Buy Black: Why It Matters

August marks National Black Business Month, a time to celebrate and buy Black. Behind the hashtags and headlines lies something much deeper: a legacy of resilience, innovation, and economic empowerment, and a roadmap to building generational wealth in our communities.

A Brief History of Black Business Month

Founded in 2004 by historian John William Templeton and engineer Frederick E. Jordan Sr., Black Business Month was created to spotlight the contributions of Black entrepreneurs and to address the systemic challenges they face in access to capital, visibility, and support.

It’s more than a celebration. It’s a call to action, and 20 years later, the call is louder than ever.

Why Buying Black Matters

Every time we spend money, we’re making a choice. We’re saying something about what we value, who we trust, and what kind of future we want to build.

When we intentionally support Black-owned businesses, we:

• Close wealth gaps caused by generations of economic exclusion.
• Create jobs and opportunities within our own communities.
• Uplift culture and creativity that is often imitated but underfunded.
• Model economic empowerment for our children.

In fact, if Black Americans increased their support of Black-owned businesses by just 10%, it would generate billions in revenue, dollars that could be recirculated to fund education, housing, health, and more. This is the power of the Black dollar when it’s invested in us, by us.

Where to Start: Shop with Purpose

There are thousands of brilliant Black-owned businesses out there, but we’ve picked a few this week in the categories of books, wellness, and home essentials to get you started:

Black-Owned Bookstores

• MahoganyBooks – Based in D.C., specializing in books written for, by, or about people of the African Diaspora.
• Semicolon Bookstore – Chicago’s only Black-woman-owned bookstore and gallery space.
• Black Lit – A monthly subscription box + online shop celebrating Black literature and authors.

Wellness & Self-Care

• Golde – Superfood-powered wellness products by a Brooklyn-based Black woman founder.
• The Honey Pot Co. – Plant-based feminine care created with our bodies in mind.
• BLK + GRN – A marketplace for non-toxic products made by Black artisans and wellness experts.

Home Essentials

• Jungalow – A vibrant, boho-meets-culture home decor brand by designer Justina Blakeney.
• Lolly Lolly Ceramics – Funky, functional, and fabulous handmade ceramics.
• BLK MKT Vintage – A curated love letter to Black history through vintage home goods.

I am encouraging you to shop a little this week by browsing directories like BuyBlack.org, BlackBusinessList.com, ByBlack.us, and BLKOMM.com to discover more businesses near you or online.