ShearImagination

So my question for today is why as a black community don’t we support black owned businesses? I have my own personal theory, but I want to hear from my friends, colleagues and fellow business associates. I have posed this question quite a few times while hanging with friends, at work and various gatherings that I have attended, and so I put together a list below of some of the answers and responses I received from my question:

• Poor Customer Service
• Cheap product for a high price
• There are no guarantees or warranties
• Staff members are usually unprofessional, ghetto and ratchet
• The company lacks class and substance

Those are just a few I listed because trust me the list goes on! The most common response that I have been given so for on this topic is black businesses are ghetto, unprofessional and ratchet. Sadly in most cases this is true; BUT there are quite a few independent black businesses and business owners who ARE very professional, that stand behind the quality of their product as well as their service, YET they still suffer behind the mindset of peoples beliefs, and it’s disheartening to say the least.

For some strange reason we have continuously allowed society to treat us as 2^nd class citizens, planting in our minds to believe that our products and services are unworthy.

How many times have you stood in line for a new pair of J’s, or better yet waited in line for hours on black Friday supporting non-black business where you often times are mistreated, followed or even stared at; you complain yet you continue to go back? Why?

I’m going to dig a little deeper and break this down, I want your personal feedback, you may not agree and that’s quite alright… Here are my reasons why I know we don’t support black business:

1. We discredit ourselves
2. We can stand to see other succeed
3. We feel more comfortable in a non-black location
4. We don’t trust each other
5. We think our people are uneducated
6. We don’t want spend our money; the prices are too high
7. We feel like everybody is “copying off of me”

I hope these reasons above stir something up inside of you. Don’t get me wrong, the statements don’t apply to the entire black community but it does for over half of it. Society has led us to believe that it’s every man for himself, and it’s not. It’s time to stop sugar coating the issues, the lack of support, and the unity in your community. We need to get it together! I could go deeper on this topic, but in the words of Kevin Hart, “I’ll Wait” I want to hear your repsonse, see what you have to say.

I’m also putting together a Black Business Owner blog listing the names, services, and contact information for the Black Businesses and Business Owners right here in Ohio!