Grassroots movement organizers from around the country converged and brought together a group of black-owned manufacturers, distributors, national suppliers, small business owners, concerned citizens, spiritual leaders, and local government officials, in what is sure to become a landmark moment about the wave of Black unity forming throughout the country. This occurred at the first press conference event of LetsBuyBlack365, the national Black economic empowerment movement based in Brooklyn, NY. The news was released on December 31, 2015.
Reverend Dennis Dillon (far left) with panelists that include Councilman Robert E. Cornegy, Jr.,
Freedom Paper Company, Onipa PSC and Alpha Office Supplies.
The 1.1 trillion dollars a year in black spending power has been a focal point of recent holiday boycotts in Black communities across the nation. Currently, only a fraction of that spending is being attributed to and recirculated within the Black community. The consequences have led to unemployment, underemployment, rising prison populations, poverty, and destabilized families and communities.
“As the nation’s only Black-owned golf magazine, I applaude this effort that puts forth the importance of African Americans supporting Black-owned businesses,” said Debert Cook, publisher of the African American Golfer’s Digest.
“For over 12 years, our national magazine, as an independent publication, has showcased editorial features that would NEVER, EVER have been covered by mainstream magazines. We’ve provided information to the masses about golfers of color who are truly skilled and talented–they just lack the funding to make it to the next level of their careers,” says Ms. Cook. African American Golfer’s Digest launched in 2003 in New York City and is a PGA of America Diverse Supplier.
Cook continues, “If Black people who believe in our product and service would partner with us, support our efforts, buy advertising, purchase subscriptions and copies of the magazine, join us in event partnership opportunities, then we could do a whole lot more. Thousands of young, Black, men and women are dreaming of a future in golf and giving all they have to make it as a professional golfer….We’re making a difference in so many lives, keeping them inspired, and portraying their talents to the world. Working together, with the support of Black consumers supporting us can make a tremendous difference for us all.”
According to Nataki, movement spokesperson “The LetsBuyBlack365 movement isn’t about trillions of dollars. I can’t do anything about that. What I can do is control my own dollars. I can choose where I spend my money and what types of businesses get my patronage.LetsBuyBlack365 is about individuals taking action and standing up to say ‘I am already spending but now I am redirecting it to Black owned businesses that have committed to creating jobs, committed to helping small businesses build capacity, and committed to being a part of the solution that unifies the Black community.”
It’s no coincidence that this event took place on the 4th night of Kwanzaa, Ujamaa. The principle means cooperative economics and calls for Black people to “build and maintain our own stores, and businesses and to profit from them together.”
Nataki Kambon, is a spokesperson and a Strategic Partnership Relationship Coordinator of LetsBuyBlack365 shared details about the movement’s online network and introduced some of the nation’s local organizers from cities around the country before the panel discussion.
Moderator Joseph C. Grant, Jr. (pictured left) who is Ambassador of Arts & Culture for Bedford Stuyvesant and Northern Crown Heights kicked off the discussion by introducing Nataki who was joined by panelists Robert E. Cornegy, Jr., Councilman, 36th District, Bedford Stuyvesant and Northern Crown Heights, Dr. Mawiyah Kambon, President of Onipa Psychological and Consulting Services, Past President of the National Association of Black Psychologists and strategic partners Kamose Muhammad, President/CEO Freedom Paper Company, and Chet Riddick, President/CEO of Alpha Office Supplies.
According to movement spokesperson, Nataki Kambon “Every Black person in America is already a part of this movement whether they know it or not. We say knowledge is power but most of us don’t know how to use it, so we just tune out and do nothing.”
“Right now we have college students like, Johnathan Butler and the countless other students standing up and protesting systemic racism on college campuses around the country. Without thriving black-owned businesses these young people will graduate to enter many corporations where they will be up against the same issues. We owe it to our youth and students to fortify Black-owned industries that are creating lucrative possibilities for their future. This movement isn’t just about the crowd-sourced directory for the sake of documenting where businesses are. This movement is about individuals taking action through crowd-sourcing and using information as a resource to create social change and political leverage.”
Alpha Office Supplies, a company founded three decades ago, has been regularly featured as one of Black Enterprise’s 100 top minority-owned and operated companies.
President/CEO Chet Riddick, pictured left, passionately rallied Black entrepreneurs to join in the movement and shared his commitment to growing other business.
“If our communities are to change economically, it is going to be up to the African American community and business leaders to lead the charge” stated Riddick.
Kamose Muhammad represented one of the few Black-owned manufacturing and distribution companies in the country. As President/CEO of Freedom Paper Company, makers of the Freedom brand bathroom tissue and other household products, Mr Muhammad expressed that Freedom is joining forces with LetsBuyBlack365. The company has committed to producing more jobs in the community and doing more outreach. To show solidarity, Freedom is also buying into the movement by giving a discount to anyone who enters the LBB365 coupon code when purchasing.
Psychologist, Dr. Mawiyah Kambon, of Onipa PSC a national online counseling agency, stressed the importance of Black consumers to reeducate themselves on the matters of economic empowerment and to redirect their spending habits in positive ways. She briefly shared that American consumers have become brainwashed by decades of advertising and marketing that does not encourage consumers to spend money with Black-owned businesses.
The news conference was strategically held in the neighborhood of Bedford Stuyvesant, Brooklyn, a community well-known for its concentration of Black-owned business and homeownership. The district which is growing in diversity remains well-served by community leaders such as Reverend Dennis Dillon of The Brooklyn Christian Center. His congregation just completed a 40 day economic fast from spending.
Photo: far left, Dr. Mawiyah Kambon
LetsBuyBlack365 movement spokesperson Nataki, was invited by Rev Dillon, on Ujamaa night after their spending fast to deliver solutions for next steps. Nataki presented specific individual strategies that the group committed to leverage to advance their economic empowerment plan.
Dwayne, an organizer from Baltimore, MD, shared this after the press conference and Kwanzaa events, “This movement is the necessary shift in black economics in America today. It is truly fulfilling and an honor to be a part of a movement that will be reviewed as one of the most historically impactful times in our history.”
True to its mission, movement organizers patronized only Black-owned businesses while planning the New York news conference, including restaurants, the public relations firm hired to coordinate the press conference, the IT company that provided nationwide visibility through live streaming, and even lodging with Black-owned AirBNB hosts.
Along with the press conference, the movement launched its new website www.LetsBuyBlack365.com. At the website Black people can take a pledge for self-empowerment, post and share any Black owned companies they know, and join in the online social network. Members started the social network after concerns from some organizers that other social networks were suppressing and blocking posts around topics affecting the Black community. Members can also duplicate the synergy at the Kwanzaa by logging on and adding any business, organization or resource to the Black Star Business directory. People around the country watched the press conference through live streaming provide by Digital Divide Partnership. As a result, people are already logging in creating profiles and beginning to share companies and resources.
For more information regarding the movement visit www.letsbuyBlack365.com or contact info@letsbuyBlack365.com.
