5 Investments to Make in Yourself for Black History Month

Here are five investments to make in yourself during Black History Month 2019, no matter who you are and/or how you identify. Learn something important. Eat great food. Strengthen some relationships and create some new ones. Invest - in yourself. Your country needs you.

1. Check your narrative and fix it: This will not apply to everyone - and will apply much more widely - frankly - among those whose personal lives are less negatively impacted by the history of racism in the US - but we all need to understand the facts. We can perhaps be forgiven for being stuck in the narrative "the Civil War ended a long time ago" but not for failing to challenge and supplement our education on the topic, starting right now. It is undisputed fact that the US Civil War and the end of slavery were followed by a brief expansion of opportunity for Blacks and then a prolonged, legally sanctioned and crushing period of repression, disenfranchisement, marginalization and brutality. Citing "discrimination" and "Jim Crow" to describe what has happened since the end of slavery is inadequate and inaccurate. There's no time like February to change your perspective. Consider the wealth of material on the website of the National Museum of African American History. Read here on the History Channel website. And consider the New York Times "Unpublished Black History" feature - a treasure trove.
2. Get Some Culture, Would You Please! There are so many places to go out and get culture this month. Meet some people, hear some new perspectives, travel to a different neighborhood, get exposed to art, ideas, elements that connect you to Black History. Here is a calendar of events in my area (Boston) and you can find one in yours with a quick web search, guaranteed. How about Boston's Museum of African American History on Beacon Hill? While you are at home - how about some relevant titles from Netflix or a whole line-up of shows on PBS. Dive deeper with the content curated here by ASALH - the group that created Black History month in the first place!
3. Be patronizing! As much as you can!: No - not that kind of patronizing. I mean the kind that says "I am going to patronize some Black owned businesses this month and beyond." There are decades, centuries of Black History in the story behind every Black entrepreneur and the lack of access to capital markets, customer markets, channel partnerships, long-term contracts, etc. There is a social, economic and racial crisis that is part of Black History that is relevant here: a massive wealth gap. The Federal Reserve Bank in Boston found that the median Black family has net worth of $8 while a white family's is over $247,000. Wherever you live in the United States - this is real and abysmal. According to the Fed, in 2016, the median wealth of white households in the U.S. was $171,000. 10 times the wealth of Black households ($17,100). When you become a customer of catering companies like Fresh Food Generation, Lyndigo Spice, Petsi Pies and Jamaica Mi Hungry (local favorites of mine) you are patronizing Black owned businesses and participating in wealth creation - Black history. When you buy a watch or wallet or a stylish weekend bag (I've bought one of each) from Talley & Twine of Portsmouth, Virginia you are patronizing a Black owned business and participating in Black History. When you eat out - there are some awesome restaurants you can patronize in my area (Boston). Try Mida, Cesaria, Savvor, or Darryl's. And there are many more...Maybe try the Boston Black Restaurant Challenge - the brainchild of State Representative Chynah Tyler along with the Box Agency and Elevate Boston - and see what you discover. And don't forget non-profits whose impact on Black lives has been purposeful and essential - like the great Haley House of Boston. Note: Haley House has suspended its café for the moment but the catering and wholesale operation is cranking and ready to serve your business, organization, school....so call today.
4. Take note of who is making a list: You can find a ton of ideas for engaging, educating and spending a dollar from all of these great organizations that are making a list and checking it twice - and they are not Santa Claus - they are hard-working, smart and open-hearted organizations trying to get your attention and direct you to making some purchases in the Black community. Try Black Market, Black Economic Council of MA, Temple Israel of Boston, Boston Ujima Project, and Street2Ivy just for starters.
5. Socialize the idea: Make an effort to expand your horizons but also make it social. You have a friend who is thinking the same way you are and maybe just has no place to start. Maybe this blog post can help knock you all into some action steps together! Share this post on Facebook or instagram - or your choice of social media platform. Send to a friend. Make a plan to do something together - a purchase, an outing, a reading - whatever it is. Do not sit still.

BONUS: Ok rather than adding a number 6 -- here is the bonus item: Invest! Invest! There may never have been more clear and accessible pathways to put capital in ANY AMOUNT toward growing the capacity of small businesses with Black ownership - across the US. Some Boston opportunities that will take an informational call from you today? The Fund for Business Equity was created by Glynn Lloyd and Eastern Bank and is taking capital via a charitable giving vehicle managed at the Boston Foundation - and the money goes toward working capital grants to proven businesses. The Boston Ujima Project was started based on ideas coming out of the democratic capitalism movement and will take even a $50 contribution to a fund that is already putting dollars in play to power growth plans for local companies. The Boston Impact Initiative says they are "investing for justice" and their innovative work is creating a new channel of working capital that is empowering Black owned businesses and others committed to some very relevant principles. Disclaimer: I have relationships with all three - but I am not in a position to gain financially from your investment choices, nor am I recommending that you invest in anything. I am suggesting that you use February to get informed about the options that are out there!

Thanks for reading and considering. Have a great Black History Month.

Andy Tarsy is Principal and Founder of Emblem Strategic LLC.