Things weren’t supposed to go this way, not according to my editorial calendar. This was supposed to be a buildup to Thanksgiving week. I was working on fun, lighthearted posts about recipes and Black Friday deals. Yay! Shopping! And now, none of that seems right anymore. Not after Ferguson. On Monday November 24th, in an evening announcement that seemed poorly planned to say the least, it was announced that the grand jury did not indict Darren Wilson in the killing of Michael Brown. What does that mean? That means that Darren Wilson gets to walk free, after all of the protests and righteous anger and calls for justice. CNN predicts there will most likely be a more stringent federal probe and a wrongful death lawsuit – click here to read their predictions. For the black community on the ground in Ferguson as well as in major US cities like NYC, Los Angeles, Washington DC and Chicago, it meant protesting in the streets and making our voices heard in the dead of the night. And so many of us are now left wondering “now what?” How can we express this rage and this pain caused by a system that is broken, a system that fails to value our lives as equal? How can we speak truth to power and have the hope of making some kind of difference, some kind of essential statement that proves that we have value greater than what society seems to perceive?
Image via BlackoutFriday.org
The overwhelming cry I’m seeing from my online community is BOYCOTT. Some people are calling it BLACKOUT Friday. Some are calling it Black Owned Friday. Some are using the hashtags #NotOneDime, #HandsUpDontSpend, #BoycottBlackFriday, #BrownFriday and #ShopBlack, others have adopted the slogan No Justice, No Profit. No matter what you call it, the sentiment is the same and the statement is clear. Economic activism is a time-honored tactic that notably proved effective during the Montgomery bus boycott. It is a way to send a message to the government, big business, all while simultaneously bolstering our nationwide community. Click to read more about the impending boycott via the Chicago Defender, the Washington Post, and MSNBC. Click here to visit BlackoutFriday.org, which breaks it all down.
Last week I shared this Huffington Post piece on black owned Etsy shops and it was pointed out to me that this post was from 2012, and surely there were more new black owned Etsy shops since then. Gina of What About Our Daughters did an additional post featuring Creative Black Women You Can Support on Cyber Monday. This is my attempt to update the list including the links people dropped via my Facebook wall, and to also include businesses that aren’t on Etsy – especially some of the natural hair brands I’ve come to know and love through the years. Here is my definitive list of 101 black owned businesses that could use your support this holiday season and beyond. If I missed yours, PLEASE drop a link in the comments.
Natural Hair
Alikay Naturals – http://www.alikaynaturals.com/
Amazing Botanicals – http://amazingbotanicals.bigcartel.com/
Curls – http://www.curls.biz/
EDEN BodyWorks – http://eden-bodyworks.myshopify.com/
Karen’s Body Beautiful – http://www.karensbodybeautiful.com/
Kinky Curly – http://kinky-curly.com/
Koils By Nature – http://www.koilsbynature.com/
My Honeychild – http://www.myhoneychild.com/
Tropic Isle Living – http://www.tropicisleliving.com/
Shea Moisture – http://www.sheamoisture.com/
Soultanicals – http://www.soultanicals.com/
Sunny Isle JBCO – http://www.sunnyislejamaicanblackcastoroil.com/
Oyin Handmade – http://www.oyinhandmade.com/
Qhemet Biologics – http://www.qhemetbiologics.com/
Uncle Funky’s Daughter – http://unclefunkysdaughter.com/
Huetiful – http://www.huetifulsalon.com/
Lawrence Ray Concepts – http://www.lawrencerayconcepts.com/
The Detangle Brush – http://www.detanglebrush.com/detangle-brush.html
WonderCurl – http://www.wondercurl.com/
Naturalista Cosmetics – http://www.artfire.com/ext/shop/home/juicyleavein
BeeMine Products – http://beemineproducts.com/
TGIN (Thank God I’m Natural) – http://www.thankgodimnatural.com/
Jane Carter Solution – http://www.janecartersolution.com/
Coco Curls – http://cococurls.com/
Lace Natural – http://www.lacenatural.com/
Makeup + Nail Polish
Fashion Fair Cosmetics – http://www.fashionfair.com/
Ginger + Liz – http://www.gingerandliz.com/
Black Opal – http://www.blackopalbeauty.com/
BlackUP Cosmetics – http://www.blackupcosmetics.com/
Iman Cosmetics – http://www.imancosmetics.com/
Magnolia Makeup – http://www.magnoliamakeup.com/
Mischo Beauty – http://www.mischobeauty.com/
Hue Noire – http://huenoir.com/
