Why "Buy Black" Ain't Nuttin' But A Word (Unconventional Wisdom) (Guest Post)
Tuesday, August 11, 2009 at 11:00AM 
By Thembi Ford
Maggie and John Anderson, a black couple in Chicago, started the Empowerment Experiment – for the next year they will only patronize black businesses, which so far has meant traveling between four and sixteen miles for such common needs as banking and grocery shopping. So far they’ve spent $45,000 at black owned establishments in 2009.
Yes, I said $45,000. Maggie, a lawyer, and John, a financial advisor head a family of four but their disposable income is still well above average. Sixteen miles isn’t too far to travel to make sure your dollar is spent well, but it’s certainly a luxury that not all of us can afford. I can’t wait to hear about the experiment’s findings, but in the meantime should the rest of us feel guilty about not buying black? Conventional wisdom says yes, but unless you’re capable of what the Andersons admit is a ‘sacrifice’ (read: charity), my answer is no. Supporting black businesses is ideal, but sadly, on a large scale it’s an economic losing battle with an overly idealistic premise.
It doesn’t take a Harvard economist (which I happen to be) to realize that multinational corporations are taking everything over. Where there used to be Mom & Pop hardware and grocery stores there is now just one huge Target, and that’s not a color issue, it’s a capitalism issue. The Walmartization of America across every industry hasn’t just excluded black people, it’s excluded “the little guy,” and thanks to efficiencies of scale the multinationals can offer everything cheaper and faster, meaning they’re more likely to get whatever pennies we have to spend these days. Burning gas money to get to Costco makes sense economically, but traveling the same distance to get less for you money but put said money into a brown hand – or even into “the little guy’s hand”- just isn’t practical for most people.
National trends aside, the movement of black dollars is especially funky. For example, Koreans overwhelmingly dominate the black beauty supply network (and depending on your city, Chinese/Vietnamese nail salons and corner stores), but this is yet another product of capitalism. The average Korean could care less about black hair; in fact during a trip to Seoul my brassy naps were a curiosity meriting laughs and points from locals. But when I walk into a beauty supply store in West Philly the Korean man behind the counter accurately points to a package of Afro Kinky #33 and if I choose not to enhance with extensions he knows just what shampoo would work best for me. These are businessmen using the same Sneaky Pete business tactics that every other business in this country is built upon - put competitors out of business, lock up the market for insiders, be a product expert, and fix prices so that the customer can’t go elsewhere. Black hair care is not exempt from the laws of economics just because we hold it near to our hearts.
Why don’t more black folks own these businesses ourselves? Aside from being pushed out by what are simply bigger or better businessmen, our work ethic is just not built to compete. Black American economy began with producing for others without pay, so it’s no surprise that we traditionally define “success,” as having a good job working for someone else. Black Working Class parents raise their children with aspirations of becoming Middle Class, black Middle Class parents raise their children to be...mo’ betta black Middle Class. Get a good job at a good company, maybe even become a VP, but not prime stakeholder in a corporation, inventor, or anything with true agency. The focus on entrepreneurship is just not present in our community on a widespread level. I suppose this is why I patronize a black-owned laundromat but otherwise have to ask “what black businesses?”
When it comes to ‘giving back,’ I’m not sure I buy that so much either. Contrary to our belief that beauty supply stores, for example, “don’t give back to the community,” every beauty supply store I’ve ever been into has a handful of black beauty consultants on staff. Furthermore, if a black guy owned Wal-Mart would be he be “putting money back into the community” or just hiring the best people and organizing a charity basketball game here and there? Once I find a black business, what is the brother gonna do with my dough? Hire Mexican migrant workers? Invest it in the stock market? Or, as we fantasize, “give back,” although we’re not really sure what that looks like? Believe me, I’d rather give my money to a black person when all else is equal, but equality and capitalism have simply never mixed.
Thembi Ford is the author of the blog What Would Thembi Do?
