Participating in #BlackoutDay2020 Can Support the Black Lives Matter Movement

Chelsey Sanchez
·5 min read
Photo credit: bubaone
Photo credit: bubaone

From Harper's BAZAAR

If the United States runs on money, what happens when the people withhold their buying power? Grinding systems to a halt through such a strategy is the premise of Blackout Day, a nationwide boycott against consumer consumption of any kind, with the exception of purchasing from Black-owned businesses, occurring today, July 7.

What is #BlackoutDay2020?

The campaign stands in solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement and the Black community at large. "This movement is an awakening of the national consciousness of black people in America and abroad," wrote The Blackout Coalition, the event's organizers, on Instagram. "We need economic solidarity in America amongst all black people unequivocally. In order to break free from the chains of financial servility, we will organize days, weeks, months, and years if necessary when not one black person in America will spend a dollar outside of our community."

The coalition added that non-Black people are also encouraged to not spend money today. "Although this movement is exclusively targeted at empowering and uplifting black people all over the world, we welcome ALL people of color to stand with us in solidarity," the Instagram statement continued. "Black people alone account for an estimated 1.2 trillion dollars or more of spending in the economy annually. Together we have 3.9 trillion dollars in economic spending power. While we welcome allies who choose to stand with us, we make absolutely no apology for the fact this movement is FOR US & BY US."

View this post on Instagram

. ✊🏽JOIN THE MOVEMENT! 🗣THIS IS A CALL TO ACTION!🗣. This movement is an awakening of the national consciousness of black people in America and abroad. We need economic solidarity in America amongst all black people unequivocally. In order to break free from the chains of financial servility, we will organize days, weeks, months, and years if necessary when not one black person in America will spend a dollar outside of our community. ✅Our ASK is that we stop being shot down in the streets. ✅Our ASK is that racist legislation be purged from the books, and the cancerous ideology that this country was founded upon be rooted out. ✅Our ASK is that we have equal opportunity to access funding so that we can conduct business and practice group economics amongst ourselves. ✅Our ASK is that we are allowed to build our own communities and industries and be left alone. ✅Our ASK is that you stop murdering our leaders when they attempt to unite us as a people. . WE WILL SYSTEMATICALLY AND STRATEGICALLY BLACK OUT UNTIL THE SYSTEM IS BROKEN AND WE HAVE RISEN TO POWER AS A PEOPLE. . Although this movement is exclusively targeted at empowering and uplifting black people all over the world, we welcome ALL people of color to stand with us in solidarity. Black people alone account for an estimated 1.2 trillion dollars or more of spending in the economy annually. Together we have 3.9 trillion dollars in economic spending power. While we welcome allies who choose to stand with us, we make absolutely no apology for the fact this movement is FOR US & BY US. YOU MAY BE SAYING TO YOURSELF, I LOVE THE CAUSE, "HOW CAN I HELP??"... ➡️ VISIT www.blackoutday.org if you are SERIOUS and interested in being a leader in this movement. Fill out the form and you will be added to the future email blast regarding boots on the ground organization of the #BlackOutDay2020 movement in YOUR city. ➡️SHARE this group with as many people as you can and post about! ➡️Join the private Facebook group #BlackOutDay2020 to stay plugged in and engaged. . #BLACKOUTDAY2020 Let this be the beginning.

A post shared by #BlackOutDay2020 (@theblackoutcoalition) on May 27, 2020 at 9:20am PDT

What is the objective?

In demonstrating its united economic might, the campaign broadly demands for an end to racist legislation, equal opportunity for business funding, autonomy for community and industry building, and a stop to "murdering our leaders when they attempt to unite us as a people."

How long will it last?

While the current campaign plans to boycott non-Black-owned businesses for only July 7, Calvin Martyr, founder of The Blackout Coalition, has previously said that this campaign can potentially be expanded upon even further in the future.

In an Instagram Live video posted in May, Martyr said, "As we organize just for one day, then we'll be able to organize for a week, then for a month, then for a quarter, then for a year. So my goal right now is, number one, let's organize for July 7 for one day."

How can I find Black-owned businesses to buy from?

The Blackout Coalition has put together the Blackout Directory, a website that allows someone to find Black-owned businesses near them, from beauty brands and fashion retailers to health care providers and home services. Black owners can also input their own businesses into the website.

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