Showing posts with label #BUYBLACK. Show all posts
Showing posts with label #BUYBLACK. Show all posts
Friday, August 19, 2016
My #SoGoneChallenge
Here's a little social media takeout for you. I'm not a rapper but I have something to say.
Saturday, May 28, 2016
The Lost Months part I: Another Apology to Readers (I think there’s four of you now)
I have a lot of excuses for why you haven’t heard from me since February.
I’ve been building a business.
I was working. And then not working.
And in the hospital.
And a drooling mess over Lemonade, utterly insensible and lost to the world.
All of these things are true, but they are little more than empty excuses. MYStory is about difficult truths, so I’ll lay myself at the altar of full disclosure and give you an abridged version of everything I’ve been meaning to write about but didn’t:
Ajah Hales, Fangirl
Ajah Hales, Field Director
Ajah Hales, Bootstrap Barbie
I spent most of March planning and executing a Go Fund Me campaign. After December’s inspirational crowdfunding campaigns, I thought-- how hard can it be?
Turns out, it’s really hard to run a successful crowdfunding campaign and I failed spectacularly. I raised $1275 of my $3000 goal and had barely enough to St. Louis and back. However, I learned a ton and will definitely share my insights in a future post. In the meanwhile, here’s a flashback to March and madness.
Hi,
My name is Ajah and I am the owner of Golden Goddess Cosmetics, a truly natural hair and skincare company.
I started my company in 2012 because I was tired of taking the good with the bad when it came to cosmetics. I wanted to use products that were not filled with chemicals, products that were natural, safe and, above all, effective.
I had a hard time finding products that met my standards and my budget, so Golden Goddess Cosmetics was born.
Last year, I sold over 500 made to order units via face to face and online sales. This year, my goal is to take Golden Goddess Cosmetics to the next level by participating in St. Louis' 3rd Annual Natural Hair and black cultural Expo on April 9, 2016.
By attending the Expo, my company will gain national exposure and (hopefully) secure 2-5 wholesale clients.
I need your help to make this trip a success.
I am looking to raise $3000 by April 1, 2016 to cover the cost of raw ingredients and travel expenses for myself and one intern.
By supporting my campaign, not only will you be helping an African American business owner change her life, you will take an important step towards changing the culture of compromise in cosmetics.
Thank you in advance for supporting my dream. Any amount you donate will be cherished as an investment in my future and a tiny step towards changing the world.
And remember: "The ones who are crazy enough to think they can change the world, are the ones that do."
Sincerely,
Ajah Diangella Nichol Hales
Update #1:
So far, the campaign is off to a great start! Your generous donations have allowed me to order 20 lbs of local raw beeswax from Sleeping Bear Farms. http://www.sleepingbearfarms.com/shop/beeswax
This is my favorite beeswax to work with because it smells like honey!
Great products start with amazing ingredients, and great success stories start with the amazing people who believe in your dream!!
Video Update
Update #2
19 days to go!!!
I am, as always, humbled by the overwhelming support we've gotten so far. I know that my dream is not singular or unique; in fact, black women start businesses at 3x the rate of any other demographic group (including white males); which means:
#BlackWomenLead
#BlackGirlsRock
#BlackGirlMagic
#weLIT
Despite the overall awesomeness of my Melanin Mamacitas, the reality is that minorities receive less than 1% of (over $1 Billion USD worth of) venture capital funding.
There are thousands of black women just like me, working hard to make a better life for not only themselves, but also their families and communities. After years of putting myself last, it sometimes feels selfish to be asking for an investment in my dreams.
That's when I remember that it's not just about me. It's about all of us, the multi generational melanin sisterhood-- we who were born in the struggle.
It's about women who face incredible odds having the courage and capacity to love, learn, give and grow in the skin we are in-- to strut proudly like vibrantly colored peacocks amongst a covey of quails.
Sisters, I see you.
I feel you.
I am you.
Update #3
5 Days left!!!!!!
First, I want to say thank you for all the support I have gotten so far. Your love and generosity has allowed me to order:
-7 lbs of beeswax
-2 lbs raw local honey
-4 lbs of Baking Soda
-38 lbs of Coconut oil
-4 oz pure cinnamon
-8 oz pure catmint
-8 oz vanilla bean paste
-8 oz lemon extract
-8 oz peppermint extract
-50 1 oz amber glass jars with fine mist sprayer
-80 1.5 oz glass jars with lids
-50 1/2 oz slide tube containers
-160 3.75 oz glass jars with lids
and
- 20 9 oz glass jars with lids.
