Couple's 'buy black' experiment becomes a movement

I have to agree with Ares on this.

It is also a very bad idea to start an economic trade war between Black and Whites. It is just bad no matter how you look at it.

I'm not to sure, there are plenty of whites that will only buy from somebody who's white. An older guy I work with will not buy food from a fast food restaurant in black neighborhoods. There still is plenty of growing up as a society we have to do.

They live in Chicago and they had to drive that far? I find that hard to believe. Try living in Biloxi and tell me how far you have to drive. It's right around the corner.

Im guessing these people see it as a way to get more blacks into positions of wealth and power but honestly "buying black" is ridiculous. Thats discrimination based on skin color... which is something i thought African Americans would be against. Then again black voters in California seem to love to discriminate against gays so well whatever.

Racist? How is this any different from when Asians buy from Asian markets, Latinos buy from Latino markets or Persians and Arabs buy from Mediterranean markets? Get over it White people...you don't own Black people anymore.

Black people can buy from whoever they damn well choose...and it's not like there are any "Soul Markets" or "African Markets" that are in large production. Maybe if you stop and realize that "Kosher Deli" or "Halal Markets" as well as "German Butchers" or "Italian Deli" is the same thing, you'll stop being such freaking hypocrites.

Will you please just realize Black people have a different culture than you and YOU are a culture, too?! You are not the "default", but another culture altogether.

Racism? You reachin', son.

they are free to do what they want with their money no matter how dome it may look,as long as they are not hurting any one putting a label that has so much pain with it is hard to do.

When I was a kid growing up in my neighborhood which was primarily Latino, the term we used was "keep it in the vein" in other words we knew we were really not welcome outside our community except to do the work that others felt was beneath them...so, we tried our best to help one another by patronizing each others businesses. The whites had already made it quite clear to us that we were not welcome in their neighborhoods...unless we were tending to their children, or lawns , repairing their cars or cleaning their filthy houses that were often like pig pens. but date their daughters? Man you must be crazy....So when Mr. Lopez opens a carniceria, that's where we bought our meat, or Mr. Garcia a zapateria, we bought our shoes there....Why in the world would we spend money with people who refer to us as lazy assed wetbacks, spics, fucking grease balls etc. I completely get why this couple is doing what they do.
Do you people really think that we don't know how most of you feel and talk about us behind our backs?

Is it racist to simply be aware of differences in populations? It seems to me they are trying to raise awareness of the lack of blacks in positions of wealth in their own communities. If they are trying to boost what seems to be an under-appreciated market, then more power to them!

I'm also trying to buy more of my goods and food from local business owners instead of chains. Long live the farmers market and corner store!

Interesting site: Black Business Directory
http://www.usebobo.com/

WTF.... how can u be racist to your own race based on the colour of their skin. u mighht as well kick yourself i n the arse and lable yourself a KKK member while your at it.... this sound s a lot like the DAVE CHAPPLE episode where he thinks he is a white man and becomes a white suppremisist and an anti-black KK spokesman.. it was funny cause he was joking, but these retards are being serious!!!! WTF

Some of you act like its the 1890's and you found some Black people reading a book.

They're basing their decision on COLOR OF SKIN. When you only support one COLOR OF SKIN you are choosing to BOYCOTT all other COLORS.

There is no other way to look at this.

Let's say a white man walks into a restaurant he thought was owned by whites but when he is seated he realizes it is actually owned by blacks. He leaves the restaurant and tells the media, "I will not eat at a black owned restaurant, I only support white owned business's, sorry."

Is he looked at as a starting a "neat movement" or is he labeled a "racist?"

Come on people....

This is reverse discrimination at its worst.

And one last thing...

Whatever happened to supporting your neighbors and community? Supporting people and business's that earn your money with quality service and personal relationships. My God, like all non-black business's are just booming right now and counting wads of money, All of them are working their asses off trying to stay afloat! Black White, Asian, Hispanic, etc...They are all Americans living in our current economy.

The fact that these two people are blindly running all over the state supporting business's for the sole reason of color of skin is so idiotic. They might as well have signs around their necks that say "DO NOT EVEN TRY to solicit our business, well, um, unless your skin color looks like ours, then it is okay.

Well, I boycott Wal Mart and some other big box stores.
I don't know what that makes me. Perhaps an anti-corporate slave wager?
I also try very hard to buy American when I can because I want Americans to have jobs, so I am prejudiced against the labor in foreign countries?

