For decades, the call to “Buy Black” has been a rallying cry for economic empowerment within Black communities. From the success of Black Wall Street in Tulsa to the resurgence of Black-owned businesses following the 2020 Black Lives Matter movement, there has been a clear and repeated message: economic self-sufficiency is power.
But the momentum has slowed in recent years—and it’s time to get back to the push.
Today, many are participating in an economic blackout, where consumers are urged to refrain from spending money unless it’s with Black-owned and minority-owned businesses.
The 24-hour economic blackout is a form of protest against corporations following President Donald Trump’s lead in rolling back DEI initiatives. The blackout is designed to send a powerful message: the Black dollar matters, and companies that do not actively support Black communities will feel the impact of collective economic resistance.
This movement is about more than just withholding spending—it’s about redirecting financial power to Black-owned businesses, ensuring economic growth, and strengthening our communities.
Pharrell Williams addressed this directly in his Forbes interview last year, urging Black people to share resources, support each other’s businesses, and strengthen the economic ecosystem.
“I think we should all be prepared for just getting our business in order,” Williams said. “We should be galvanizing, we should be sharing the codes amongst each other, and we should be supporting each other’s businesses. That way, it doesn’t matter who’s in office—we’ll have our own buildings.”
We need to stop depending on systems that have historically failed Black communities and instead build self-sustaining businesses that can thrive regardless of political leadership.
Despite having an estimated $1.6 trillion in spending power, Black Americans continue to face disparities in business ownership, generational wealth, and economic stability. Studies have shown that Black-owned businesses receive fewer investments, face more barriers to entry, and are more vulnerable during economic downturns.
Supporting Black Businesses Means:
- Keeping Money in the Community – The Black dollar circulates for only six hours within Black communities before being spent elsewhere. Compare that to days or even weeks in other communities. When we buy Black, we keep money within our neighborhoods, creating jobs and opportunities.
- Reducing Economic Disparities – Black entrepreneurs are often denied access to capital, grants, and loans that their white counterparts receive. When we invest in Black businesses, we close the racial wealth gap and uplift future generations.
- Creating Job Opportunities – Black businesses are more likely to hire Black employees, reducing unemployment and economic inequality within the community.
- Fostering Economic Independence – By building our own businesses and supporting one another, we become less dependent on outside forces.
The call to Buy Black isn’t new, but it is more necessary than ever. As we reclaim our economic power, we must remember that financial freedom is not just about individual wealth—it’s about building a legacy, uplifting our communities, and ensuring that future generations have opportunities we didn’t.
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