The Renewal Of Black Wall Street: How To Support Black Businesses

Prolific change is on the horizon as protestors across the United States, and indeed the world demand an end to police brutality and justice for the recent, brutal killings of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Kendrick Johnson, Trayvon Martin, and countless others.  Many are taking action in support of the Black Lives Matter movement and the Black community.  Economic protests are currently in full affect as many are donating to organizations combatting racial injustice and supporting Black-owned businesses by re-directing their purchases and visiting brick-and-mortar and online stores and facilities owned by members of the Black Community.  

As a result of these efforts, many are calling out for a global-based Black Wall Street that will uplift the economic structure of the Black Community in ways never seen before.  With $1.2 Trillion worth of buying power, the Black Community is set to be a force to be reckoned with. Supporters of Black-owned businesses have taken to social media with hashtags such as #blackownedbusiness and #blackwallstreet, and #webuyblack to spread the message of this new commitment of economic empowerment for the Black Community.  To help support this movement, I have compiled a list of resources below in support of Black Businesses and Organizations. 

How To Find Black-Owned Businesses

Black Nation   Vast directory to find black-owned businesses. Free to download in the iTunes app store, also features more than 5,000 businesses

eatOkra    Nation-wide directory of black-owned restaurants, featuring thousands of eateries, ranging from bakeries to seafood spots.

WeBuyBlack    Online marketplace spotlighting more than 1,000 Black-owned businesses around the world in various categories

Local publications   from the L.A. Times to the Washingtonian to D Magazine are publishing lists of local black-owned businesses. Check your state or city paper and online publications for these lists. If you do not see publications making the effort to provide lists of Black-owned businesses, make a request for a comprehensive list.

Social Media Platforms   are doing an excellent job with posting lists of Black-owned businesses to support. Check your Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook feeds. Join social media groups and download apps that focus on Black-owned businesses in general or specifically in certain areas such as Black-owned restaurants. You can post and ask for recommendations or make recommendations yourself.

Organizations That Support Black Entrepreneurs

Food Education Fund. A job training and entrepreneurship program to empower and prepare Black high-school school students for careers in the food industry.

Black Girl Ventures An organization that creates access to much-needed capital for Black and Brown female business owners.

Code Fever Miami is shifting the way Black communities engage with and create value within the innovation and tech sectors.

Black Girls Code Another organization working towards inclusion in the coding community.

Black and Brown Founders provides community, education, and access to Black and Latinx entrepreneurs with otherwise modest resources.

Black Female Founders is another that provides critical resources and information to help Black female founders grow.

38 Black -Owned Banks and Credit Unions

Black-owned banks and credit unions have recently enjoyed a frenzy of application requests as a result of protests as people are seeking a way to fight Systemic Racism that has wreaked havoc on the economic structure in the Black Community. 

Below is a list of 38 Black-owned banks and credit unions for those who wish to re-invest in the Black Community:

1. Omega Psi Phi Credit Union – Lawrenceville, Georgia

2. Phi Beta Sigma Federal Credit Union – Washington, DC

3. One United Bank – Los Angeles, California

4. FAMU Federal Credit Union – Tallahassee, Florida

5. Credit Union of Atlanta – Atlanta, Georgia

6. North Milwaukee State Bank – Milwaukee, Wisconsin

7. Seaway Bank – Chicago, Illinois

8. The Harbor Bank- Baltimore, Maryland

9. Liberty Bank – New Orleans, Louisiana

10. United Bank of Philidelphia – Philidelphia, Penn

11. Alamerica Bank – Birmingham, Alabama

12. Broadway Federal Bank – Los Angeles, California

13. Carver State Bank – Savannah, Georgia

14. Capital City Bank – Atlanta, Georgia

15. Citizens Trust Bank – Atlanta, Georgia

16. City National Bank – Newark, New Jersey

17. Commonwealth National Bank – Mobile, Alabama

18. Industrial Bank – Washington D.C.

19. First Tuskegee Bank – Tuskegee, Alabama

20. Mechanics & Farmers Bank – Durham, North Carolina

21. First Independence Bank – Detroit, Michigan

22. First State Bank – Danville, Virginia

23. Illinois Service Federal – Chicago, Illinois

24. Unity National Bank – Houston, Texas

25. Carver Federal Savings Bank – New York, New York

26. OneUnited Bank – Miami, Florida

27. OneUnited Bank – Boston, Massachusetts

28. Tri-State Bank – Memphis, Tennesse

29. Citizens Bank – Nashville, Tennessee

30. South Carolina Community Bank – Columbia, South Carolina

31. Columbia Savings and Loan – Milwaukee, Wisconsin

32. Liberty Bank – Baton Rouge, Louisiana

33. Liberty Bank – Kansas City, Missouri

34. Citizen Trust Bank – Birmingham, Alabama

35. Liberty Bank – Chicago, Illinois

36. Liberty Bank – Jackson, Mississippi

37. Toledo Urban Credit Union – Toledo, Ohio

38. Hill District Credit Union – Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Sources:  Food 52, Watch The Yard

#blacklivesmatter  #webuyblack. #blackwallstreet #BLM

I am Kezzie Rudd-Walton, the creator of Kezzie's Konfections, my Lifestyle Blog that also offers for sale Hand-Crafted Organic, All Natural Sugar Scrubs and Fragrances. Additionally, I am an Educator, Entrepreneur, Journalist, and industrious Mother of two! For more on my background, check out About Kezzie.