Right now, I have ordered the ingredients for about half my products. I still need another $500-$600 THIS WEEKEND to be able to order the rest of my supplies.
I still need:
-6 lbs beeswax @ $55
-4 oz Geranium Absolute @ $19
-4oz Grapefruit Seed Extract @ $45
-75 oz Aloe Vera Gel @ $26
-4 oz Tea Tree Oil @ $16
-4 oz Clove Oil @ $24
-4 oz Lemon Eucalyptus @ $20
-3.3 oz Thyme @ $30
-4 oz Lavender EO @ $40
- 4 oz Raw Propolis @ $40
-150 1 oz boston rounds w/ treatment pumps @ $91
-500 lip balm tubes @ $70
-16.6 oz Jojoba Oil @ $30
-33 oz Olive Oil @ $6
plus...
-200 craft sticks
-30 quart jars
-2 b/w and color HP ink cartridges
-4 oz dried calendula
-4 oz dried marshmallow root
-85 1/4 or 1/3 oz jars with lids
-18 4lb bags of ice
... and also
-hotel
-rental car
-money for food
So basically, I still need a lot of help, and I'm #not2proud2beg. I know that we only have a few days left to make a miracle happen, but I know that when people come together, impossible is nothing!!!
Please support this campaign by donating and sharing on your social networks. Anything you can give will help get me closer to St. Louis.
Be my Angel TODAY! Donate NOW! I can't do this alone, so please give anything you can RIGHT NOW, TODAY!!!
Dig deep! Teamwork makes the dream work!
Update #4
I'm extending the campaign to April 5th! The event is on April 9th, so I'm cutting it pretty close, but I know teamwork still makes the dream work and God has my back!!
I still need $2200, which sounds scary, but really that is just 88 people making $25 donations.
If fifteen people donate each day, I can still make it to St. Louis for the Natural hair and Black Culture expo.
To sweeten the pot, I have added a REWARD!!! If you donate $25 or more to this campaign, you will get a coupon for $20 off your purchase of $25 or more at the Golden Goddess Store!!
Give Love, Get FREE Rewards! Get your mom something pretty and planet friendly this Mother's day-- or use the coupon to get a gift for you!
You deserve it, you generous wish granting Genie Goddess!
Keep shining!
-Ajah
I'm leaving THURSDAY! I'm still not sure how this trip will come together, but holding out for a miracle. If you haven't donated yet, THE TIME IS NOW!!!!!!
No donation is too small (or too big ;-)... These are the last days and every penny counts!
If you haven't donated yet, here are 5 reasons why you should stop what you're doing and DONATE right now!!
Top 5 reasons to donate to #helpAjah
5. Acts 20:35 says: "In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.' " Giving is a blessing for the giver and the receiver-- by helping me, you help yourself to a double dose of God's grace and kindness, Plus, Jesus said it-- so it's true! Be my angel today and donate RIGHT NOW!
4. Stick it to the man-- People of color receive less than 1% of all venture capital- including crowdfunding campaigns like this one. Go against the grain and show that #BlackQualityofLifeMattersToo by investing in a small business owned by a woman of color. (This woman's name is Ajah, btw).
3. Invest in YOU! The more successful my business is, the more taxes I pay. The more taxes I pay, the better our schools, roads, and libraries get. An investment in a local business is an investment in your neighborhood. So go ahead, we deserve it!
2. Pay it forward promise-- I haven't forgotten my promise. When I reach my goal of $3000 by midnight on Thursday, I will pay 10% of it forward by investing in someone else's dream! So your donation will go twice as far. Make TWO people's day! DONATE NOW!
1. Be my FAVORite.... Chances are, if you are reading this, you might owe me a favor. I'd like to collect now. If you don't owe me a favor, you should donate anyway and then I will owe you one. And trust me, you want me to owe you a favor. I'm going to be a big deal one day.
In conclusion, you should DONATE TODAY for all the aforementioned reasons. No amount is too small. No amount is too large. And there is NO WAY I can do this without your help.
Kisses,
Ajah Diangella Nichol Hales
Next up, we'll explore what Ajah Hales, Field Director was up to during MYStory: the Lost Months
Friday, February 12, 2016
Openly Black: Is it safe to come out yet?
