August 14th 2024.
According to a report by NHPR, Black business owners are feeling frustrated and ignored as popular media outlets continue to leave them off of their "best of" lists. These lists are a way for magazines and online publications to promote local businesses and give residents a glimpse into the hottest spots in their cities and towns. However, these lists have been missing one key element - Black-owned businesses. DeAndrea Abrahams, a successful hairdresser who sees an average of eight customers per day, has been left off the list in West Hartford, Connecticut. "It's definitely a bit bothersome," she shared.
The process of creating these lists varies from city to city, but advocates believe that it needs to change. Yvette Young, owner of ShopBlackCT.com, a website that serves as a directory for Black-owned businesses in Connecticut, believes that larger publications should start embracing the diversity in their communities. "Are they willing to include a more diverse group of businesses to accurately represent the communities they serve?" she questioned.
Young's website was created during the COVID-19 pandemic after she noticed the lack of support for Black businesses and the alarming rate at which they were closing. This trend was not just happening in Connecticut, but across the country. A report from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York revealed that Black businesses experienced a 41% decline between February and April 2020, the most of any racial demographic. "It's unacceptable that we are still having this conversation in 2024," Young expressed. "Connecticut is not an all-white state. There is no reason why we can't give over 2,000 Black-owned businesses a platform to exist."
The lack of media coverage for Black businesses has resulted in fewer opportunities for growth and recognition. "It's a cycle," Young explained. "Without media coverage, Black businesses don't get the same foot traffic, sales, or chances to expand." However, there are some media outlets, like Black Enterprise, that are actively promoting lists that cater to Black business growth, such as the best places for startups and financial resources. In March 2024, Atlanta was named the best city for businesses to be creative, and for Black Business Month, Black Enterprise compiled a list of the best financial resources for Black entrepreneurs who struggle to secure loans and funding.
For Abrahams, being featured on these lists means more than just recognition and accolades. "It opens doors," she stated. "People take you more seriously when you're on these lists." In June 2024, CNN released a list of 50 Black-owned businesses to support, categorizing them by industry, including beauty, cookware, and games.
This issue of Black businesses being left off of "best of" lists highlights larger systemic issues of inequality and lack of representation. It is important for media outlets to actively include and promote Black-owned businesses to help them thrive and become recognized in their communities. As Young stated, "It shouldn't take special projects to give Black businesses a space to exist."
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