Why It's So Important to Support Black-Owned Brands

Following the racial justice movement of 2020, the importance of supporting and elevating Black communities and Black businesses in particular skyrocketed in a way that no one could have predicted. People were actively searching for Black owned alternatives to products and services they used everyday and the businesses who typically would be overlooked for mainstream established brands were finally  at the forefront. Now that the popularity of the movement has died down, there has been an evident downward trend in visibility and corresponding support for Black owned businesses. It is crucial that we continue to support these businesses year-round the same way we frequent more established corporations.

First off, supporting these small businesses stimulates the economy on the local level and puts money into the pockets of everyday people as opposed to adding to an already successful and massive business owned by a corporation. By helping these people generate revenue, you are helping close the racial wealth gap that history has created. After slavery ended and the Jim Crow era commenced, the laws that were put in place made it almost impossible for African Americans in the South to accumulate wealth. Once these people began to migrate North and West, racial discrimination also made opportunities in employment, housing, and education unattainable. Even Black veterans weren’t supported by the country they served and programs like the GI Bill, which helped millions of white veterans buy homes with low-interest loans, wouldn’t accept Black applicants. By supporting Black owned businesses today, you are helping the Black community catch up economically.

In addition, Black owned businesses tend to not only be owned by people of color, but tend to be more inclusive overall in the products they offer and their marketing. By supporting these businesses, you show mainstream brands that diverse marketing and products for underserved communities are a necessity. Brands like Telfar, The Honeypot Co. and Brandon Blackwood have taken off and grabbed the attention of major retailers, brands and publications simply because of the level of support and attention they received from the community they served. There are so many high quality Black owned brands that deserve a platform just as big as those owned by corporations, let's help them get there.