If you’re new to the BOTB and the sensitive type, you probably shouldn’t start with this post. Also I don’t really give warnings, so that’s pretty much the most you’ll ever get out of me going forward.
It’s February, and things are getting pretty black around here.
There are moments in life when you find yourself measuring time in increments of ‘before’ and ‘after’. February 2016 is already shaping up to be one of those moments for me. First, America renewed my faith in democracy by saying NO to Trump. Then, Ta-Nehisi Coates criticized Bernie in such a way that over thirty new articles on reparations were written in under 15 days. Meanwhile, Cam Newton was busy being mistaken for Huey P. Newton because he had the audacity to enjoy being damn good at his job.
But the kicker, the moment that made it ‘before 2.16’ and ‘after 2.16’ in my mind was Beyonce’s live transition from consciousness in art to conscious artist as seen at super bowl fifty.
In case you have been living under a rock somewhere, here’s a quick 3SB on the whole SB50/HovNBey drama
3SB (Three Second Background)
- On Friday the 5th, Jay Z donated $1.5 million to Black Lives Matter
- On Saturday the 6th, Beyonce surprised the internet by dropping this lovely Ode to Blackness:Beyoncé - Formation (Dirty) from Michael Wells on Vimeo.
3. On Sunday the 6th, Beyonce performed at the Super bowl, and her dancers wore this:
 |
| Courtesy of Twitter |
Yeah, so like I said, it’s getting pretty black around here; and some white people are not taking it very well. Like, boycott Beyonce not well. Former New York mayor Rudy Giuliani said he thought it was rude of Beyonce to use the super bowl to “attack the police.”
Now, this is where things get interesting. Why is it that when we are discussing the words or actions of a person of color, ‘criticize’ and ‘attack’ suddenly become synonymous? Coates took heavy criticism from his peers for his ‘attack’ of Bernie Sanders, even though every one of his articles specifically stated that he agreed with Senator Sanders on several issues. Beyonce, by speaking out about the unchecked slaughter of black and brown bodies, is perceived as ‘attacking’ the police.
An old adage comes to mind: don’t bite the hand that feeds you.
White supremacy thrives on an illusion of equality maintained through a system of black exceptionalism. By this I mean if there is no hope that one can become rich enough to ‘transcend race’, no Oprahs, Obamas, and Kanyes, the natives become restless.
It’s a delicate balancing act. Statistically speaking, whites are only comfortable with 8-10% nonwhite people in a given sphere. (So basically, Booker T. was right all along.) The unwritten rule of black exceptionalism is conformity to white normative ideas of blackness. Most importantly, blacks in the public sphere must strive to never remind people that they are in fact, black.
If they are rich and still black, then integration has failed. If they do choose to remind people that they are black, they must do it in such a way that makes blacks the butt of the joke (i.e. Kanye West, Flava Flav, Dennis Rodman). This rule has held true for so long we as blacks no longer even question it.
When discussing the Coates/Johnson argument with someone way smarter than me who’s been at this way longer than I have, they remarked: “Even (Barack) Obama can’t afford to be openly pro-black in this political climate.”
The weight of this bitter truth hit me like a paintball to the boob. We have a black president, yet at his final State of the Union address, he tap danced around the slaughter of the people who elected him and said something that basically equated to ‘all lives matter’.
I understood the choice. The president has an aggressive climate agenda, and he decided to prioritize the continued existence of the planet over the concerns of one subset of his constituency.
Before February, I had come to terms with a black President that couldn’t openly advocate for black Americans. I was alright with a Presidential hopeful that sidestepped race in favor of political expediency. I was okay with waiting. But that was before I realized that I too, like my negro nose with Jackson five nostrils.
Before I started asking unthinkable questions, like:
- If the richest 62 people could pay the deficit twice over and still have money left for an island or ten, why can’t we afford reparations?
- Why is what Beyonce did an ‘attack’, and what Ammon Bundy did a ‘protest’? Neither took hostages.
- Why are we only indicting Asian male police officers? Are Asians considered less white than I thought? Is this part of a larger agenda to divide and conquer minorities?
- Are blacks really better off than we were before Civil Rights? Economically? Socially?
- Why is George Washington a hero and Malcolm X a radical?
- Why is it okay for a man to become a woman who loves women, but not for a black person to speak openly about black issues?
