Image Credit: Mannequin Madness

PARTNER UPDATE

NEW HIGHLIGHTS & INSPIRATION

Blacklisted! Banned Book Fair & Conference

From National Black Arts Festival (GA): Join NBAF this Black History Month for Blacklisted! Banned Book Fair as we celebrate the African American literature under attack in a recent series of nationwide book bans. Since as far back as Reconstruction, Black writing in the United States has been widely treated as obscene, seditious, and even dangerous.

Black Farmland Loss in the US

From FoodPrint: In 1910, Black farmers owned as many as 16 million acres of farmland in the United States. While that comprised only 1.8 percent of U.S. farmland at the time, Black farmers own even less today: as of 2017, just 2.9 million acres, or 0.32 percent.

Racial Wealth Equity Database

From Black Wealth Data Center: Dive in and access national and county-level data that compares how race influences education, employment, asset ownership, and other indicators that contribute to wealth.

PAST HIGHLIGHTS & INSPIRATION

An Economy for All

From Lowcountry Local First: As we welcome the start of Black History Month, we celebrate the leaders and voices who have -- and are still -- tirelessly fighting for change, those who have sought to shape history for the better, for all.

Shop Black-Owned Bookstores Near You

Libro.fm makes it easier for you to support a Black-Owned bookstore near you. Check out their directory filtered by "Black-Owned" and check out their social media post.

Celebrate On Your Plate: Choose Black-Owned Restaurants

From EatOkra: We are on a mission to be the most trusted resource for the Black-owned food ecosystem by building alongside Black-owned food communities, educating entrepreneurs, and pioneering food-industry technology. Download the app to explore and support Black-owned restaurants across the U.S. with our app.

Spotlight Black-Owned Businesses

Spotlight Black-Owned businesses in your community. Use our Canva template* or make your own. Check out Center City District PA's posts from two years ago for more inspiration.

*You need to log into your Canva account to access our template.

Black History Month Black Business Pop-Up

From Sustainable Business Network (MA): Join us at Harvard Square on Friday, February 9 - Saturday, February 10, for an exciting in-person event celebrating Black-owned businesses! Experience a vibrant marketplace showcasing diverse products and services, all crafted with passion and creativity. Discover unique Valentine's Day gifts, artisan food, trendy fashion, and more. This event is a fantastic opportunity to connect with like-minded individuals, network, and learn about the inspiring stories behind these businesses.

Milwaukee Film’s Black Lens Program

From Milwaukee Film: In 2014, Black Lens was created with a singular focus: to spotlight the incredible work of filmmakers of African descent by bringing their films to the Milwaukee Film Festival. These filmmakers explore the stories, topics, and histories deeply shared throughout the Black diaspora while inviting diverse audiences to engage.

Why Celebrate Choose Black-Owned Month?

Share with your community why it's important to support Black-owned businesses. Please feel free to adapt our post and add it to your website.

Help Your Community Find Black-Owned Businesses

- Check out existing lists and highlight them on your website, newsletters, and social media posts.

- Work with community partners to build a list for your community.

- Share your list with us to amplify your work in February.

Invite Your Local Business Community to Celebrate

Do you sell products and services from Black-owned businesses? Give them a shout-out during Choose Black-Owned Month:

- Highlight products and services from Black-owned businesses on your homepage. Help your community get to know your suppliers and vendors.

- Hang our Shop Black-Owned Logo next to these products at your shop or online store.

- Host a pop-up shop at your business featuring Black-owned businesses without a storefront.

- Compile a list of the Black-owned vendors and service providers you work with and share it with others. Commit to adding to this list in February.

How Choosing Black-Owned Businesses Amplifies More Than Just the Economy

According to Pew Research, just 3% of U.S. businesses were identified as Black or African-American-owned as of 2020. That’s despite 12.4% of the overall population being Black adults. More than half of those business owners were men.

While any type of entrepreneurship has challenges, building a business remains even more difficult for Black owners nationwide. Because of longstanding, systemic forms of oppression, Black entrepreneurs often begin with lower personal wealth. They also face extreme difficulty obtaining bank loans and other forms of critical capital (even when they have excellent personal credit).

That’s why making a concerted effort to purchase from and support Black-owned businesses has such a profoundly positive impact on local communities. Read how three partners elevated Choose Black-Owned Month last February.