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Black Friday... Saturday... Sunday...
Black Friday is known to Americans as the day to find bargains for holiday shopping. Major stores force their employees and / or hire extra help to facilitate late or all night shopping. Small stores cannot compete and therefore suffer. Every year, crazed bargain hunters frustrate themselves and injure each other fighting over non-essential purchases. Every year Black Americans, more than any other group, go into debt, holiday shopping with businesses that show little to no regard for Black people. In this "post racial" (but not post racial bias, post racial profiling or post racist) society, many people think it is more important to be able to shop wherever you want or can find the 'best bargain,' than it is to use your dollars to support the entrepreneurial efforts of Black people. I started this page in time for Black Friday 2014, in hopes that Black people and others would support Black owned businesses and those that respect and invest in Black communities, so that Black Friday would not become Broke Friday as it does every year in Black communities. As you have read in many issues of The Crystal News, I decided a while back to find and champion at least one business per month. Now I am compiling that list in one place so that others can better benefit from my terrific discoveries. I hope that more Black people realize that there is a big difference between the things we need, and the things we want (whether we deserve them or not). I hope that more Black people realize that our purchases determine which businesses survive and thrive in our communities (and which ones fail); the types and quality of products and services offered there; how we are treated when we shop; how we are treated all of the time; employment for ourselves and our youth; our work environments; support of our schools and charities; our political, social, and economic power, and to a great extent, our self esteem. I hope that more non-Black people who believe in justice and equality will also support Black businesses. On these pages are some of the quality Black businesses I already support and that you have recommended. I urge you to support these businesses and to recommend more. Do your holiday, birthday, anniversary and routine shopping with them. Get gift certificates from them. (If they don't normally do that, ask them, as I have, to make an exception for you. They probably will.) Open a CD for a young person or student. Buy a theater season pass for a patron of the arts. So far, I've created pages for some of the places I have lived. I'll be adding more as time allows. Drop me a line with info on other quality Black businesses I can add and by all means, please feel free to copy and share my lists on your website and with your family and friends. Yes. Sometimes we have to go a little further and pay a little more to support Black businesses. I think we're worth it. If you receive less than excellent service from these and any businesses that you support, support them further by letting them know and respectfully suggesting ways for them to improve.
In Black World... Every Friday is Black Friday!
In Black World... Every Friday is Black Friday!
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