This week, the conversation around consumerism has taken a sharp turn. The question “Where are we shopping at?” is echoing across social media feeds and dinner tables alike. This isn’t just about finding the best deals; it’s about aligning our spending power with our values.

Many large corporations, which once championed diversity and inclusion initiatives, are now backing down. It feels like their focus has shifted from genuine social change to appeasing the current political climate. This leaves us feeling a bit lost, wondering where our hard-earned money should really go. Do we continue to support businesses that prioritize profits over people? Or do we actively seek out and support those that truly embody the values we hold dear?

As a result, a growing movement is calling for marginalized groups to band together. This includes calls for the creation of independent superstores, online retailers, and a more intentional effort to support and buy from underrepresented and marginalized groups. In essence, it’s a call to put our money where our mouth is.

The response from Black-owned business owners and creatives who are already featured in larger retailers has been nuanced. Many have pointed out that sustained support is crucial for the success of independent businesses.

One influencer highlighted the “boom and bust” cycle experienced during the 2020 wave of support for Black-owned businesses. This initial surge, while encouraging, proved to be short-lived, leading to overstocking and ultimately forcing businesses to downsize.

Another influencer emphasized the importance of direct support through their own online stores. By purchasing directly from the source, consumers ensure that a larger portion of their spending directly benefits the business owner.

Both of their experiences and opinions highlight the need for a more sustainable and long-term approach to supporting marginalized businesses. It’s not just about a fleeting moment of solidarity; it’s about building lasting relationships and creating a truly equitable marketplace. So how do we manifest this transformation – shifting from fleeting solidarity and support to one of continued and lasting social and economic change?

This is where the magic of manifestation comes in. Every purchase we make is a vote for the kind of world we want to see. When we choose to support Black-owned businesses, we’re not just spending money – we’re casting a powerful spell, manifesting a future where everyone has the opportunity to thrive. I propose that we can start to do this by leveraging our platforms, by being intentional even when it’s uncomfortable, and by prioritizing community building over profits.

In essence, it’s about being about that life for real, and not just talking about it.

Leveraging Our Platforms: The Power of Black Influence

I saw a thread the other day where someone typed “What would happen to social media if Black people stopped engaging with the app?” into ChatGPT or one of those other AI language model programs and the response was not shocking to me. Since I can’t find the original post, I’ve duplicated the experiment here in Gemini Google for reference:

• Diversity would plummet: Social media would become a much less vibrant place, reflecting a narrower range of experiences and perspectives.
• Loss of Cultural Drivers: Black users are often at the forefront of cultural trends, shaping conversations around music, fashion, language, and humor. From viral dance challenges to the rise of AAVE (African American Vernacular English) in mainstream online discourse, Black users significantly influence the content and tone of social media.
• Black voices would be silenced: Conversations on race, social justice, and cultural representation would be significantly diminished.
• Loss of Economic Contribution: Black users represent a significant portion of the social media audience, contributing to the platforms’ advertising revenue. Black influencers and businesses rely heavily on social media for marketing and audience reach.
• Trends would dry up: Imagine a world without the creativity and innovation that Black culture constantly brings to the table – it wouldn’t be the same!

We, as Black consumers, hold immense power within the social media landscape. We’re not just users; we’re the trendsetters, the culture shapers. And with that being the case, that means we not only have the influence to bring awareness to our brands and platforms, but we also have the power to shift our dollars and cents to businesses that reflect our values, amplify our voices, and bring real change into our communities.

With all of this power and influence, there’s really nothing stopping us from doing this but us! It is up to us to have the focus to manifest the diversity, equity, and inclusion we want to see. We talk a lot about building our own tables when there’s no seat for us at other people’s tables, but when it’s time for us to truly do that on a large scale as a collective, we get distracted, discouraged, and give up when the going gets tough.

We need to be done with this. If you’re truly ready to manifest the world you want to live in, here’s how you can start to do your part:

Prioritizing Black-owned: Making a conscious effort to support Black-owned businesses whenever possible. We do this in spurts, but to effect real change, we have to be more intentional, more consistent, and more engaged with the community and the products and services that we have to offer. We patronize and work at mediocre companies and give them chance after chance, but when it comes to Black-owned businesses, we expect excellence out of the gate and allow no grace at times.

Giving them a spotlight: If you have a platform of any size, you can affect change. Simply sharing content, engaging with creators’ work, and referring a friend are small yet impactful ways that you can contribute to the larger whole. If you have a large platform, consider offering free promotions to smaller brands that align with your values.

Sharing the love: Amplifying the content of Black creators, influencers, and businesses on our platforms. We’ve been very good at this since the Black Woman follow train on social media this past month, but again, the key here is consistency. Will you still be engaging, sharing, and amplifying the voices of the women you’ve started building community with once the collective outrage simmers down? Or will you let it fall by the wayside and slip back into your own world? This brings me to my next point…

Manifesting Change Through Intentional Action

Supporting businesses that reflect our values requires consistent action, not just reactionary support.

It’s easy to make excuses. “Slow shipping? No thanks!” “Inconsistent customer service? Forget it!” But consider how much patience we have for packages from those fast-fashion giants. We find a way to make it work when we really want something, right?

It’s time to prioritize our values over convenience. Let’s choose businesses that align with our vision of a more just and equitable world. It might take a little extra effort, but the rewards are worth it.

Building Communities of Support

Ultimately, it’s about building strong and supportive communities. We know how to do this. At this point, it’s practically ancestral. We brag and boast about our ability to show up, support, and move the world in the right direction when we are supporting other groups and causes, but when it comes to our own, we are distrustful, barely participate, and approach everything with skepticism and apathy. I say we change that!

We need to:

• Create safe spaces: Establish online and offline spaces where Black consumers can connect, share information, and support each other. Beyond this, we also need to show up! Participate! Engage!
• Mentor and collaborate: Foster mentorship programs and collaborative initiatives between established Black businesses and aspiring entrepreneurs. There are a lot of these initiatives out there already but for various reasons including lack of visibility, the people who could benefit from these services aren’t even aware of them. This is where amplifying that content is so important.
• Advocate for change: Actively advocate for policies that support Black-owned businesses and educate consumers about the importance of conscious consumerism.

By leveraging our collective power, amplifying Black voices, and prioritizing intentional and sustained support, we can manifest the reality we desire – a world where Black businesses thrive and Black communities prosper.

Manifestation & The Power of Intention

This blog post is not just about consumerism; it’s about manifesting the reality we desire. When we consciously choose to support Black-owned businesses, we are not just making a purchase; we are:

• Manifesting economic empowerment: By supporting Black entrepreneurs, we are contributing to their success and financial stability.
• Manifesting a more just world: Every dollar we spend is a vote for the kind of society we want to live in – one that is equitable, inclusive, and just.
• Manifesting our own values: Our purchasing decisions reflect our values and beliefs. By aligning our spending with our principles, we are living in accordance with our highest ideals.

Remember, the universe responds to our energy. When we consistently choose to support businesses that reflect our values, we are sending a powerful message to the universe: we desire a world where everyone has the opportunity to thrive.

What are your thoughts? How are you choosing to support marginalized businesses? Share your experiences and ideas in the comments below.