One of the best ways you can help the Black community during this time civil unrest (you know, in addition to educating yourself about the Black Lives Matter movement, signing petitions and being a conscious ally) is to change your shopping habits. Donations to charitable organizations are great but you should also be supporting Black-owned businesses, especially smaller ones. White-owned businesses historically have much easier access to capital than comparable Black-owned ventures. In fact, according to a study by the Hamilton Project, both Black- and brown-owned companies are three times as likely to be denied loans, while those that end up being approved are subject to higher interest rates and lower loan amounts.
That said, platforms for independent sellers make things incrementally easier for BIPOC entrepreneurs to get their brands off the ground. Etsy in particular is a great place to discover new artists, designers and craftspeople, whether you’re in the market for a new piece of art or are pining for a stunning pair of earrings. Here, 24 Black-owned Etsy shops that are well worth checking out.