Why I’m Choosing Us: Boycotting Big-Box Retail and Buying Black
Share
I used to walk into big-box stores without thinking twice. Target runs on Sunday, Amazon checkouts at midnight, brand-name skincare that never really saw me. But something shifted. And now, I pause before I click “add to cart.” Because for too long, my dollars, our dollars, have fueled businesses that don’t value our presence beyond our purchasing power.
This isn’t about cancel culture. It’s about conscious culture.
We’ve watched as companies rolled out DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) statements during moments of crisis, only to quietly scale them back once the headlines faded. We’ve seen Black creators get pushed aside, Black employees get passed over, and Black-owned products pushed to the back of the shelf, if they ever made it to the shelf at all.
So, I stopped spending there. And I started spending here.
I’m Buying Black Because Representation Isn’t a Trend
When I buy from a Black-owned business, I’m doing more than shopping. I’m investing in legacy, in culture, in a future where Black wealth is built and sustained. I’m buying haircare made for my coils, candles that smell like home, and fashion that honors my curves and confidence.
And let’s be real, shopping Black doesn’t mean compromising quality. It means finally experiencing it in full color.
The Power of My Wallet
Money talks. And in 2025, it’s speaking louder than ever.
We saw it during the 40-day boycott of Target. We saw it when online directories like Shoppe Black and Naspora became lifelines for people like me, searching for everyday essentials with a deeper purpose. Our dollars send messages. Mine says, “I see you, and I stand with you.”
And let’s not forget, we’re trendsetters. Black spending power in the U.S. exceeds $1.8 trillion, but how much of that is circulating within our own communities? We’re flipping the script and keeping that wealth where it belongs, with us.
This Isn’t Just a Moment. It’s a Movement.
Boycotting isn’t always easy. Convenience is tempting. But community is powerful.
Every time I choose a Black-owned brand, I feel that power. I feel like I’m part of something bigger than me, something built on solidarity, pride, and truth.
So yes, I’ve canceled my Amazon Prime. I walk past the red bulls-eye store. And instead, I walk toward us. Toward progress. Toward purpose.
Because we are not a marketing campaign. We are a movement. And my money, it’s marching with us.
Want to join me?
Start with your next purchase. Explore brands that see you, reflect you, and respect you. Let's make our buying power work for our community, for our future.