As Black Friday approaches, the Chicago Urban League is calling for Chicagoans to support Black-owned businesses instead of buying from the usual major outlets.
The organization posted a tweet highlighting a T-shirt that says, "Put the Black back in Black Friday." In addition, Inside Hook has listed 100 Black-owned businesses to shop at in the Chicago area.
"Of course you can buy a TV for a couple bucks, or even fight in lines at major outlets," Chicago Urban League wrote in a Nov. 15 Twitter post. "But, why not support the Black-Owned Businesses in our state? Put at least one thing in your cart on Black Friday and show true support for our community."
According to Inside Hook, Chicago activist Jahmal Cole, CEO and founder of My Block, My Hood, My City, also is encouraging locals to give back to the Black community by shopping at Black-owned businesses.
“Chicagoans should support Black-owned businesses right now because, more than ever, communities are in need of stabilization," said Doughboy Fryison, co-founder of Doughboy’s Chicago, according to Inside Hook. "It is imperative that we invest in our own. And when we do this we can revitalize faster."
There are plenty of opportunities to support Black-owned businesses this holiday season. The Inside Hook list includes businesses from the South side, West side, North side and Downtown, in and around the Loop.
Activists say supporting local Black-owned businesses is one way of contributing to anti-racist sentiments and helping to bring the community together.
“It is important to me that Chicagoans support Black-owned businesses because it enables that particular business to build equity as it scales, as well as creating the ability for expansion,” said Eric Williams, owner of The Silver Room, according to Inside Hook. "Expansion within a primarily Black neighborhood would then generate more jobs for the residents of that community. Now, if our Black-owned businesses were able to buy up more property within their established community with the profits of its growth, we would be able to rebuild and protect our community from gentrification and generational poverty. It’s a win-win if you ask me.”
A growing number of business owners are supporting the effort.
"It’s important to support Black-owned businesses, especially right now because there’s not many Black businesses still up and running," said Marcus Ward, owner Urban Grill Chicago, according to Inside Hook. "Between COVID and the looting, it’s important to support the ones we have left before there are no more of us left." Ward also said it's important for his children to see Black people as business owners in the small-business world.
"Black business has been seen and will hopefully now begin to be valued as much as we deserve," said Ashley Rockwood, founder of Free Mvmt Shop, according to Inside Hook. "I don’t think anyone is saying our business is better, simply we are equal.”
Timeout lists 10 Black-owned businesses in the Chicago area, including Hip Hop & Mental Health, a coffee shop in Lakeview started by musician Christopher LeMark. LeMark has helped normalize mental-health initiates after suffering from PTSD and social anxiety. Proceeds from his business go to nonprofits like The People’s Food Drive and Normalizing Therapy University in Chicago.
Other highlights in the city noted by Timeout include Chef Q. Ibraheem, who started giving out free meals to those impacted by COVID-19 and offers Zoom cooking classes for kids. There is also Boxville, a small marketplace of Black-owned businesses in Bronzeville, and Semicolon, which is the only Black woman-owned bookstore located in Wicker Park.
Chicago Urban League added to its tweet, "Please tag new Black-Owned Businesses so we can help promote their beautiful ventures, our great state of Illinois and the city of Chicago."
Suggestions for more Black-owned businesses to be added to the list can be submitted at blackshopfriday.com.