by Veronica Castillo
Photo Credit: www.classpass.com
The truth is the truth, in this country, black people have been at the bottom of importance, since Columbus and his boys showed up. So much of this country’s history is rooted in the oppression of black people and suppression of our rights. Changes have been made, but we are still being attacked.
If not slavery then Jim Crow, and if not that then the War on Drugs, and if not that then being targeted and likely murdered by the police. It takes a village to fix these problems and National Expungement Week and Black Cannabis Week have been making great strides to do that. Last week was a celebration of rights, freedoms, and justice; which was necessary.
Did you know that many black owned businesses lack capital, therefore are sole proprietors, unable to hire employees- because of the lack of funding? This isn’t just in Cannabis, where we all know federal prohibition keeps loans at bay. This is the neighborhood market, the restaurant, the print shop, this is black businesses across the board.
Going forward, society can help further the mission of equity and equality by supporting black owned businesses. Doing so helps more than just the business.
In doing so you’ll:
- Supporting diversity boosts economic vitality, which uplifts the community.
- Help close the racial wealth gap: the median wealth for white families is about 12 times that for Black families averaging around $140,000.
- Help combat racism and prejudice.
For the racists, the idea that the black family wealth median will be $0 by 2053, makes them happy. For the black family to fail is celebration to racists. But the majority of us, in support of black lives, black businesses, black advancement, can help, along with National Expungement Week and Black Cannabis Week, fix the problems.
In her piece in Apartment Therapy, Danielle Deavens writes:
“Supporting black businesses is an even more significant form of protest when coupled with the fact that the mere existence of black companies and communities has long been held as a threat to white supremacy.”