By Rhobie Toussaint

It is no secret that COVID-19 drastically impacted many things – the way people perform everyday tasks, the concept of “normal,” and the economy. And in the midst of it all, small businesses took a hard hit. By May 2020, thirty million unemployment claims were made, many being from small businesses.

Hence, there are many reasons why customers should support small/Black businesses. 

Support for a small/Black is support for their communities. With the coronavirus bringing an economic crisis to many, small businesses have suffered greatly. 

When a small business suffers, so does the community and the workers involved. There have been over 100,000 small businesses that closed as a result of COVID-19 and its economic impact, according to the Washington Post. 

Thus, supporting different businesses that may not have the resources to survive an economic crisis would greatly benefit them, as well as different communities. 

Many small Black-owned businesses manufacture/sell a wide variety of items, from clothing to hair products. Support for these businesses will not only help them flourish and succeed, it will also play a role in closing the racial wealth gap that is still so prominent in American society. 

The Brooking Institution found that in 2016, a typical white family’s net worth is around ten times more than the net worth of a typical Black family, further showing how the support of Black-owned businesses has a correlation to closing the wide racial gap.  

Small businesses usually have a more personal, ‘homey’ feel. Owners of small/Black-owned businesses take the time to send their products in a package that is carefully packaged with a personal message of how much they appreciate the purchase. These hard-working individuals put their love, appreciation, and effort into every single package and add their own personal touch to it. 

“Owners of small businesses are usually doing something that they are passionate about. I think it’s why they put so much detail into their products and their packaging. The ‘thank you’ notes I receive from them when I order something feel meaningful and genuine,” said Laudith De Los Santos, a senior at MLEC. 

These small businesses are often passion projects or for a good cause.  Behind many small owned or Black businesses is a story of wanting to create change or doing something in their community that has not been done before. As a result, owners of these businesses, and the work that they do, are fueled by their passion, making the support for them that more important. 

Kaylin Berner, a music therapist in South Florida, is an example of someone using their passion and their business to help others. 

“I do two different categories of music therapy. We do a broad range, this is something I do…It’s cool to be able to provide those services. A lot of the time these people wouldn’t have the opportunity to get into music but this offers them a chance.”

Berner is a music therapist who aims to advocate for those who are disabled people by providing them with “normal” therapy — but also taking the time to innovate different kinds of treatment. Her small business is an example of genuity and true allyship for the betterment of society. 

Small/Black business owners generally put a lot of care into the work that they do, all while trying to provide consumers with quality products. Unfortunately, the economic crises caused by COVID-19 caused a lot of these businesses to close down, which is why the support for them is more important than ever. 

Small and Black-owned businesses are essential in so many ways; it is time that we support them in the way that they always support us.