Philly Leader

Melvin Prince Johnakin believes Black people can succeed, but they must change the path they are following, and that includes not being such strong supporters of the Democratic Party, he told Philly Leader.

“They are being controlled by different facets of the Democratic Party,” he said. “They are like sheep being led to slaughter.”

Johnakin is president and CEO of ELT Ventures Inc., a Philadelphia economic development and community revitalization corporation. Its website said it has “25 years of demonstrated success in designing and implementing cutting-edge strategies to provide economic empowerment to America’s distressed communities.”

He also is an independent write-in candidate for the U.S. House 3rd Congressional District seat held by Democrat Dwight Evans, who is seeking a third term. Johnakin sought the GOP nomination to run against Evans, but said due to the COVID-19 pandemic, he was unable to collect enough signatures to qualify for the ballot, and a legal challenge failed.

Instead, Evans, who won with 93.4% of the vote in 2018, is opposed by Republican candidate Michael Harvey, with Johnakin asking people to write his name in. He is aware it’s a long shot, but change has to start somewhere.

That’s why he is supporting the CommCap America Unite 2 Fight 4 Economic Rights ROADS tour.

“ROADS is an acronym for Revitalizing Our American Dreams. Many of us have found a road from poverty, distressed communities and/or unfortunate circumstances that made it out to find success found a path or a road to success,” the campaign website notes. “Though we have taken the road out, we rarely take that same road back to build the community and use that same path to provide others with a road to success. We will be challenging those who have taken and/or created roads to success to join us in helping others, while also challenging those in Black and minority communities throughout America to join in the fight to realize their American Dream.”

Johnakin said he wants people to pursue the best means to discover that dream.

He wants to help people get jobs clearing snow this winter, and said he can help them become bonded and insured and teach them how to obtain a contract.

“I call it liquid good, white gold,” he said. “You can make more in three months moving snow than you can in 12 months working a regular job.”

Johnakin said he wants to help minority-owned and operated businesses get started and succeed. That includes helping them obtain the supplies needed to thrive.

He said he admires Black entrepreneurs like Ice Cube, Lil Wayne and 50 Cent who are supporting President Trump. Black people need to stop voting for Democrats because, he said, it has not benefited them.

“They kept feeding them, they kept subsidizing them,” Johnakin said. “You can go somewhere and get a box of food, but you can’t get a contract. That’s our fight. [The Democrats] keep subsidizing the Black community. This is deliberate.”

The answer is not government assistance, it’s creating wealth and jobs, he said. That’s what Trump and the Republican Party are offering.

Johnakin, 50, is a lifelong Republican. His wife and two sons also are Republicans.

“I’ve always been a Republican,” he said. “My family has always run and operated businesses.”

He said he wants to offer alternatives to Black people who have given up on trying to create a stable life and a successful career. Far too many are involved in criminal behavior or are “locked up,” Johnakin said.

He has run for office before, including a bid for the Philadelphia City Council, and said he considers the biggest required change is getting people to engage in politics and to vote. In the 2019 municipal election, only about 23% of eligible voters cast ballots.

Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney, a Democrat, won a second term with more than 80% of the vote. Republican Billy Ciancaglini drew just 19.4%.

If more people would turn out, Johnakin thinks things would improve.

“I’m all for the quality of life, not the quality of party,” Johnakin said. “Vote for me if you want to make life better.”

He said his beliefs and positions have been well-received.

“You’d be surprised,” Johnakin said. “There are a lot of African Americans are not beholden to the Democratic Party. It’s just not been publicized. It’s been received well.”

He said he has more success through social media than with traditional reporters.

“We have to go that route,” Johnakin said. “Traditional media is biased through economics ... where their bread is being buttered.”

He said former President Barack Obama, the first Black chief executive, and former Vice President Joe Biden failed for deliver for Black people when they were in office.

“It didn’t happen with Biden. It didn’t happen with Obama,” Johnakin said. “It’d be foolish for anyone in this area to vote for anyone but Trump.”

He plans to spend Election Day as a poll watcher. He thinks Trump will win Pennsylvania and, with that, a second term.

Johnakin has never met Trump but hopes to some day.

“Seems like an awesome guy,” he said. “Love to have a sit-down with him.”