- Why is it okay to be proud of being country, but ‘ghetto’ to be proud of being from the hood?
- Why are black features adored on everything but black women (and men)?
- Why do white journalists get to be individuals and black journalists have to be intellectuals/activists?
- If we’re all Africans like Meryl Streep said (which we are), why isn’t African history studied worldwide?
... and while we’re at it
- If we really care about drug epidemics, why aren’t we drone striking fields of poppies?
- Why do grocery stores throw away food when 1 in 4 American children are starving? Other countries have laws against things like that.
I don’t have all the answers. But as black and white consciousness rises, I realize with pride that I am living in times where it’s (sorta) okay to ask the questions. 2.16 isn’t even halfway over, and already America has started a real conversation about race that is 400 years past due.
Perhaps the limits of our collective conscription have finally been reached. Perhaps, after the initial shock wears off, openly black Americans will find the type of reluctant acceptance that openly gay Americans now enjoy(?).
Or maybe Beyonce will get assassinated by a rabid ‘patriot’. It really could go either way.
One things is abundantly clear though: before 2.16, race was America’s worst kept dirty little secret. Now, by strokes subtle and bold, blacks of all flavors are finally starting to come out of the closet.
Tuesday, January 26, 2016
Spellcheck and Other Microaggressions
I hate spell check. Truly, I do.
Aside from the fact that it’s making America a country of lazy, shitty spellers, it is constantly reminding me in tiny ways that I’m not a real American.
Tonight it sneaks up on me when I am writing a cover letter for a job I would actually be excited to get up for. I finish, hit spell check, and immediately have to ‘ignore’ my first and middle names.
Hales, the name that the English immigrant who owned my forefather gave him, does not bear the telltale red line that indicates we have erred.
Ajah does. Diangella does. Nichol does. The names my mother gave me are, to Google, an error.
This shouldn’t be a big deal to me. But for some reason on this particular evening, it’s one paper-cut too many, and suddenly, I want to cry.
Nicole is okay. Nichol is an error. Let’s not even get into the fact that the O is supposed to have a ^ over it.
Now, I have come to expect a slight undertone of racism from Microsoft Word (don’t get me started on that paperclip). But this is GOOGLE we’re talking about! The organization the Feds get their scoop from!
Let me give you an example. A little over a year ago I was dating someone pretty seriously. We discussed rings and looked at a few together while I was logged into my Gmail. For months afterwards, I kept getting ads for Brilliant Earth, an ethically sourced diamond supplier.
Google knows where I live, what I eat, what I buy, even which kind of naughties I like, but it doesn’t know my name.
I’m reminded of one of my sheros, Heben Nigatu of Buzzfeed and Another Round when she talks about her name and how immigration basically robbed her of her essential self. I feel your pain, Heaven.
So in honor of Heaven, Tracy, and all of us ‘misspelled’ names that are magic for taking and holding space in a world that does not want us every single day, I’m going to do a top ten list of microaggressions white Americans should just not do.
Ten Microaggressions I really wish you wouldn’t...
10. Touch my hair.
9. Call me articulate with a tone of mild surprise.
8. Ask if I was on scholarship.
7. Assume I’m familiar with all black people, everywhere.
6. Call me a racist or accuse me of hating white Americans.
5. Ask me in a social settings if it is okay to use the ‘n’ word. It’s never, ever, okay.
4. Tell me “You're not really black.” Is that supposed to be a compliment?
3. Tell me, within five minutes of meeting me, that you know the perfect guy for me (the only other black person you know).
2. Touch my hair.
and the NUMBER ONE thing I wish you wouldn’t is:
- Ask me to speak on behalf of all black people, everywhere!
Thursday, December 10, 2015
Choosing Change, Part 1: Closing the Wealth Gap Through Intentional Spending, + 101 Black Startups That Need Your Starbucks Money!
In my ongoing quest to be a better person, I keep biting off more than I can chew. In my last post, The Revolution Will Not Be Televised... NowSo What? I promised to be more positive and focus on ways that people can and do create change in the world by making different choices.
My recipe for change seemed so simple and foolproof last weekend- start with a base of black owned businesses, sprinkle in a dash of shameless self promotion, top with a dollop of Dan Price economics et voila- Positivity pie served up BOTB style, right on time for the New Year.
My strategy was sound. I’m starting to take this blogging thing more seriously, and research shows that readers want to hear positive stories, especially during this time of year.
