I’m Black but I don’t Shop Black.

I’m scrolling along my social media account and I see a post about the importance of patronizing black owned businesses. I stopped for a moment and thought back to the last time I “shopped black” and realized it had been a while. But why? My last experience with a black owned business was not pleasant but rather frustrating. Why?

Why, is the million dollar question. I sat for a minute pondering “the why” about my experience and what contributed to it being less than stellar. I recall having preconceived notions that steered my mindset and or expectations before entering the building. Notions that are timeless and implicit to the African American community of business owners, a belief that I would receive a product that was not up to par with what I would consider quality, and pricing that was not commensurate to what a “big box retailer” would provide.

Was this really a problem with the business or trouble that I borrowed from years of prepackaged stories and innuendos from others on their unverified experiences. Did my mind immediately create a narrative that did not exist before giving the business the opportunity to prove up? Let’s explore a few ideas that impede our ability to support black owned businesses.

“Your support should be driven by character, attitude, and quality… not color.”

C.G. Thomas

Could it be your attitude?

Attitude matters… I will repeat, attitude matters. Everyone’s… Patron and business owner. If I walk through the door with the expectation that I will receive poor service my demeanor and communication will reflect the same. Think about it, who would want to service a customer that walked in angry? I wouldn’t and I would be preparing a rebuttal for the argument to come before it even started. Now there is a flip side, why would a customer want to enter an establishment and see a scowling representative. One who cringes, frowns, and snaps their neck when asked a question, I wouldn’t.

Reciprocity… this is what you should expect when frequenting any business and or servicing a customer. As a customer you have a responsibility to treat those that are servicing you with respect and decency. Yes you are spending your money but they have the right to refuse service. Additionally, as a business owner and or representative you have a fiduciary duty to treat your customers with respect and decency. They chose your service and should be rewarded with the best you have to offer. How about we apply simple logic and treat others the way we would want to be treated.

I can get this cheaper some place else!

You probably could but… there was something that attracted you to that business. Yes prices are a bit higher when you are dealing with smaller businesses. That is to be expected and should not be the reason you choose to stray away from supporting someone with coco colored skin. Support in the African American Community is rare and hard to find; lack of support equates to higher prices. When you are debating a decision to purchase an item or service remember the key reason you chose that retailer, support.

Quality, Quality, Quality

Why would you think that shopping black would diminish the quality behind the product? I didn’t know skin color was a prerequisite for the workmanship of. product and or service. Throw that thought as far is the east is from the west. Quality is in the eye of the business owner. color does not nor will it ever playa role in the durability of your product. We are a people of pride and will always, when given the opportunity, stand behind our work.

Shopping black should be something people of color strive to do. if we don’t encourage and support one another no one else will. it begins with you. Remember reciprocity, treat others as you would want to be treated.

I hope you’ve enjoyed your view inside the mind of Sugar Clark.

Be Blessed!