As holiday shopping begins, Black business owners hope shoppers don’t forget them

NBC News / Comcast ^ | November 23, 2023 | By Curtis Bunn

[Oldeconomybuyer]

April Showers (her real name), a self-described “serial entrepreneur” much of her life, looks at 2020 as a paradox.

George Floyd’s murder in Minneapolis and the ensuing social justice movement across the country were “painful and exhausting. Very troubling and a moment in time we won’t forget,” she said.

For a Black businesswoman, though, the subsequent impact of the protests following Floyd’s death heightened awareness of vast social inequities and inspired the #BuyBlack movement, which encouraged support of Black-owned businesses.

But as so-called Black Friday arrives, with sales and promotions for the holidays just about everywhere, Black entrepreneurs who spoke to NBC News said they hardly feel the support of 2020. In fact, they say, they feel abandoned.

“Everyone was very much into diversity, equity and inclusion,” she said. “But now we see companies are comfortable not focusing on DEI because, from a political perspective, it’s not popular. It’s all unsettling. The messaging changed as it relates to what it means to be inclusive. And it has impacted Black businesses as much as anyone.”

[Cowgirl of Justice]

When I see a business, product or employee who got where they are based on sex or race instead of ability, I go the other way.

[DoodleBob]

A considerable number of her customers were white shoppers who supported the cause… But as the calls to support Black businesses faded during the pandemic, so did the number of customers, creating a struggle for many Black owners.

That’s because these surge customers were likely virtue-signaling, bigoted far left progressives who are actually lily white. Nearly seven-in-ten Progressive Left (68%) are White adults, making this group less racially and ethnically diverse than the other Democratic-oriented groups.

Yet, these chiefly white folks hold extremist views not JUST on race…

…but on a plethora of matters. Indeed, this lot holds more extreme views overall than those held by more racially-diverse Dem groups.

These whites live in enclaves in cities, prefer going to museums over going to the range, and think religion is sophistry. Their policies and language all reek of a Superiority Complex.

This bunch of leftists has it in for blacks, youths and elders. They support black businesses when it’s fashionable, then crawl back to “their people” when the light is off.

Scratch a progressive, find a Klansman in a suit and tie or lab coat.

[Cowgirl of Justice]

I worked with an AA woman who was hysterically crying at work during the Jan 6 gathering in DC.

However, not one word from her when BLM was pillaging, plundering, destroying and burning cities to the ground. Nor when dems stormed DC during President Trump’s inauguration or the Cavanaugh hearings.

[bk1000]

The last…very last thing on my mind when shopping for any widget, is wondering if the widget selling business is “black owned”.

[bwest]

If you sell a product I want at a price I consider fair, I’ll do business with you. If you sell a product I want at a price I consider fair AND tout that your business is black-owned, forget it. This applies to other grievance mongers, e.g., women, as well.

And don’t capitalize black!

[DownInFlames]

Don’t run around saying kill whitey.

[PeterPrinciple]

If you sell a product I want at a price I consider fair, I’ll do business with you. If you sell a product I want at a price I consider fair AND tout that your business is black-owned, forget it. This applies to other grievance mongers, e.g., women, as well.

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Repeat LOUD and OFTEN...............................

[CodeToad]

Well, I am NOT shopping based on someone’s race, so maybe these racists can create businesses I want to shop in and not try to guilt me into shopping with them using their race.

[SharpRightTurn]

I assume April Showers is also onboard with whites supporting a #BuyWhite movement.

[eyeamok]

Sorry, but my inherent white privilege prevents me from having any business dealings with supporters of Burn,Loot and Murder.

[PeterPrinciple]

The messaging changed as it relates to what it means to be inclusive.

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What do you think SHE means by this?

[American Infidel]

Some black entrepreneurs - particularly in the entertainment industry - are doing quite well, thanks mainly to white consumers. If stupid white kids stopped buying rap, sneakers, and other paraphernalia from businesses owned by or endorsed by black entertainers, most would have to go back to selling CD's out of the trunk of a car. Jay-z and his low-talent wife certainly would not have been able to drop $200 mil cash on that spread in LA without a mostly white fan base buying their products and the products of the businesses with whom they partner.

An interesting study (that will probably never happen) would be the overall economic impact - including tax payments - of white male consumers. What would GDP and tax collections look like without the contributions of white men? Pretty dismal I imagine.

[Chickensoup]

I avoid the BE NICE signs.

One has to be difficult if one is hectoring the public like that.

[yefragetuwrabrumuy]

Location, location, location.

If you have a business in a predominantly black neighborhood, you should expect most of your customers to be black. The same rule applies to white, Hispanic, Asian, and even small ethnic minority neighborhoods.

That is, assuming that you are selling what they want at prices they can afford, and your expenses are less than your profits. Of course, all the other small business rules apply.

[Larry Lucido]

Let's see, I need kimchi, seaweed wrappers, sticky rice and mung beans. I could go to the Korean store, but let me try Freddy's Party Store in the hood.

I'll need directions. Surely the mailman will know where it is.

[Chickensoup]

Good post.

However they are not progressive left

They are extreme leftist Radicals.

Need to be named as such.

[Chickensoup]

I assume April Showers is also onboard with whites supporting a #BuyWhite movement?

.........

I don’t think this is the case for she is discussing how whites are no longer visiting her business due to lack of guilt inducing publicity.

[No name given]

They pretty much are.

[No name given]

Well said.

[Chgogal]

To the Rabid Leftist Moron:

List countries that are better than the US. Enquirering minds would like to know so we can send the Illegals there.