Only MYStory kind of sucks right now.
My business is struggling, my unemployment got challenged by my former employers (who I am way too classy to put on blast but you know who you are), and now the state of Ohio wants back pay in excess of $2000. My sleep schedule is whacked and everyone in my house could use a few hundred milligrams of Zoloft.
And Donald Trump is still running for President.
But, I digress...
Personal worries. We all have them. To you, they might not seem like much, but to me, they are the lodestone dragging me ever downwards, drowning my optimism in a sea of despair.
Nowadays, when I find myself at a pity party of one I take my innermost worries to the altar and leave them in God’s hands.
Then I run up like a bandit at three AM and steal them back.
I once heard a pastor compare our spiritual burdens to a woman’s purse. Without the weight of them on our shoulders, we feel incomplete, so we take things to the altar, then snatch them back before God can address them for us.
I carry a big bag o’ crazy, both literally and figuratively, and I sometimes often struggle with letting go and letting God. My rational mind knows that worry changes nothing and that faith, not sight has gotten me this far.
But the anal retentive control freak who lives in me has issues with relinquishing control. So I find myself returning to the altar over and over again, forcing my mind away from my personal struggles and onto the broader collective struggle of living up to my faith.
My faith tells me that people are innately good, that white privilege is wrong, and that if white people ‘got it’, most of them would do the right thing voluntarily.
See? Optimism.
I keep clinging to the hope that if I can just help my church to understand the breadth and the depth of the plague of white privilege, we can be on the ground floor of a common sense renaissance that will sweep the state, and eventually the nation.
Yes, I do honestly believe this. Change is possible, injustice is everyone’s problem, and progress is each generation’s responsibility.
As a former community organizer, I know that change is incremental, and the closer you are to an issue, the less objective you become. I am intimately familiar with the one-step-forward, two-steps-back dance of social change that begun at time immemorial and will continue ad infinitum.
My rational mind knows that Christians are not exempt from this strange continuum, that no one is exempt. That doesn’t mean I have to like it.
I should tell you that people who go to my church read this blog. I was going to refrain from publishing this entry so as not to offend anyone, but the day I start writing for readers instead of myself is the day I will shut this blog down forever. (Can I get an AMEN?)
I don’t like being called articulate. It’s always uttered with such an undertone of condescending shock; as if I, a black female, am supposed to be intellectually incapable of navigating the language I have been speaking since birth. When I publish the first BOTB en Espanol, feel free to call it articulate. Until then, why not just say:
“You’re so much smarter than I thought a black person would be!”
I don’t like that every week someone tells me they don’t recognize me because I have changed my hair. My face doesn’t change. Ever. So next time just look at that.
I don’t like that five years into our ‘courageous conversations on race’, some members of my church still question whether or not white privilege actually exists.
Excuse me? What planet are you from and what color is the sky there? The very fact that every conversation about race is structured around consideration of white feelings bears it out.
I don’t like that our church’s version of equality is a white person and a black person standing at the front of the room. They seem to think this is akin to developing black leadership, when it actually has the opposite effect. By inserting a black ‘token’ into a structure of white power, all you are doing is assigning a white accountabilibuddy for development of black power, thereby clipping the black leader’s wings.
It’s all of the optics of equality minus any of the sacrifice. I feel like after five years of grappling with race and faith, the people who still don’t get it probably don’t want to.
That’s where my faith comes in. Ta Nehisi Coates says that whiteness itself only exists in juxtaposition to blackness, that white is not a culture, simply a state of implied superiority.
This is not an evaluative statement on white America or caucasians in general. It’s simply a statement of fact.
Italian Americans are a cultural group. ‘Whites’ are not.
Let me put it another way. Vanilla is a flavor. It is distinct. It has a source, the vanilla bean. It is not the absence of chocolate.
African Americans, or blacks, are a cultural group. The descendants of slaves carved out a distinct and diverse culture in their new homeland. The descendants of immigrants assimilated themselves into white society by divorcing themselves from the culture of their homeland, aka taking the bribe of white privilege.
In this way the privileges associated with whiteness become the defining quality of white culture, and any challenge to white privilege becomes a de facto attack on whiteness itself.
I can’t (and shouldn’t) expect white America to sign on for a wholesale dismantling of their skin based meritocracy. But I can (and will) keep believing that white Christians are capable of such selfless acts of love.
