ECONOMICS is power in our country, and when we attack the wallets of the powerful, they begin to see how they depend on us as much as they think that we depend on them. Many people are calling for a national Blackout in July. There are multiple Facebook and Instagram groups devoted to this day when Black people boycott all businesses in order to show our economic might and urge them to leverage their privilege and invest in advocating for us, rather than against us. Some are calling for a one-day boycott, others one week. Some are calling for Black people, specifically, to not spend any money on July 7th. Not only do we spend the most, we are trendsetters. Our purchases in fashion, food, and industry are studied by product developers and manufacturers (We are the trendsetters – yet many Black fashion designers are still snubbed in the fashion industry). In a 2018 Fortune magazine article, Nielsen, an American firm that collects data and information on consumer behavior around the world, reported that Black Buying power was at $1.2 trillion (yes that is a “T”). An article on Nielsen’s site, Black Impact: Consumer Categories where African Americans Move Markets, broke down Black dollars into categories from baby food to charcoal and showed that even in a category as obscure as “spices” we spent $430.2 million that’s 2.13% greater then then reported national population. Can you guess where we spent most of our money ladies? That’s right, hair care. Black people (because dudes care about their crowns too) spent $63.5 million on hair care products alone, which is 74.65% greater than our national population. For a population of people that, in 2018 was no greater than 14%, that is phenomenal. I just wish I could find a Black hair care store that is owned, not staffed, by Black people.
Here’s a handsome nugget from that report:
“Our research shows that Black consumer choices have a ‘cool factor’ that has created a halo effect, influencing not just consumers of color but the mainstream as well,” said Cheryl Grace, Senior Vice President of U.S. Strategic Community Alliances and Consumer Engagement, Nielsen. “These figures show that investment by multinational conglomerates in R&D to develop products and marketing that appeal to diverse consumers is, indeed, paying off handsomely.”
So, yes. We are an important consumer group in the United States. We drive research and development, production, and manufacturing. Big businesses study our people and culture and package it all back up to sell back to us and our friends, even though we currently only comprise 13.4% of the U.S. population. Lovely.
Oh! Have you heard of 2nd Vote? This is a great little database website created by conservatives that reports on all of the liberal businesses that conservative people should not shop. The ideology actually makes since. The creators state:
“You spend money at various retailers for goods and services; many that you purchase every day, like coffee. These retailers (many who are large corporations) in turn spend their revenue to support and fund issues and causes that oppose the very things you try to protect by voting the right leaders into office. 2ndVote researches and exposes what these retailers support with YOUR dollars. TAKE ACTION now by learning what your top retailers are funding that DOES NOT align with your values, and shop with those who DO.”
That’s pretty perfect. While I am far from conservative, I totally respect the mission of this sight and want to know if there is a liberal or moderate site like it? Is there, because if there is not, there needs to be one. These people are right. The food I put in my mouth and the clothes I put on my body should not be purchased from people who may hate me or my family. You can follow them at @2ndVote to get “ideas,” future developer.
While the Blackout is a good strategy, we need to do more.
First, rather than not inviting our fellow POCs and White brothers and sisters, we need to pull them in to participate with us. Why? There is more power in a closed fist than in flat palm. Though Blacks in America are the largest consumers, the combined loss of Latinx, Asian, Indigenous, and White American dollars combined with ours is more like being stung by an army of hornets rather than a slap in the face.
Second, the Blackout should be continuous. Have we learned nothing from history? The Memphis Sanitation Workers strike was not a week. It began February 1968 and did not end until April of the same year, shortly after the death of Dr. Martian Luther King, Jr., and the successful negotiation of a recognized union and a guarantee of better wages and conditions for the sanitation workers. That is more than a week. The Montgomery Bus Boycott began in December 5, 1955 and did not end until it surpassed its anniversary to end shortly before Christmas on December 20, 1956. That was more than a week. These are two of the most successful acts of civil disobedience in American history and neither ended with a fist bump at the end of one week. On the flip side, do you remember Occupy Wall Street? I didn’t think so.
Third, boycotting all businesses is unsustainable. People need to eat, get gas, and take care of emergencies. Carefully targeting the boycott to one industry would garner more success. Personally, I believe boycotting commercial restaurants and fast food restaurants is sustainable. There are mom and pop shops in most urban and rural neighborhoods. According to a report by Statistia.com in 2019, the fast food industry’s net worth is $256 billion U.S. According to Partnerforyourhealth.com, McDonald’s alone is worth $106.4 billion U.S. and has over 37,000 locations. The same site reports that in America, consumers spend $50 billion on fast food annually. In 2018, Jonathan Maze, reporting for Restaurant Business Magazine shared that African-Americans (42.40%) and White Americans (37.60%) consumed the most fast food in the U.S. Next in are Hispanic Americans, who consume 35.50% of fast food. Combine all of us and that is a fairly good dent in revenue. Think of all the small local restaurants that need your dollars right now. Choosing to eat locally rather than commercially could save small businesses and strengthen communities.
Finally, the boycott should be coupled with political action. Letters, videos, tweets, posts that discuss why the targeted entity is being boycotted and what they can do to help end it will give greater context to the mission. These actions should be daily. A daily tweet of “Day number 20 and I’m still not drinking Starbuck’s coffee until….” This gets attention and moves executives to act. We are in the season of changing guards. Elections are taking place everywhere and the men and women who want to become our next leaders should be championing causes that we care about. This targeted campaign of focusing the boycott on commercial chain and fast food restaurants will be picked up and supported by future leaders. Even Biden.
Let’s be smart people. While much needs to be done in the name of racial reconciliation, in order to fight against oppression, we must fight with others. Fighting alone just ostracizes us more. There are White people and other people of color who will walk and fight with us, because this affects them and their children as much as it affects ours. What do you say? Can we do this the right way?
With the Agape Love of Christ, I thank you for listening/reading and pray you are safe and loved.
A Safe Space 