For Immediate Release: Friday, December 18, 2020
Media Contact: media@colorofchange.org
Color Of Change Launches Black Business Directory as Economic Fallout of COVID-19 Pandemic Intensifies
NATIONWIDE — Color Of Change, the nation’s largest online racial justice organization, today launched the Black Business Green Book — a new digital directory that helps consumers locate Black-owned small businesses across the country to patronize during the holiday season and beyond. As the pandemic continues to decimate Black-owned businesses at a disproportionate rate, the need to support them is more urgent than ever.
“We must do all that we can to help Black-owned small businesses — the economic engines and cultural hubs of our communities — as the devastating effects of COVID-19 and the lack of adequate federal aid continue to threaten their survival,” said Jade Magnus Ogunnaike, senior campaigns director at Color Of Change. “While our Black Business Green Book is a direct way to support Black business owners this holiday season, we know consumers alone cannot provide the level of economic relief Black businesses need to stay afloat. They need quick and decisive action from Congress, and Color Of Change will continue to leverage our millions of members to ensure that Black businesses get the financial support they need to keep their doors open.”
Using the online directory, users can search for Black businesses by state or by product category, including Home Goods, Health/Wellness, Art & Photography, Food & Drink, Fashion/Clothing, Booksellers, and Body/Beauty. In the coming months, Color Of Change will update the website with additional businesses and featured stories of Black small business owners.
To ensure the green book includes a wide range of Black-owned businesses, Color Of Change launched a campaign asking the public to help identify those that could be included. The call for submissions currently remains open, and anyone can submit a Black business to highlight in our directory.
Earlier this year, Color Of Change led efforts to bring awareness to Black proprietors’ experiences amid the pandemic, including by conducting a survey that revealed Black-owned small businesses were shut out of the Paycheck Protection Program at a higher rate than their white counterparts, and that more than half may be forced to close by April 2021 without additional federal relief. The organization has also mobilized its millions of members to demand Congress provide Black-owned businesses immediate federal relief funds as well as equal access to credit and banking services.
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About Color Of Change:
Color Of Change is the nation’s largest online racial justice organization. We help people respond effectively to injustice in the world around us. As a national online force driven by over 7 million members, we move decision-makers in corporations and government to create a more human and less hostile world for Black people in America. Visit www.colorofchange.org.