So instead of sugarcoating reality, I’m going to keep serving it up, BOTB style, complete with a side of irony and just a dash of shameless self promotion. Yes, white families do average 20x the amount of black families. Yes, white privilege is real. And yes, it’s your job to fix it. But don’t worry, it’s my job too.
Five Ways Individuals Can Change Black White Income Disparity
1.10-10-50
This is a lifestyle change that can be easily implemented if you have $50- $100 extra dollars per month.
Spare Change Version:
Every month: Volunteer 10 hours of your time to a non-profit organization that addresses the root causes of income disparity (poverty, education, criminal justice, food security, financial literacy, etc.). Try to match your volunteer activities with your personal and/or professional areas of expertise. For example, if you are a lawyer, try volunteering at your local public defender’s office. Homemaker? Why not sign up for story time at your local inner city library or HeadStart center. Donate 10 dollars to the organization to help fund the services they provide. Redirect 50 dollars out of your normal budget to a Black Owned Business(BOBz)*.
Game Change Version:
Every month: Find and promote 10 BOBz. Get creative! You can promote the business for free by sharing it on Facebook, following on Google+ or Twitter, you can even email or text a snapshot of their business card to friends and family. Donate 10 (or more) dollars to a BOBz crowdfunding campaign. Less than 1% of venture capital goes to minority owned businesses, so a little can go a long way on platforms like indiegogo, kickstarter, or gofundme. Redirect 50-500 dollars to BOBz by hosting an eight person dinner party at a black owned restaurant. For a list of Black Owned Restaurants by city, click here.
Make It Rain Version:
Every month: Replace 10 household items with items purchased from BOBz. This can be as simple as getting your LBGTQ friendly holiday cards off Etsy to making a major change like getting your produce direct from black farmers in your neighborhood. Invite 10 friends to join you every month in doing the 10-10-50 challenge. It’s okay if most of your friends say no thanks. If only two people a month say yes, your personal ‘action network’ is redirecting $1350 a year to BOBz. Reach back by donating 50 dollars to an organization that helps blacks break into your field or major. If you can’t find a program designed to help minorities in your field, email me- I’ll help!
This concept is slowly but surely gaining momentum through social media. The general idea is that BOBz run promotions on Friday to encourage shoppers to #BUYBLACK fifty two times a year. If every American spent just $1 in BOBz every Friday, we could generate over sixteen billion dollars in revenue by this time next year.
Spare Change Version:
Every Friday: Spend 5 (or more) dollars in BOBz. Share the hashtags #BUYBLACK and #BUYBLACKEVERYFRIDAY on your social networks on Fridays. If you miss a week, take 5 minutes to #FF 10 BOBz.
Game Change Version:
On Fridays: Challenge yourself by seeking out brick and mortar BOBz to support on Fridays. Take a picture of your purchase and share online under “I #BUYBLACKEVERYFRIDAY. Challenge your friends to get their post up before you. The last person to post buys a drink/appetizer/lunch for the first person to post each week.
Make It Rain Version:
Every Monday, pick a BOBz and email their contact information to your entire email list. Let your contacts know that you are making the conscious choice to fight racism and income disparity by supporting this business. Ask them to spend $1 or more at this business and email you a picture of their receipt by Thursday. On Friday, match the amount your friends invested during the week.
3. Organize a CA$H MOB
This is probably the hardest to do because you will need the cooperation of a group of at least 10 people (including yourself) to really make an impact. First, pick a BOBz you are absolutely nuts about-- if you don’t care, why should your friends and family? Contact the business owner and let them know you would like to organize a CA$H Mob on their behalf. The owner will usually offer your group a discount, free food, or some other tangible benefit (we business owners love when someone else does the advertising for us!) for supporting them.
Set a date that works for the owner and is convenient for the people in your networks too, like Saturday afternoon or Wednesday evening during happy hour. Plan your CA$H MOB at least two weeks out so you have time to promote it. Make a Facebook event and invite everyone you know! Generally, for every five people you invite that say yes, one or two will show up.
Make the event public so that others can come support the business as well. Be sure to include the name, address, and website for the business on the Facebook page, as well as any relevant housekeeping information (limited parking on the street, parking lot is around back, etc.) so shoppers know what to expect. Set a clear start and end time for your CA$H MOB. The idea is to boost the business by capitalizing on the Jones effect-- no one wants to be first, so by creating a ‘mob’ of shoppers you help validate the business as successful and popular.
