Black Busine$$ $peak$ and asks a Question "
l 1 No 5 December 2021
A Question for you?
In today's environment buying from and utilizing Black businesses is in vogue. People are proud to say they purchased or used a Black company. Therein is a problem and I am asking you to think about your actions. Do you continually buy these goods or services from these Black businesses, or was this a "One-Off" Black cultural thing?
Let us examine the notion of Black-on-Black purchasing.
First question: When you buy books from a Black bookstore, are you supporting the store or buying a book? Eighty-three percent of people say they support the store and value its contribution to Black economics and culture.
Second question: When you buy books from Barnes and Noble, or Borders are you supporting the store or just buying books. Ninety-six percent of people say they are just buying a book and could care less about the effects of the business on the local community because it is a personal need response.
Point: When you simply buy something from a business, it is usually because you need or want to purchase something from the institution at the time with no concern for what happens with the money.
When you support A Black business, you respond to the potential of keeping the business and its community alive. Therefore, you may need to go out of your way to buy from the institution. If the business is located within the local community, you know they, directly and indirectly, support the local Black economy. These enterprises are doing business with other black companies, providing philanthropy, supporting black employment, and other local community contributions.
You need to recognize the value of your intent to support the businesses that end up contributing to the Black community's vitalization. In other words, Black attitudes toward Black companies should be about support, while attitudes toward other businesses can be about simply buying. And because it is about the community license, we must continually support that business with repeat buying, not spot purchasing on occasion or simply caught up in the moment's enthusiasm. If our businesses are to help sustain and grow our communities, they need continual support. It means supporting the business year-round and going out our way if necessary, not just this holiday season!
Think about this!! Hit me back with your comments. Share with your posse!!
jronhudson@ gmail.com