Black Dollars, Black Power: The Directory That Changes the Game

On a scale from 1-10, how important is it to you to buy Black? One being the lowest (I couldn’t care less) and 10 being the highest (I want everything in my life to be Black). For years, we’ve talked about the importance of keeping our dollars in the community, supporting Black businesses, and building wealth from within. We all mean it when we say it, but it’s not always easy to do. And if we're honest, it takes extra effort. If one is lazy, and some of us are, then they’re not going to go the extra mile.

That’s why some of us are working to make buying Black easier. Especially now, when there's never been a better time to shift our spending, even if it takes a little more effort. At Bronzecomm, we’re taking action. We’re putting in the work to gather information on Chicago-based Black-owned businesses, and then we’ll expand from there.

We just launched the Chicago Black Business Directory. It’s designed to become a one-stop resource connecting you with Black-owned businesses offering everything from beauty products to financial services in Chicago. No more searching high and low for businesses that align with our values. Our goal is to put it all right here in this directory.

We're also including some online businesses founded by people who left Chicago, and soon, you’ll see a category for allies—businesses that, while not Black-owned, actively support and align with the values of the Black community. This is just the beginning, and I’ll explain where we’re headed. Whether you’re a business owner or a consumer, you can decide if you want to go on this journey with us.

Why This Directory Matters

Our dollars have power. But for too long, they’ve been leaving our community too quickly. Why? Because we’ve been taught to assimilate and integrate. But what if integration is eroding our community’s wealth? Studies show that the Black dollar circulates in our neighborhoods for a mere six hours, compared to days or weeks in other communities. That’s money that could be creating jobs, funding schools, and sustaining businesses that understand and cater to our needs.

Other studies have been done with different numbers, but they all reinforce the same point: we aren’t keeping our money in our households and communities long enough to build economic power. Money is power. And since our dollars fuel the wealth of so many corporations in America, why not circulate some of that wealth within our own community?

Black businesses are the backbone of our community, yet they face disproportionate challenges; limited access to capital, fewer mainstream opportunities, and a constant battle for visibility. We’ve talked about this before. 

In Lost and Found: The Black-Owned Businesses Hiding in Plain Sight, we explored the challenges of visibility and how Black businesses often struggle to get the recognition they deserve. And in Unapologetic Pricing: Building Black Wealth by Recognizing Our Value, we emphasized the importance of valuing our own businesses and pricing our products and services in ways that ensure sustainability. As business owners and consumers, we must be willing to invest in quality products and services.

But this isn’t just about individual businesses, it’s about the entire Black economy. Data shows that if Black households spent just 10% more within the community, it could generate up to one million jobs and create billions in new revenue. Imagine the ripple effect: more thriving businesses, more wealth retained in our neighborhoods, and more opportunities for future generations.

The Chicago Black Business Directory is our next step forward. It’s a tool for connection, for discovery, and for ensuring our dollars are doing the work we want them to do.

What You’ll Find Inside

This directory isn’t just a list of businesses, it’s a movement. It’s an ever-growing compilation of Black entrepreneurs ready to serve their community. Whether you’re looking for a restaurant serving up the tastiest food, a boutique with unique fashion, or a contractor to renovate your home, you’ll find them here.

And the best part? It’s always expanding. Every day, more businesses are being added, giving you even more options to support Black excellence.

You’ve probably experienced the frustration of trying to find a Black-owned business to support but coming up short. Maybe you wanted to buy from a Black-owned bookstore but didn’t know where to look. Maybe you wanted to rollover a 401k and wanted a financial advisor who understands your unique needs, but didn’t have a way to connect. This directory solves that problem.

There are other directories out there, and we’re all going to work together to compile a comprehensive list; some in Chicago, some in neighboring cities, some online, and eventually, we’ll expand into other cities.

But let me be real: it wasn’t easy gathering the just under 100 businesses we’ve listed so far. We asked businesses to sign up for months, and it was a struggle to get them to take action. That tells me that Black business owners are tired, overwhelmed, and even cynical. I get it, running a business isn’t easy. But this process made my job harder, left me exhausted, and made me more cynical about being part of this movement.

So let’s be patient. Let’s try out our brothers and sisters' businesses, give them grace, and help them grow. Growth is as simple as clicking a link and being open. Click here, when you’re ready to shop.

The Power of Circulating Our Dollars

The truth is, economic power translates to real power. Every dollar we spend is a vote for the kind of world we want to live in. Do we want to see more Black-owned grocery stores? More wellness brands catering to our unique needs? More financial institutions that truly understand our challenges and goals? Then we have to fund them.

We don’t need a venture capitalist firm to save us. We can create customer-funded successful businesses. It’s time to stop seeing supporting Black businesses as an afterthought and start seeing it as a necessity. Buying Black shouldn’t be something we do during Black History Month or on special occasions, it has to be a lifestyle.

Other communities have mastered the art of reinvesting in themselves. It’s why their businesses thrive for generations. We have that same ability, but it requires intention. Every time we make a purchase, we have a choice. Let’s make it count.

Small Steps, Big Impact

The fight for economic strength doesn’t end with launching a directory, it’s about how we use it. Buying Black isn’t just a trend; it’s a commitment. It’s how we make sure our community thrives, not just survives. No more reacting. We have to do it regularly, not just when we’re mad or sad. We must be proactive.

Real change happens in steps. So start with one. One purchase from a Black-owned business in this directory. One connection with a new service provider. One intentional choice to keep your money circulating where it can have the greatest impact. Small steps lead to generational shifts.

Imagine if black household committed to shifting just $100 per month to Black-owned businesses. That’s $1,200 per year, and if we just take a small number of households, let’s say multiplied by 500,000 households—that’s $600,000,000. Wow! That impact would be enormous. And once we do it for one year, we can do it again and again, creating a true wealth transfer.

They talk about wealth transfer on social media as if it’s some Robin Hood scheme, taking from the rich to give to the poor. But what if we never gave our money away in the first place? What if we committed to being part of the 3% who make a lasting economic shift?

It sounds easy because it is. You could transfer (or keep) wealth in your community and in your household by just shifting $100 a month. There are about 15,000,000 million Black families in the United States, so 500,000 isn’t even 10%, it’s less than 5%. It’s .03333…

Can you commit to being part of the 3%? Then here’s what I propose you (we) do next.
 

Next Steps

Turn intention into action.

✅ Ready to support Black businesses? Dive into the directory today and find your next favorite spot: Chicago Black Business Directory.

✅ Are you a Black business owner? Make sure your business is listed so the community can find and support you: Add Your Business.

✅ Want to stay in the loop? Subscribe to the Bronzecomm newsletter for updates, stories, and opportunities: Subscribe Here.

✅ What will Bronzecomm do? We will commit to being part of the 3%. We will continue to collect business and add them to the Chicago Black Business Directory. We will also write blogs on the companies in the directory and allow them to submit articles so you will know their story and their challenges.

This is our time. The Chicago Black Business Directory is more than a resource, it’s a declaration that we are investing in us, in you! It’s bold, it’s necessary, and it’s ours. Let’s make every dollar count toward our economic future. Don’t get angry, get rich.