Why You Should Support Black-Owned Business | 50+ Brands to Shop Right Now

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Black Business Month Roundup

It’s been 2 months since the resurgence of the Black Lives Matter Movement in the United States. Also, the daily protests across the country have simmered to a few weekly gatherings in the larger, metropolitan cities. It seemed that for many people who like to live in blissful ignorance, life was just getting “back to normal.”

And then Jacob Blake happened.

In late August 2020, another unarmed Black man was shot by police officers in Kenosha, Wisconsin.

Also, 2 months ago my feed was filled with black boxes, captions seemingly dripping with empathy and empty promises like, “I don’t understand, yet I’ll stand.”

So, where are you now? Have you continued to educate yourself on racism in America? Also, did you start to check that racist co-worker for their “jokes”? Are you searching for ways to make a positive impact in your community? So, what are some ways you have committed to being anti-racist in 2020?

August is Black business month- which is a great reminder to support these small businesses in our communities. Also, it gives anyone committed to the fight of racial equality the opportunity to quite literally put their money where their mouth is.

Here’s Why You Should Support Black-Owned Business

One of the easiest ways to be an ally is by providing financial support to Black-owned businesses. So, being selective in how you choose to spend your money is essentially voting for an economy focused on inclusivity. Similarly to shopping small, it provides jobs and benefits to your own local community! However the biggest positive is the opportunity to close the racial wealth gap. According to this article, “the median wealth for white families is 12x more than Black families.” Moreover, putting money back into the hands of Black Americans can literally help reverse harmful legislation from the Jim Crowe-era.

Where to Find Black-Owned Businesses

While a simple Google search is available, sometimes they don’t always yield the most helpful results for specific needs. A few sites like Support Black Owned and the app, EatOkra provide a directory of results that you can filter by location and category. Also, as someone who always searches for vendors via Instagram, I suggest looking through hashtags like #blackownedbusinessclt or #blackownedbusinesses to find other hidden gems, too!

What Else Can I Do?

Remember that while learning about racism can be mentally exhausting, experiencing it is far, far worse. So, putting in the work to read anti-racism books and approaching conversations with that racist family member are necessary obstacles to provide a better life for future generations. Supporting Black-owned businesses is not a trend. So, it can’t be confined to a singular month or post on social media. Also, systemic oppression is a hard battle to be fought, but we can take it one step at a time. Here are a few Black-owned brands that I’m sure you’ll become obsessed with too.