Joy Lorraine Cosmetics – http://www.joylorrainecosmetics.com/
Lamik – http://www.lamik-beauty.com/
Polish and Company – http://polishandcompany.com/
Valana Minerals – https://valanaminerals.com/
Vera Moore Cosmetics – http://www.veramoorecosmetics.com/
Skincare, Bath and Body
BelleButters – http://www.bellebutters.com/
Beautiful Body Butters – https://www.etsy.com/shop/beautifulbodybutters
Body Love Beauty – https://www.etsy.com/shop/BodyLoveBeauty
Ixora Botanical Beauty – http://ixorabotanicalbeauty.bigcartel.com/
LaBella Body Care – http://shop.labellabodycare.com/
Itiba Beauty – http://www.itibabeauty.com/
Nyah Beauty – http://nyahbeauty.com/
azur soleil organics – https://www.etsy.com/shop/AzurSoleilOrganics
DermHa – http://dermha.com/about/
Tasha Hussey Body – www.etsy.com/shop/tashahusseybody
Skin Deep Body Care – http://skindeepnaturalbodycare.com/
Asili Body Products – https://www.etsy.com/shop/asilibodyproducts
Royal By Nature – www.etsy.com/shop/ROYALbyNATURE
Luxe Pour Homme by G – https://www.etsy.com/shop/LuxePourHommebyG
Sugamommy- https://www.etsy.com/shop/Sugamommy
JD NatLady – https://www.etsy.com/shop/jdnatladyscreations
Nubia Body Delights – https://www.etsy.com/shop/NubiaBodyDelights
Ruth & Mae’s – http://www.ruthandmaes.com/
Emily Jayne – http://www.byemilyjayne.com/
Pooka Pure and Simple – http://www.pookapureandsimple.com/
Beauty Boxes/Subscriptions
CurlBox – http://www.curlbox.com/
Cocotique – http://www.cocotique.com/
We Are Onyx – http://weareonyx.com/
CurlKit – http://www.curlkitshop.com/
Fashion
Chocolate Sushi Couture – https://www.facebook.com/pages/Chocolate-Sushi-Couture/312085040569?sk=info&tab=page_info
Dress Maker By Olivia – https://www.facebook.com/DressMakerByOlivia?pnref=lhc
Jibri – www.etsy.com/shop/jibrionline
KAntoinette Lingerie – https://www.etsy.com/shop/kantoinette
Monif C – http://monifc.com/
Nakimuli – http://www.nakimuli.com/
Onion – http://www.whitneymero.com/
Shavonne Dorsey – http://www.shavonnedorsey.com/
Sofistafunk – http://sofistafunk.com/
Quelly Rue – http://www.quellyrue.bigcartel.com/
Yes Lioness – http://yeslioness.com/
Jewelry
CandidArt Accessories – http://www.candidartaccessories.com/
Brassfly Studio – https://www.etsy.com/shop/brassflystudio
Lingua Negra – linguanigra.com
Simone’s Boutique – www.etsy.com/shop/SimonesBoutique
Rachel Stewart Jewelry – http://rachelstewartjewelry.com/
Peace Images Jewelry – http://peaceimages.bigcartel.com/
Jypsea Outlet Shop – https://www.etsy.com/shop/JypseaOUTLETShop
MBellish by Charmega – https://www.etsy.com/shop/MBellishbycharmega
JazJewelz – https://www.etsy.com/shop/Jazjewelz
Rock Candy Earrings – www.etsy.com/shop/RockCandyEarrings
Pieces by Keke – https://www.etsy.com/shop/piecesbykeke
Art, Collectibles and Décor
African American Art – www.facebook.com/AfricanAmericanArt/
Divine Violette – cool masquerade masks – https://www.etsy.com/shop/DivineViolette
Blended Designs – www.etsy.com/shop/BlendedDesignsLLC
Tamesha Artistry www.etsy.com/shop/TameshaArtistry
Christoff Davis – https://www.etsy.com/shop/ChristoffDavis
Reflektion Design https://www.etsy.com/shop/reflektiondesign
Veronica Marche Illustration and Design – http://www.veronicamarche.com/
Candles
Simply Scents by Shan – http://www.simplyscentsbyshan.com/
Gourmet Foods
Luxe Lollipops – www.etsy.com/shop/LuxeLollipops
Sugar Puddin Café – https://www.etsy.com/shop/sugarpuddincafe
Accessories
Cocoa Girl in Lush – https://www.etsy.com/shop/cocoagirlnlush
Keep on Givin – https://www.etsy.com/shop/keepongivin
Shepiji – https://www.etsy.com/shop/Shepiji
Lily Bow Originals https://www.etsy.com/shop/LilyBowOriginals
Rogue Stitches – https://www.etsy.com/shop/RogueStitches
Sew Regal Embroidery – https://www.etsy.com/shop/sewregal
Ladieloops – http://www.ladieloops.com/
Those are 101 businesses that focus on beauty, hair, style, jewelry and accessories. There are SO many businesses that I know I missed that need support. If yours is one of them or if you know of one, please leave a link in the comments so we can see and support them! This post could be a great ongoing resource for many of us who are seeking this info.
I hope you have a peaceful, happy and delicious Thanksgiving feast. Although this week may make you question so many things, never question that we have much to be thankful for. Be thankful for life. For health. For family. For friends. For community. For the future, when we can make the change that we want to see in the world.
Happy Thanksgiving to each and every one of you!
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