Ever since my son was born I’ve only used natural and organic products on him, and I try to use black businesses at every chance I get.
One day my husband asked me, “Why don’t we use natural items on ourselves?” I stared at him with a perplexed face and no available answer. We started looking at all of our products and decided to make the “switch.” But we took it one step further; we wanted to try products that were created by black-owned businesses. How hard would that be, right?
Well, it was a challenge. Most stores only carry more popular brands with very limited quantities. So, I was lucky if the item that I wanted was even in stock. After visiting several stores I was able to find the Shea Moisture Utility Soap for my husband at Target, and Nubian Heritage deodorants and Alaffia body lotion for both of us thanks to Sprouts.
I was tired from shopping all around town and was eager to get home to show my catch to my husband. I showed him everything and immediately took photos for social media. Almost instantly the comments started pouring in and people wanted to know how we liked the products and where I bought them from.
Later that night, my husband and I engaged in a deep conversation about black-owned businesses and why it was so hard for me to find products. We even discussed what our household could do to contribute more. We had taken the first step by purchasing new items but the question remained: “What more can we do?”
We decided that we would start small. Oftentimes we try to go too hard too soon and overwhelm ourselves or create goals that are unrealistic. So as we decided to continue to switch our home products over to natural items, we would first check for a black owned company that produces what we are looking for. Our next goal is to open an account with a black owned bank. We already have a list of banks for our area and just need to narrow our choices.
I don’t have the answer as to why it’s so hard to find products in our community made by people who look like us. What I do know is the lack of support from our people is causing businesses to fail at an alarming rate and it’s hurting us on a larger scale.
According to Forward Times, “The dollar circulates almost ten (10) times within the Jewish community before it reaches the outside. The dollar circulates almost six (6) times within the Asian community before it reaches the outside. The dollar circulates an infinite number of times within the White community; more than all other groups. Sadly, the African American dollar does not even circulate one time within its own community. As a matter of fact, the Black dollar only stays in the Black community less than six (6) hours. This must change if we hope to address the issues of high unemployment, recidivism, crime and other critical issues impacting the African American community.”
As I mentioned earlier, it doesn’t take much for us to support each other. I know I only mentioned more of the popular and well-known black businesses that we support but we also purchase from many start-ups and small businesses that we have come across on Instagram and through word of mouth.
Here is a great TEDx talk by Maggie Anderson called “My Black Year.” I would highly encourage you to watch it as she talks about her family’s experience living one year exclusively supporting black businesses and professionals by using only black products.
I would like to challenge you — what is one thing that you can do (or currently do) to support black businesses? Let me know in the comments below!