Reader Comments (71)
This post is problematic on so many levels...but I'll let that pass with no comment from me...however I will say that most of these "unconventional wisdom" posts aren't very unconventional...they seem to be filled with common stereotypes and thoughts regarding black people, capitalism, sex etc.
Basically no new thoughts - just rehashing of a lot of what's been said/thought before.
"but equality and capitalism have simply never mixed."
Yes, that's true. African Americans have systematically been denied business opportunities in this country like no other group. And then on top of that many African Americans find every excuse in 'the book' to not patronize a Black business. You know; the ice cubes at the White/ Asian store are colder than the ones at the Black owned business.
I had an Asian co-worker who on a Friday afternoon was talking about how she was going to drive to a nearby city after work. When another co-worker asked why she was going there she told us that a (Asian) couple had opened a dry cleaning business there and she was going to take some clothes to be cleaned. When we asked if she knew them she said no. She was patronizing them to help them get their business started.
If only African Americans did that sort of thing. Instead we find excuses to avoid Black owned businesses. I know it's not totally our fault, America teaches everyone that White/ non-Black is better. But we ought to try like the couple from Chicago to patronize Black owned business. If it's not a point of ethnic pride to do so then it should be done for economic reasons. We, as African Americans, have a trade deficit with every other ethnic community. Our money goes out and never comes back. So just as it's bad for America to have a trade deficit with China it's bad for us to have one as well.
I think more Black people need to own small businesses. Although there is a lot of large corporations that dominate the market there are still things that could be provided through small businesses. I am 26 years old, African American female, a doctoral student, and I own a tanning and nail salon. I don't tan at all but there is a market for it where my store is located so it works. I am a minority owned business. I think the best way that black owned business could help the community is not by putting money back in the community with their business giving money. There needs to be an increase in black business ownership. Other communities have done it and that is how they are able to be successful. If we want wealth building professions (which is something that lacks in our community) business ownership is one way to go to deal with this problem. Business ownership needs to increase in our community regardless of who the patrons are. In my case most of my patrons are white. My boyfriend teaches about the importance of entrepreneurship to teens and how they can be successful through business ownership. Most of the students during his last session of classes were Black students from Columbus, OH. Check it out: www.highschoolbiz.com. I am less concerned about patroning black businesses then I think there needs to be an increase in Black business. Additionally, just because you are a Black business doesn't mean that you have to limit your product so that it is only marketable to the Black community. You must think broader.
@Cher Nikki
"I am less concerned about patroning black businesses then I think there needs to be an increase in Black business. .."
Isn't that a contradictory statement? I mean if you want more Black businesses and yet you don't think it's important to patronize them how are they going to survive? Just curious.
cosign everything JJ said.
we tackled the problems with this series just last week. http://postbourgie.com/2009/08/03/arguing-by-way-of-assertion/
these are all pretty run-of-the-mill (and problematic) positions held by lots of middle class black folks.
why should you feel guilty about what's doing what's best for YOU? while it's all well and good to help out our respective communties, i'm not going to break my neck for the attempt. my community (for the most part) isn't paying my bills.
@Monie
You said a lot of what I was thinking.
Yes you can save money by shopping at Wal-Mart, but you could employ hundreds of black people by patronizing black businesses. Driving out of your way could mean a lot more job opportunities for folk who look like us.
You don't have to care about a person just b/c they look like you - but then you should stop complaining about all the problems folk who look like you have - so many middle/upper class black folks are "embarrassed" by lower/working class blacks so much so that Cosby launched a tour to ridicule them, but no one can seem to make a connection between the plight of black American and are lack of economic power.
One of the reasons this recession for America is depression for black folks is because we don't have businesses that can support and hire our own. This is basic economic lesson one on one...in the 70's we have more black owned business then we do now...we were also better of economically as a group then we are now...there's a correlation between the two.
