Black History Month is a time to celebrate the contributions and achievements of Black Americans. Here at Next Street, we celebrate Black business owners and entrepreneurs. There are more than three million Black-owned businesses in our country, which create $128 billion in economic output and more than one million jobs each year. These entrepreneurs create generational wealth for their families, put money back out into their local communities, and contribute to closing the racial wealth gap. That truly is something to celebrate.
In honor of Black History month, here are three ways you can support and empower Black-owned businesses this month, and beyond!
Support and celebrate local black-owned businesses in your community
If you’re looking for a few suggestions, consider these businesses in the communities we serve.
- Da Book Joint, Chicago, IL
- Junebug Jewelry Designs, Cincinnati, OH
- The Nourish Spot, Jamaica, NY
- What’s Pop-In Gourmet Popcorn, Buffalo, NY
- Bake Me Happy, Columbus, OH
Support black-owned businesses nationally
Want to think bigger? Here are a few of our favorite online marketplaces to shop with Black-owned business owners and brands across the country.
Learn more about how Black business owners continue to overcome systemic issues that hold them back
As much as there is to celebrate, we also must recognize that our nation’s small business infrastructure is not set up to equitably support Black-owned businesses
- Read about historic barriers in this article about The Other Black Wall Streets
- Read about current barriers still being faced in this article about lending discrimination within the PPP program
Read more about Next Street’s anti-racist work and commitment here.