Last year I wrote an extensive list of 101 Independent Black Owned Businesses to support for Blackout Friday. It proved to be amongst the most popular posts I’ve ever written. In 2014, I wrote that post in response to the Blackout Friday movement that arose from protests in Ferguson, Missouri. This year I had already planned to work on this list again and refresh it for Black Friday 2015, but I didn’t realize how terribly timely this whole thing would become. This year the protests took place in my own city of Chicago, in response to the Laquan McDonald tapes, which revealed a young man shot 16 times by Chicago police officer Jason Van Dyke. This murder happened on Oct. 20, 2014. Finally after multiple Freedom of Information Act requests, the chilling and horrific video was released 13 months after the fact. There has been unrest in the streets of Chicago ever since. On Black Friday, activists took to the Magnificent Mile and blocked access to shops in an act of peaceful protest. Many are looking for a way to make a statement that will be heard, and this holiday season feels so much like last year’s, except closer to home.
I’ve been seeing a lot of really negative comments online, making false equivalency between horrific acts of gang violence versus the protests against police brutality. This post isn’t about that, but I’d like to address the topic for a moment. Just because you haven’t done research or become aware of protests against crime within the black community, doesn’t mean those protests didn’t happen. This officer was charged with murder, but only after 13 months of fighting for information. The protests yesterday were not only for the fact that Laquan McDonald was murdered by an officer who faced 20 complaints and lawsuits alleging excessive force and use of racial slurs, but for the fact that there appears to have been a 13-month-long coverup of this crime.
To quote myself from almost exactly a year ago, “…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?” The intent behind the protests is to make our voices heard and to make the statement that we deserve better from those who are paid to serve and protect. We deserve better from our elected officials who are complicit in this cover up. Blackout Friday is a way to make that statement. That is the intent. I’m hoping and praying that next year this list won’t be created in the wake of protests and anger over injustice.
I’ve gotten some pushback on even creating this list and I’d like to say a few things before sharing. Anyone and everyone is welcome to shop from this list and support small businesses – today is actually Small Business Saturday and these are businesses that sincerely need publicity and financial support. Last year I saw some criticism that this list only focused on hair and beauty and fashion – I’ve expanded to include artists, authors, and professional services. If you’re the creator of a black owned business and would like to be included, I encourage you to leave your site and a brief description of your services in the comments below. If any of these links don’t work, please let me know – I did my best under challenging circumstances.
PS: On a personal note, I really wanted to get this list out earlier but this Thanksgiving weekend, life took me in a different direction. I’m writing to you from Phoenix where we are visiting for the funeral of a relative. Apologies that this is out later than intended.
350+ Independent Black Owned Businesses to Support This Holiday Season and BEYOND
ACCESSORIES
Adore New York
Barbara Campbell NYC
Boutique de Bandeaux
Cocoa Girl in Lush
Collage Gifts
Colored Girls Hustle
Coup de Coeur Boutique
