Accountability in supporting Black businesses

We’ve all heard the rallying cry: Invest in Black businesses, uplift our community, and be the change we want to see. I wholeheartedly endorse this message, but lately, that endorsement has felt a little more complicated. Don’t get me wrong, I fully believe in the power of Black economic empowerment. But as much as I want to champion Black businesses, some experiences have frustrated me. Here’s the thing: advocating for Black businesses shouldn’t mean excusing bad practices. Let me tell you about this time I went to this clothing shop. I viewed some of their products on social media, checked out some reviews, and decided to support them for a national conference I prepared for. I showed up on time. Except, the shop wasn’t open. The hours of operation sign clearly said they were open, just a closed door. Finally, an hour later, after several calls, the owner called back to tell me she was closed midday to sell her products at an event. She told me I should come back the next day, and she wasn’t there when I did during business hours. I was frustrated, like, “Don’t you have employees?” I had to scramble for a last-minute alternative....