The message of making consistent black-owned business purchases is finally getting the attention it deserves. The ongoing injustices of Black men and women in our society has brought to the spotlight the need for Black people to support more Black-owned businesses . With lists highlighting various types of black owned business, it is easier more than ever to get on board and start supporting your own. These lists are all great steps in the right direction so by all means let’s keep this going. Although we are buying black, the reality is that many of us will continue to make purchases from businesses that aren’t black owned due to varying budgets, or a matter of convenience and that’s totally okay. It’s just the reality of the situation. However there are just some things that should ONLY be bought from black owned businesses and here’s what they are:
DASHIKIS
Dashikis originated in West Africa and were primarily worn by men in both formal and informal forms. They are typically worn with pants and caps with no brims called kufis in Islamic communities in Africa & the African diaspora. The word “dashiki” is derived from the Hausa word “danciki” which simply means shirt. It is now worn by people of color in celebration of their African descent and Blackness in general.
However the dashiki has also fallen victim to the unfortunate trend of cultural appropriation in which a majority ethnicity exploits something that originated from the a minority’s culture often without acknowledging and respecting its meaning. The dashiki has been exploited so much that they are now perceived as costumes to be worn by non-black ethnicities at music festivals like flower crowns, flash tattoos, and Indian headdresses (another item culturally appropriated from Native American culture).
It’s counterproductive to buy something that is part of your own culture from a business that is not Black-owned. Kimonos are to Asian-owned businesses as saris are to Indian-owned businesses as dashikis should be to Black-owned businesses. Many non-black owned businesses are blatantly selling dashikis and shirts with the dashiki pattern with graphics and succeeding. We must do better.
AFRICAN PRINT ANYTHING
I mean they’re AFRICAN prints. They should at the very least be purchased from someone of African descent! They are used to adorn our heads with head wraps, adorn our melanated bodies with the latest fashions, and accessorize and so much more. Honestly I haven’t seen any African print items in major department stores, but if they’re testing the waters with dashikis it’s only a matter of time.
BLACK FACES ON APPAREL
Music is universal. As someone that loves everything from soca to rap to reggae to dubstep to rock to country (I don’t think Taylor counts anymore), love for music and the people that create it should transcend every societal group. Non-black owned stores often sell graphic tees with artists like The Beatles, Elvis, the Ramones, David Bowie, and that’s cool. They also sell tees with artists like Notorious BIG, Tupac, & Bob Marley. Now it’s only right that we buy apparel with the faces of black people, resting in power and alive, from black owned businesses.
There are so many ways in which our culture is sold for the benefit of people and companies that don’t truly appreciate it and most importantly don’t give back to and acknowledge the struggles we endure . If we are tired of our culture being worn as costumes, it’s time we start spending or in this case stop spending like it.