Custom Treatz
Dope Crochet
Fashion 5 Diva Club
Gabby Bows
Keep on Givin
Kiara’s Handmade
Ladieloops
Lady Dye Yarns
Left Hook Accessories
Lily Bow Originals
Lyse Artistic Creations
Martinique Boutique
My Fabulous Accessories
Nicole Lee Designs
Paparazzi Accessories
Purl Heroine
Rogue Stitches
Sankofa Vine
Sew Regal Embroidery
Shepiji
The Knitterly Hooker
THRONEsj
Waists by Wednesday
ART, Collectibles, Tech, Photography & Décor
Abode by Yvette
Addye B
African American Art
Amaspiritartist accessories and décor
Ananse Design
Avery and Ethan
Beginning Kisses
Bianca Dorsey, artist
Blended Designs
C Miles Photo
Christoff Davis
Detola and Geek décor and accessories
Diaz Allen
Divine Violette – cool masquerade masks
I am Me Naturally
Indigo Life Magazine
Karmalades, household cleaners
Lavender Pop greeting cards
Made In Africa
Mae B Paper
My Focsi tees and accessories
My Little Vixen
Ngozi Design
Noteworthy Crafts
Pan African Connection
Pardon My Fro
Puku phone chargers
Recycle Dean
Red Bridge Studio, unique tees and home items
Red Ink and Paper
Reflektion Design
Restoration Healing
Rose Refour, an artist with autism
Sumayyah Said So accessories
Sweet Sistah Splash
Tamesha Artistry
The Silverman
Valencia Art
Veronica Marche Illustration and Design
Whitney Thomas, Photographer
Yvette Crocker Art
AUTHORS
Artistic Words Publishing
Author Anagia Wright
Brandon Massey, horror writer
Nalo Hopkinson, Caribbean sci-fi author
Sormag
Tananarive Due, literary author
BEAUTY BOXES/SUBSCRIPTIONS
Cocotique
Curl Collection
CurlBox
CurlKit
The Holbox
We Are Onyx
CANDLES
Simply Scents by Shan
Spa Creations
FASHION
A Leap of Style
African American Tees
African City Bags
Artistic Tee
Bartered Threads
Black Proverbs
Blue Labels
Bon Bon Vie
Borough Vintage
Capital City
Cherish Au Naturel
Chic Dream
Chocolate Sushi Couture
Clothe Create Consult
Dare To Be You
Designs by K. Jones
Dress Maker By Olivia
Executees
Get Snatched Bling
Global Couture
HBCU Pride and Joy
His Blessed One
INI Vibes
Jacque M
Jahzara Fashion House
Jibri
Jon Marc Collection
KAntoinette Lingerie
LFTHVY
LiLi Creations
Live At Your Own Pace
Loud Ego Apparel
Love Karidae
Luke Lulu
Majority Clothing
Mamie Ansah, custom sneakers
Marriage Tees
Mercantile Republic
Monif C
My Boutique Experience
My Co-Creations (body butters, tees and more)
Nakimuli
Nicole and Madeline
Onion
Perfect Haze
Pnk Elephant
Pop ATL
Qristyl Frazier Designs
Quelly Rue
Ripped Goddess Sportswear
Sanjules
Seven Curves
Shavonne Dorsey
Shop Club Glam
Shop Malcolm X
Shop Musichead
Sofistafunk
Sororitique
Tees in the Trap
The Black Girl Project
The Dyna Smiles
The Icon Collection
Un-U Luxe
Vanity Styles
Ven and Rose
Wild Child Designs
Windsor Neckwear
Yes Lioness
Z by Zevarra
GOURMET FOODS
Brandt’s Candies Hand-Dipped Chocolates
Indigene Cellars
Love Corkscrew
Luxe Lollipops
Sugar Puddin Café
Tranquil Elegance
JEWELRY
Ama Jewelry
Beads Byaree
Brassfly Studio
CandidArt Accessories
Chari’s Inspiring Creations
Chocolate Rose
DeeCee Styles
Delayla Shay
Elizabeth In Pearls
Fulaba
Iris Michael
JazJewelz
JL by Janet Leigh
Jon Davi
Jypsea Outlet Shop
Kawaii Adornments
Kissed by a King jewelry
Lingua Nigra
Lorraine West Jewelry
Lost Queens
Lunar Eclectic
Mary’s Hands Jewelry
MBellish by Charmega
Mommy’s Chocolate Chip
Peace Images Jewelry
Pieces by Keke
Precious Elements Designs
Rachel Stewart Jewelry
Rock Candy Earrings
Shanga Designs
Simone’s Boutique
Sydney Austin Designs
Tahm Tam
The Queen’s Dowry
Tsion Rocks Jewelry
TYBC Creations
Zoe the Designer
MAKEUP & NAIL POLISH
Ashunta Sheriff Cosmetics
AJ Crimson
AUSET
Black Opal
BlackUP Cosmetics
Fashion Fair Cosmetics
Ginger + Liz
Hue Noire
Iman Cosmetics
