African-American community,” Bailey said.
“Since I am African-American and I have a family, it’s in my own interest to provide the best opportunities. We’ve come to an age where we need help and advice on how build to wealth and how not to lose our homes to foreclosure.”
This historic first black U.S. president, as we all know, risked most of his political capital on a fight to reform health care and how it is insured. The 20th anniversary edition of the MBE certainly reflects the new spotlight on health care in this country.
“We know a lot of people who attend the black expo may have no health insurance or be underinsured,” Bailey said.
“Knowing that, 20 years ago we didn’t have a health fair, but this year we have health fair. The top health institutions in the area are coming together to serve a health fair, and the community will be able to make serious health benefits.”
Serious, as in $2,300 serious – that’s the total value Bailey computes for every free health screening and service that will be provided at the 2011 MBE, all for the $6 price of admission.
“That’s a paradigm shift from where we were 20 years ago,” Bailey said.
The MBE Health Fair will focus on the major chronic illnesses that adversely affect African Americans, like diabetes and heart disease. Gospel Legend Yolanda Adams will make the MBE Health Fair a stop on her Health & Lifestyle Tour. She will speak on August 21 about the importance of preventive care and making healthy personal choices and encourage attendees to utilize the Novartis Blood Pressure Exhibit for hypertension education.
Adams’ appearance is evidence of another enduring strength of the MBE: top-shelf musical artists for a very cheap ticket price. This year, Johnny Gill will headline the MBE Music Fest. This relates to one of Bailey’s professional strengths. He owns and operates Bailey Promotion and Marketing, providing bookings for musical acts, comics and speakers.
“We’ve tried to infuse an entertainment component, but it’s more entertainment with a purpose,” Bailey said. “So we have Yolanda Adams, but she’s speaking about health and lifestyle. And then we have Johnny Gill. We hope people hear their names and recognize the value of seeing these people for only $6 – and then they learn some things and get some benefits while they are here.”
“Here” is America‘s Center, 701 Convention Plaza, where the MBE will be hosted Saturday, August 20, 10 a.m. -5 p.m. and Sunday, August 21, 11 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Bailey said, “We continue to look at the expo as a cultural celebration, but it’s very important we stay current as to what are the needs of the community and see they are reflected at the expo.”
For more information about the Missouri Black Expo, visit www.missouriblackexpo.com.
