It’s Day Four of Kwanzaa! On this day, the principle is
Ujamaa – Cooperative Economics
To build and maintain our own stores, shops, and other businesses and to profit from them together.
Ask yourself this question: Are you supporting a locally-owned business and online businesses?
With the exception of those who just don’t have the finances, those of us who do prefers to go out of their way (i.e., drive more than an hour) to buy something. Their reason is beyond me and there’s nothing wrong with doing it, but some of us do not go to go to locally-owned shops and stores for some reason. As a result, I can only speak for my community when I say that locally-owned businesses, shops, and stores are going out of business. It’s so sad. It legitimately looks like a ghost town in certain places; and at that moment we have no other choice but to go out of our way to get what we need.
Furthermore, it’s heart-breaking when a business owner feels like no one wants his/her business, especially if he/she is actually good at it. Or here’s one: It’s even more heart-breaking for a customer to want (or expects) something done for free because the owner is one of your friends or family members. It takes a lot of time and money for business owners and entrepreneurs to get to where they are. For some people, their business is their only means of income. Some business owners throw in the towel and stop their business venture while others are still hanging in there. Now I’m not much into politics (just one who pays attention to the news… sometimes) but I think it is becoming difficult for business owners to even be around now. So if you let a business owner or entrepreneur know that you support their business and actually do it, then it sends the message that they’re not doing this in vain… and that it’s worth it! Whether it’s a grocery store, hair dresser, barber, thrift store, musician, singer, photographer, personal trainer, etc. I’m sure they will appreciate your business 🙂
Lastly, most black-owned businesses are doing it for themselves… and they’re doing it for the culture. Back them up and support them 😉
Hopefully my thoughts made some sense. Take care!
~Live Laugh Love~