Connect with us

Community

COMMENTARY: It’s #BuyBlackWeek. Do You Know Where Your Dollars Are Going?

SAN ANTONIO OBSERVER — Money is green, but when it comes to leveraging the power of our dollars to best benefit the community, many of us feel it best to buy black whenever possible. With that in mind, The Glow Up is here to remind you that it’s once again National Buy Black Week, with the aim of getting us to align our values with our dollars.

Published

on

By: Maiysha Kai

Money is green, but when it comes to leveraging the power of our dollars to best benefit the community, many of us feel it best to buy black whenever possible. With that in mind, The Glow Up is here to remind you that it’s once again National Buy Black Week, with the aim of getting us to align our values with our dollars.

As the National Buy Black Week site reads:

National Buy BLACK Week’s goal is to ignite Black Economic Freedom! Buying Black has to be INTENTIONAL and we must begin the process of INVESTING, the over 2.5 Trillion dollars being spent yearly, Back into the BLACK COMMUNITY!

But it’s going to take us coming together as one unit to make this Happen!

Our Children, Our Schools, Our Neighborhoods are Depending on us to make a Change and NOW is no better time! #NOMORECHAINS

Granted, this is often easier said than done—finding a black-owned grocery store, car dealer, gas station or black landlord or lady may not always be realistic, but there are still plenty of small, everyday ways that you can support black businesses without sacrificing quality.

Case in point? In February, I went on a mission to use only black-owned, helmed and created beauty products for the month. Finding that after 28 days, I’d only scratched the surface, I’ve kept that same energy, now replacing a full 60 percent of my typical products with black-owned ones, including my body wash, deodorant, and the majority of my cosmetics.

the Buy Black site has several of its own suggestions, but if you’re looking for places to buy black this week (and hopefully, beyond), may I also suggest a few resources?

First up: for everything from beauty to household supplies that care for the environment as well as the race, Blk + Grn is an all-natural emporium with a surprising inventory of goods all by black artisans.

The truth is, while it’s not always easy to find, there’s so much black-owned goodness to experience; when I’m on a deep dive for something new, I always check out Shoppe Black, where I’ve found everything from black-owned wine brands to jewelers, and much more.

And if you really want to get serious about buying all black, all the time? I recommend Maggie Anderson’s Our Black Year: One Family’s Quest to Buy Black in America’s Racially Divided Economy to give you a real perspective on what it takes, and why it matters to reinvest in our businesses first. You may not be able to buy 100 percent black overnight, but a commitment to 50 percent is easier than you may think …

Trust me, I’m doing it.

This article originally appeared in the San Antonio Observer.

Continue Reading
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Activism

Oakland Post: Week of May 21 – 27, 2025

The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of May 21 – 27, 2025

Published

on

To enlarge your view of this issue, use the slider, magnifying glass icon or full page icon in the lower right corner of the browser window.

Continue Reading

#NNPA BlackPress

Remembering George Floyd

Published

on

Continue Reading

#NNPA BlackPress

OP-ED: Oregon Bill Threatens the Future of Black Owned Newspapers and Community Journalism

BLACKPRESSUSA NEWSWIRE — Nearly half of Oregon’s media outlets are now owned by national conglomerates with no lasting investment in local communities. According to an OPB analysis, Oregon has lost more than 90 news jobs (and counting) in the past five years. These were reporters, editors and photographers covering school boards, investigating corruption and telling community stories, until their jobs were cut by out-of-state corporations.

Published

on

By Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis, Jr.
President and CEO, National Newspaper Publishers Association

For decades, The Skanner newspaper in Portland, the Portland Observer, and the Portland Medium have served Portland, Oregon’s Black community and others with a vital purpose: to inform, uplift and empower. But legislation now moving through the Oregon Legislature threatens these community news institutions—and others like them.

As President and CEO of the National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA), which represents more than 255 Black-owned media outlets across the United States—including historic publications like The Skanner, Portland Observer, and the Portland Medium—l believe that some Oregon lawmakers would do more harm than good for local journalism and community-owned publications they are hoping to protect.

Oregon Senate Bill 686 would require large digital platforms such as Google and Meta to pay for linking to news content. The goal is to bring desperately needed support to local newsrooms. However, the approach, while well-intentioned, puts smaller, community-based publications at a future severe financial risk.

We need to ask – will these payments paid by tech companies benefit the journalists and outlets that need them most? Nearly half of Oregon’s media outlets are now owned by national conglomerates with no lasting investment in local communities. According to an OPB analysis, Oregon has lost more than 90 news jobs (and counting) in the past five years. These were reporters, editors, and photographers covering school boards, investigating corruption, and telling community stories, until their jobs were cut by out-of-state corporations.

Legislation that sends money to these national conglomerate owners—without the right safeguards to protect independent and community-based outlets—rewards the forces that caused this inequitable crisis in the first place. A just and inclusive policy must guarantee that support flows to the front lines of local journalism and not to the boardrooms of large national media corporations.

The Black Press exists to fill in the gaps left by larger newsrooms. Our reporters are trusted messengers. Our outlets serve as forums for civic engagement, accountability and cultural pride. We also increasingly rely on our digital platforms to reach our audiences, especially younger generations—where they are.

We are fervently asking Oregon lawmakers to take a step back and engage in meaningful dialogue with those most affected: community publishers, small and independent outlets and the readers we serve. The Skanner, The Portland Observer, and The Portland Medium do not have national corporate parents or large investors. And they, like many smaller, community-trusted outlets, rely on traffic from search engines and social media to boost advertising revenue, drive subscriptions, and raise awareness.

Let’s work together to build a better future for Black-owned newspapers and community journalism that is fair, local,l and representative of all Oregonians.

Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis Jr., President & CEO, National Newspaper Publishers Association

Continue Reading

Subscribe to receive news and updates from the Oakland Post

* indicates required

CHECK OUT THE LATEST ISSUE OF THE OAKLAND POST

ADVERTISEMENT

WORK FROM HOME

Home-based business with potential monthly income of $10K+ per month. A proven training system and website provided to maximize business effectiveness. Perfect job to earn side and primary income. Contact Lynne for more details: Lynne4npusa@gmail.com 800-334-0540

Facebook

Trending

Copyright ©2021 Post News Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved.