Latino Inaugural Gala 2009

Let’s all make a pledge that we will go out of our way this holiday season to spend our money with black owned businesses.  Most Americans are sick and tired of hearing how the black community is so down trodden.  The best way to support this segment of the American population is to support black businesses.  Giving money to an organization that focuses on African American issues is a sucker move in comparison to patronizing black businesses.

An African American business owner, or any business owner for that matter, is an active and progressive citizen.  Give your money directly to them.  Forget about Big chain businesses.  If you are white and want to support local businesses in your community that is the right move.  If you are Latino…..  If you are Asian….. If you are…..  It does not matter.  Wealth needs to be redistributed.  Large businesses and governments are not going to make that happen.

This is not an anti-government rant.  It is a somewhat anti big business rant.  This is also a pro small business rant.  In case you have not noticed retail sales are quickly and steadily migrating online.  Have you been to a store recently and had an employee tell you that the product you are looking for is not available in the store and that you should check the online site.  I have had that happen to me multiple times.

So, how do you effectively seek out the specific business you want to patronize.  Well you are going to have to do a little work all on your own. Trust no one else.  Here is a tip for you:  If you are unable to actually get in contact with the business owner or top executive put that business in your last tier of businesses that you will buy from.  Don’t get me wrong.  You can not expect every business owner to have an hour long conversation with you about every product or service that they offer.  Business owners are usually busy people.

So, Back to the earlier point about businesses migrating online.  This holiday season spend online with local businesses.  Spend online with small businesses.  Spend online to redistribute the wealth.

One site that that focuses on African American owned businesses is http://www.blackbuying.com/.  Blackbuying.com has a section where you can locate black owned business in your state.  The site also offers a variety of general merchandise to buy. Plenty of great gifts for you holiday spending.  Another great site is http://www.sustainabletable.org.  Sustainabletable.org focuses on buying food locally which helps support local in exponential ways. Newdream.org offers various local buying guides and boast: Ask your neighbors what really matters and you’ll likely hear “a safe future for my kids,” “treating people respectfully,” or “a strong community.”  (http://www.newdream.org).

Please visit these sites and find your own.  Remember, you are going to have to do a little work all on your own. Trust no one else.  Well, lets just say that you will have to choose carefully how you trust.  We can not actually life our lives trusting no one else.  We need to trust that is more important to stand by businesses that cater to fifty thousand people than it is to support businesses that cater to fifty million people.  With that in mind, directly supporting black and other local businesses is the future for all of us.

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