“Hey, did you go check out that black owned business?” Hearing that and immediately getting excited used to be my go to reaction once I learned about an up and coming black owned business. There’s nothing more joyous than seeing our culture thrive and be valued for the work they do whether that’s owning a restaurant or a plant shop. The culture loves to see it. These businesses carry our stories and resilience in each and every product and service, and supporting these businesses is not about just spending money. It’s about keeping our dollars where they matter most, and showing love to the dreamers and doers who look like us. It’s so inspiring!
However, as a community we need better customer service! We owe it to one another to treat each other with love and respect, and that respect should be just as vibrant as the support. As a people we have been through a lot and who is better to understand that than other black people. That is why despite the constant rudeness and disrespect we still show up at our favorite coffee shop and go toe to toe with the aunties behind the register. Yes, we still love you even after the argument, but the behavior is toxic and we need to grow from it.
At the end of the day, supporting black businesses should be about celebrating excellence, not lowering the bar. We show up for these entrepreneurs with our dollars, voices and platforms, while still holding them to the same standard that we would expect anywhere else. When we do this it grows the business, builds trust, loyalty, and long term success. To invest in the support and also the quality and accountability of the business it builds a legacy within the community that says genuine love.
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