5 Ways to Be a Meaningful Ally

It’s always a good day to show up and support Black business owners and creatives in your community and beyond. 

Whether you’re looking for ways to honour Black History Month, or you just want to find more unique strategies to be an authentic ally to Black folks, you’ve come to the right place. There’s an overflow of amazing Black-owned businesses and creators to support, and there are more ways to uplift them than by making a one-time purchase! 

So, let’s get straight to it, shall we? 

Why is it important to support Black-owned businesses and creators? 

Investing your time, money, and resources into Black-owned companies and creators means investing in the advancement of the Black community as a whole. 

Owning a business is the best opportunity for Black Americans to build wealth for themselves and overcome the racial wealth gap in our country. And by supporting Black businesses as allies, we lend a hand in creating more opportunities, property ownership, and generational wealth for Black people. 

Now that you know a bit about the impact of buying Black, let’s get into five unique ways to be a better ally for Black entrepreneurs and creators: 

1. Give them credit. 

Whether you’re reposting a Black creator’s TikTok, showing off a Black-owned product you love, or even quoting information from a Black source, please give them credit because it does go a long way. A simple shout-out or tag could help make someone easily discoverable or even propel their career forward—you never know! 

2. Commit to buying Black in small steps. 

Supporting Black-owned entrepreneurs and brands isn’t just a trend—it’s a lifestyle. Instead of trying to shop Black-owned for everything, pick one thing in your life that you can swap out for a Black-owned product or service consistently. 

You can commit to buying Black-owned coffee for your daily cup of joe, or perhaps, you find a new Black-owned dentist office to go to. Choose something simple and that you can commit to. 

3. Be the resource. 

Do you know a Black entrepreneur or creative who’s just getting started or who needs help? Then don’t be afraid to ask how YOU can be a resource to them! Your insight, advice, or hands-on help could really support them, but you won’t know unless you ask. 

4. Tell everyone you know about them. 

Found a Black beauty guru on YouTube or TikTok that you’re loving right now? Share their page with your friends and up their views or subscriber count! 

If there’s a Black-owned business or brand that you’ve had a great experience with or have heard great things about, then shout them out from the mountaintop, okay? Spreading news word-of-mouth is the best way to introduce people to a Black-owned brand or creator. 

5. Listen closely. 

Black business owners and creatives will tell you what they need. But it’s your job to be willing to listen with an open mind and then take action. 

No one said being an ally is easy. But it’s 100% worth it, and we need people like you who are ready to show up and show out for Black entrepreneurs and creators—every day!

This blog post was written by Black creator Reese Williams. We want to thank Reese for her time and effort in writing this piece for our community!