“Variety is the very spice of life…” This old adage rings true today. Many of us enjoy experiencing new foods, listening to different types of music, or traveling to different places. With variety comes an inherent newness, a different lens to see the world, and an opportunity for growth and innovation. Yet when we look at the current structure of power in this country; access to wealth, good education and adequate healthcare, we find ourselves with a metaphorical cupboard filled with only one spice.
In the midst of a global pandemic that has disproportionately affected Black businesses, and in the wake of the tragic death of George Floyd, the need for change in the dynamics and structures in this country is stronger than ever. The Black Lives Matter movement, emboldened by the events of the past few weeks and months, has opened a door. And now, we as a society are at a crossroads. We can choose to see the Black Lives Matter movement as a moment? Or we can leverage this momentum to facilitate real lasting change. We at Black Business Allies are committed to the latter.
August is National Black Business Month; a time to promote and patronize Black-owned businesses across the country. As advocates for equity and equality, we are showing our commitment to amplifying the voices of Black-owned businesses in Los Angeles with the launch of our Inspiring Story Series. Each day in the month of August, we will highlight a Black-owned business in order to connect them with potential customers who are actively looking to invite variety into their lives. We are excited to showcase businesses from many different industries from Health & Wellness to Food & Dining to Apparel to Business Services.
The Inspiring Stories Series is the first step of many that we will be taking as an organization to support our Los Angeles based Black-owned businesses. As we build our database, we will also be working to create resources and tools to help small businesses grow, and remain competitive in this ever-changing landscape. We hope you’ll join us in in building a Movement of Allies for Black Businesses.