Joy Lorraine Cosmetics
Lamik Beauty
Laws of Nature Cosmetics
Luv Mineral Cosmetics
Magnolia Makeup
Mischo Beauty
Polish and Company
Shoo 5-Free Nail Polish
The Lip Bar
Valana Minerals
Vera Moore Cosmetics
MUSIC
4 Givn 1 Records
Dom Jones Music
NATURAL HAIR
Alikay Naturals
All Things Curly
Allies Natural Hair Community
Amazing Botanicals
Anita Grant
Bask and Bloom
BeeMine Products
Cassandre Beccai
Coco Curls
CR Secrets
Curl Luxe Naturals
Curls
Da Hair Doctor
Earth’s Nectar
EDEN BodyWorks
Hairitage Hydration
Hairizon Beauty
Hairobics
Huetiful
Inspired Beauty
Jane Carter Solution
Karen’s Body Beautiful
Kinky Curly
Koils By Nature –
Kurlee Belle
Lawrence Ray Concepts
Morning Dew Hair
My Crowning Jewel
My Honeychild
My Loux
My Sisters Natural
Natural Hair Shop
Naturalicious
Naturalista Cosmetics
NBI All Natural
NUMA by Kiyomi
Oyin Handmade
Qhemet Biologics
Rock That Natural
Rootspiration –
Salon Toujours Belle
Shea Moisture
Sienna Naturals
Sophia’s Naturals
Soultanicals
Sunny Isle JBCO
Terra Veda Organix
TGIN (Thank God I’m Natural)
The Detangle Brush
Tiffany Renee Salon
TreLuxe
Tropic Isle Living
Uncle Funky’s Daughter
UrbanBella
WonderCurl
Zuresh –
PROFESSIONAL SERVICES
Barbee Love Fitness, personal trainer
BLK Town, Connecting with Local and Online Black Owned Businesses
Choice Green NYC Handyman Service
Degrees of Success, debt management company
Different Shades of Blackness event planning
Divine Health Choices, health consultant
Gravity Defied Black Cultural University
IBC Consults, consultation boutique
Makeda Renee, Visual Merchandising
Medical Lab and Tech Consultants
Michelle Lewis, MetroBrokers
ML Perry CPA
New Life Pastoral Counseling
Owens Financial Services
Physical Vitality, health and wellness training
Practical Reinventions –
Qi To Wellness, reiki
Taffy Wagner, premarital financial counseling
Tasha Prescott photography
The K9 Class, animal training
Women Businesses, consulting and tees
SKINCARE, BATH AND BODY FOR WOMEN
3 Little Birds
Amina Aromas
Asili Body Products
azur soleil organics
Beautiful Body Butters
Belle Scents
BelleButters
Body Butter Lady
Body By India
Body Love Beauty
Bubble Bistro
Butter Me Up Goods
Butters N Bars
Cara B Naturally
Charm City Bar and Body
Darcy’s Botanicals
Darien Direct
DermHa
Dirty Beauty
Earth Basic
Emily Jayne
Glam Girl Essential Skincare
HK Natural Soap
I Willa Remedy
Indigofera
Itiba Beauty
Ixora Botanical Beauty
JD NatLady
LaBella Body Care
Law Body Oils and Sprays
Mamie’s Sweet Treats
Mango Mangoes
Moonchild Essentials
Nandi’s Naturals
Naptural Passions
Natural Passion
Nubia Body Delights
Nubian Heritage
Nyah Beauty
Obsidian Beauty Supply
One Love Star Shea Butter
Pooka Pure and Simple
Royal By Nature
Ruth & Mae’s
S Dot Beauty
Shop Lady Leslie
Skin Deep Body Care
Smell Good Spa
So Yummy Products
Soap 2 Tote
Sophia’s Naturals
Sugamommy
Sweet Love Naturals
Sweet Treats by Oraje
Tasha Hussey Body
The Keith Clark Collection
The Natural Epiphany Store
Whipped Goods
Zuri Handmade
SKINCARE FOR MEN
Bevel
Luxe Pour Homme by G
Walker and Company
FOR KIDS
ABC Me Flash Cards
Bino and Fino
Dollmakers Delight
There are voids in this list. I’d love to see more black-owned tech and toy companies represented. Shoe designers. Tech purveyors. If you’re the creator of a black owned business and would like to be included, I encourage you to leave your site and a brief description of your services in the comments below. I hope this list is helpful to you and that these businesses can thrive thanks to your support. And like I said last year right around this time, “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.” Peace.
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