So until we are willing to spend a little ore and drive a little farther to support our own then many of the problems middle class black folk like to complain won't be solved...but sometimes I think we just like to hear ourselves talk.
I only eat at one of a kind resterants and try to buy everything I can at small businesses but that gets harder and harder all of the time...
why should you feel guilty about what's doing what's best for YOU? while it's all well and good to help out our respective communties, i'm not going to break my neck for the attempt. my community (for the most part) isn't paying my bills.
And that's the attitude why Black folks are in the dire straits we are in.
It's fine for folk to ahve that attitude...it's all the complaining, hemming/hawing and hand wringing about black problems that cracks me up...the politicians don't care about us...we get charged more for mortgages and car loans...oh there's such horrible representation of black women on tv...on black men don't like/care for/need us...yadda, yadda, yadda...
But when it's time to put your money where your complaints are and make a real difference its, "hy should you feel guilty about what's doing what's best for YOU? while it's all well and good to help out our respective communties, i'm not going to break my neck for the attempt. my community (for the most part) isn't paying my bills."
Like I said...we don't get it...money is power in this country and on a whole we spend our duckets making other people rich...
The whole "Buy Black" idea is purely mental masturbation. Value should be the primary concern when deciding where to spend money, not the race of the merchant. Besides, in the end ALL money goes back to white folks anyway. Don't believe me? Just look at where "successful" black businesspeople spend their money: luxury autos, retailers, restaurants, wax statues of themselves, etc.
Patronizing a business just because it's black-owned is just as silly as whites not patronizing a business because it's black-owned.
"in the end ALL money goes back to white folks anyway."
Yes, but if that money stayed in the black community 26 times before it left to land in the hands of the white man it would make 26 other black people rich and make 1 white man rich.
Right now our dollars are only making the white (Asian, Jewish, Hispanic) man rich since as soon as we get them they leave the community.
It is an interesting question, which is more important, supporting someone of your own race or is price more important? I'm not sure that there is any guarantee that if you spend your money at a local store that they are going to help the community anymore than one expects Wal-Mart to help the community. But then again, if your locally spent money can help keep a couple of folks employed that may be the most you can hope for. On the other side, entrepreneurs should be encouraged as the real strength of the American economy is the small business.
I think there needs to be more black businesses that sell necessities. In my neighborhood the only necessities that are black owned is the various hair dressers and barber shops and 1 of the dry cleaners. A lot of the black businesses are always trying to sell the high end clothes, wine and $20 lotion. The pharmacists, the hardware store, grocery stores are owned by other ethnicities. I would love to patronize a black owned business but bottom line if you own a store selling necessities in a convienient location you will make money b/c people of many races will find themselves in postion to patronize you out of convienence.
I know all black folks aren't poor but we need to be realistic. A lot of these stores that tried to sell upscale items in my class diverse neighborhood have gone out of business. I remember there was this high end shoe store that opened up selling Italian shoes, they went out of business in about 2 years while the shoe repair guy remains in business and has been in business for years.
I'm sorry, I don't like being bullied about where I choose to spend my money. In my neck of the woods, when a black owned business opens, the word spreads to support the business. My husband and I always hop on this bandwangon. BUT, if we don't like the service, product or whatever, we don't break our necks to go back. And yes, we do give them a second chance (sometimes a third). Now this rule goes for any establishment. I stopped patronizing my dry cleaner who happens to be Hindi b/c of poor cusomer service.
The problem is that some blacks figure that owing their own business gives them license to run it the way they see fit. Fine, but don't expect your customer base (be it black, white, or green) to remain loyal if you are not providing good service, a good product, etc. The door swings both ways.
I support good customer service.
I will go out of my way to support Black folks doing positive things, especially the youth. There was a group of young black girls at my local farmer's market trying to raise money for some organization they were a part of (can't remember the name) by selling homemade cookies. I bought a couple of bags. The cookies were hard as nails and tasted just as bad but I would buy from them again because they were polite and appreciative.