Spare Change Version:
Short on funds? Why not host a digital cash mob for a favorite online shop. All the advertising is free and there is no legwork involved. Remember, the most important part is to pick a business you feel passionate enough about to ‘sell’ their vision to your friends and family. Digital CA$H MOBS run for one full day. For a list of BOBz online, click here.
Game Change Version:
Maximize the impact of your CA$H MOB by attaching it to a social group you are already involved with. PTA Mom? Why not organize a Back-to-school CA$H MOB at a BOBz retailer? Fantasy Footballer? CA$H MOB a Black Owner bar or restaurant during the playoffs or on SuperBowl Sunday! Remember to contact the business owner ahead of time so you can plan the event as co-conspirators.
Make It Rain Version:
Pick four friends that live in other states and challenge them to a CA$H MOB challenge. All five of you plan, organize and execute CA$H MOBs in your respective cities. Ask the store owner if they feel comfortable letting you know how much revenue they raised the day of the CA$H MOB. The friend whose business raised the most money wins the challenge,and the other four friends match the amount raised by the most successful CA$H MOB. You can give the winnings to a local charity or scholarship fund, donate it to the Detroit Water Project, which matches donations to turn back on the water for over 100,000 Detroit residents who are without running water; or even use it to buy meals for one of the half a million people living on the streets this winter.
Think about what you still have left to buy for Christmas. Now imagine that you wake up tomorrow and eighty percent of what is in your bank account is gone. The amount you have left is about what your black and brown neighbors are working with this Christmas.
Challenge yourself to do 80-100% of your christmas shopping at BOBz this and every year. Not sure where to find the BOBz in your area? See our list below:
Spare Change Version: This Christmas...
Game Change Version: ... Until Easter
Make It Rain Version: Every year from Christmas until Easter
5. Seed a BOBz Startup
I’m going to tell you a secret. If you get the Grande dark roast in a Venti cup with a syrup mix in and add your own cream, it tastes exactly the same as a latte and is $1.25 cheaper.
That’s $6.25 a week, $25 a month; $300 a year you’re spending on pressurized air. Why not take that money and invest it in a Black Owned Business (BOBz)?
Minority businesses received Less than 1% of 98 billion dollars in venture capital funding given out in 2015. Even so, Black women start businesses at six times the rate of the national average. #BlackGirlsRock.
Help close the gap by investing $25 each month in BOBz. You can share the wealth, or pick a business whose message you personally connect to and support them all year long.
You won’t miss it. Starbucks won’t miss it. It’s just a little change.
And a big one too.
Spare Change Version:
Invest five dollars a week in a different BOBz startup and share the startup through your social networks. Not only will you personally be contributing $260 in seed money to 52 businesses every year, you will be exponentially maximizing the chance of success for the startup, helping even the odds for minority business owners.
Game Change Version:
Calculate how much you spend on a monthly basis on indulgence purchases (like Starbucks Latte’s or Gel Mani/Pedi’s). Cut your indulgence spending in half and use the money to seed BOBz startups. Let your social networks know what you gave up and where you redirected the money using hashtag #IGAVEALITTLECHANGE. Your small sacrifice could spark a national movement.
Make It Rain Version:
Choose a crowdfunded startup that has particular significance to a status group you are a member of and commit to fundraise for them during the duration of their campaign. Homeowner? Why not choose a residential landscaping company like Hawkeye? Are you a mother or grandmother of young girls? Check out Princess Planet Fundraiser, a children’s entertainment brand that promotes princess characters of diverse cultural backgrounds.
Ask everyone you know that belongs to the same status group to support the business of your choice by donating at least five dollars a week to the startup. Match the funds you helped generate on a bi-weekly or monthly basis. Ask the business owner if they feel comfortable with you hosting a celebration banquet in their honor at the end of the crowdfunding campaign. By getting to know the owner of the business you helped start, you are laying the foundation for a lifelong friendship!
101 Black Crowdfunding Campaigns
- Get Leslie Into SAG ONLY 26 Hours left!
This is by no means a comprehensive list. If you own a BOBz or BOBz startup please add it in the comments section below. Include contact info and Facebook link if you have one. Check out my BOBz, Golden Goddess Cosmetics, and get 25% off on Fridays with code BUYBLACKEVERYFRIDAY.
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