While shopping may just seem like something you have to do to get the stuff you need, the way we spend our money has a bigger impact than we may think. Big-box retailers won’t miss the sale if you opt to purchase something from a small business. Plus, when you shop at independent stores, you’ll likely end up with shoes, dishes or greeting cards that other people don’t have. Specifically, if you’ve wanted to support more Black-owned businesses but wasn’t sure where to start, there’s an online directory that makes the process pretty easy.
The website is called Five Fifths, and it’s a one-stop-shop for not only finding the Black-owned businesses that carry the items you need, but also provides news and interviews with Black entrepreneurs. According to the site, the platform was built on the idea that every person is a human being deserving of liberty, respect and opportunity:
The reality of our history means that certain groups and people have been overlooked, overshadowed, forgotten and restrained because of factors out of their control. Our objective at Five Fifths is to uplift those very people and to highlight the many great things being done by members of those communities today.
There are two parts of the website that can point you in the direction of Black-owned businesses you should know about: The Black Lists and the Business Directory. The Black Lists are curated collections of Black-owned brands in the restaurant, clothing, hair and beauty spaces.
Billing itself as the “world’s largest Black online business database,” the Business Directory allows users to search for specific brands and products — everything from arts & crafts, to automotive, to cigars, to luggage and travel items. The public is also able to submit a brand for consideration or provide feedback.
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