Don't get it twisted, though. I refuse to hand over my hard earned cash to anyone who doesn't know how to treat a customer.
Here's why it's important to support black owned businesses: So they can stay afloat.
Here's why it's important for black owned businesses to stay afloat:
-So that when you're sat in the back of a resturant and look around and notice that everyone sitting in your area looks like you, you won't need demad an apology.
-So that when you go to a bank to get a loan, but find it hard to be taken seriously, you won't need to protest.
-So that when you go down to the local pizza parlor and demand to know why there aren't any black people on the wall, you won't feel the urge to throw a trash can through the window.
We need our own self sufficent communities. Period.
Say what you want about the Nation of Islam, but at least they're self sufficient. At least the residents of THE HARLEM CHILDREN'S ZONE know what and how their children are being taught.
I get so SICK of black people complaining, picketting and protesting about the way that we are treated in this country. Al Sharpton on the front lines fighting and marching for a half-assed, insincere apology.
Simple solution, people: GET YOUR OWN...and then support it. Keep it alive and help it thrive.
You try to support black owned businesses but every single time...I 've come away disappointed with the service or lack of. Sorry to say but this is my experience.
Now I will support a fundraiser - hard cookies and all!
Has anyone considered that sometimes blacks don't take the time to find out what running a business entails? Or worse, they think they know but really don't understand the full scope of running a business. Just because you can "cook good" doesn't mean you know how to run a restaurant and know how to make if profitable. I've seen this too many times - a place does good business but mysteriously closes or is bought by someone of a different race.
We can patronize black businesses all we want but we can't keep them open if faulty business practices are at play.
I wish I could be as charitable. I have to go where it's cheapest to shop most of the time, which means Walmart.
I believe in at least attempting to patronize Black owned businesses. In fact I would prefer to, BUT... and that's a huge but. I'm tired of the attitude and lack of professionalism experienced when patronizing a BB. I do realize that there's bad customer service everywhere, but it's even worse when you personally go out of your way to support a place and you get "rolled eyes", "shortness in conversation", and overall rudeness. Of course not every BB is like this, but honestly a lot of them are.
I totally agree with the person who commented: Just because you can cook doesn't mean you can run a restaurant. Sometimes you just have a great idea/ product, that someone else can take to the next level, but that's where NETWORKING comes in. I mean that applies to all races.
I would love to see more Professionally run Black Business grow in our community...
Wow, after reading these negative comments there is no wonder Black businesses have such a hard time. Seems like Cher Nikki is right about advising Black entrepreneurs to open a business that doesn't rely on having Black customers. So sad.
Girl. This post was on point and I have the feeling you could have waxed and waned poetic more. The bottom line is that the group mentality think tank hasn't existed for African Americans since segregation. Segregation blew the bottom out and removed the need for us to stick together and protect one another.
Foreigners have not lost that skill. They stick together cause they have no choice. They need each other. The truth of the matter is that we are as American as apple pie so all that ish about blacks supporting each other is outdated hogwash. As long as your a black business owner: Oprah, Bill, Jay, Beyonce and countless others I'm good. Everyone under the sun is buying their products; not just us. To me that's a more realistic business model.
All that Yes Yes Yall..Blackity Black Black Yall mess is tiyad. Fill a need and sell what people want; not what you think they should have.
Cause for every conscious person who understands that we should support each other as people of color.. there's about 20 ignant unconscious jokers in the deck to match. They're the ones buying the Rockawear, Phat Farm, House of Dammit Its Wrong, Nike, Urban Fashion Lines, Frappacino's, Ipods, Flavor of Love/New York/Real Chance and every other successful crossover brand you can think of. Do you think they really care about stepping into a brick and mortar black owned business?
You can't support a business or start a business model based on making folks feel guilty about not buying from you. Believe that. And BTW...Who has the time to educate the aforementioned people? It's exhausting and not even worth the aneurysm.
I agree with Thembi...