Those here defending an attitude among blacks to buy only from black businesses while ignoring the other factors involved in a normal purchase making decision are purposely ignoring the definition of racism to support your view. That is what racists do. I know I hear that BS from white supremacists in the news all the friggin time. "It is not racist to have pride in the white race" etc...

rac·ism (rszm)
n.
1. The belief that race accounts for differences in human character or ability and that a particular race is superior to others.
2. Discrimination or prejudice based on race.

If a black person purposely does not buy from a white proprietor that has the same products and competitive pricing that is closer to the residence of the buyer than a business owned by a black person, thus expending effort to purposely go out of their way not to buy from a proprietor of a different race that is "Discrimination or prejudice based on race."

I have witnessed racism against blacks by whites and I have also seen racism against whites by blacks. The are both wrong. Period.

It all comes down to personal choice. If someone chooses to go an extra mile to purchase a product from a black business, it's a personal choice. What you're overlooking is there 'is' a black owned business to go to.

I think they are trying to motivate their race. I wish I could think of a way to promote entrepreneurship in America, regardless of race.

If we don't take it personal, it won't matter. They aren't trying to hurt white, or Asian people, they are trying to motivate black entrepreneurship..

this is the most racist thing i've heard in a long time. if a white person intentionally went out of their way to only buy from whites...then made an experiement and a new story out of it, jesse jackson and al sharpton would be racing to get in front of the cameras.

Buy black... buy American...why isn't anyone boasting about the unfairness of the immigrant store owners when we go on a pro-American product kick???? Think before you speak.

This article bugs the crap out of me. I get the positive aspects of buying from black businesses but i cannot for the life of me find a away to rationalize that it is anything more than fighting racism with more racism. I feel like if they had just changed it from 'buy black' to 'buy local' it would be a billion times better. It would keep the intent of helping your community but it wouldnt put limit it to a racial context. I'm sure there are hispanic, asian or even white run independent stores who have similar problems tot he black stores. They are part of the community and they could use help too.

"It's like, my people have been here 400 years and we don't even have a Walgreens to show for it."

Because that's a symbol of progress?! If you're kid is sick and you can't find a black pharmacist, you had BETTER not be applying your skewed economic ethics to the situation.

Why don't they look at this on a deeper level- for example, does a white person supply the black dry-cleaner with their soaps? One way or another, you'll be supporting a race that is not your own.

If I were walking around saying, "Oh, No, I only buy WHITE goods," you know I'd get a fist to the face. I guess that I'm supposed to keep assuming my race is oppressing others.

You know what I hate when people are openly racist and think they are the solution to the worlds problems.

Lets see... Hitler, rwanda, pol pot in cambodia, Darfur, Armenia. We've seen this same story play out before. Some up and coming figures (hitler, pol pot, Maggie and John Anderson) who start a movement, they rally the people and all hell breaks loose.

Am I saying they are two genocidal maniacs? of course not, what I am saying is that this idiotic racial empowerment/supieriority thing has gone on long enough. Why cant we just get over it?

Your black Im white lets just be friends.

They have a right to experience our culture differently - there are people who shop at "white" stores too I bet, although I am fortunate not to know them. Why I don't think this is racist: Although the President is black there still exists today a white male power structure that is a direct result of slavery of African-Americans and the attempted genocide of the Native Americans.
I am of mixed race and it makes me sad how many people are still racist. I moved to a rural suburb area and was listening to hip-hop and an anonymous neighbor said I was "listening to n***** music." I have full lips so I also get people saying (with distain) "she looks like a white black girl." Race is a huge issue still and one that needs to continue to be addressed. I thank them for bringing light to a sometimes hidden issue.

Why is it people see things like this and immediately go for the negative (i.e calling it racist)?

This isn't about racism, choosing black over white or an economic power struggle like some people claim. It's about cultural empowerment.

People forget that there was a time when segregation in America forced black communities to work and thrive on their own. You had black stores, doctors, lawyers, the whole nine. But a lot of this gradually went out of the window when integration happened.

The point of this whole project is not to try and take money from the white man, the whole point is that as Americans, who have lived and worked in this country for centuries, it makes no sense for blacks to not own more viable businesses and franchises.

The difficulty these people experienced in getting basic products and services because of this experiment is a testament to how lopsided our socioeconomic system still is.

I know people who maybe don't purpously shop at "White" owned stores, but I know for a fact they won't shop at a store if they know a person of a minority ethnic background owns it. That isn't even uncommon. Now, if someone makes an effort to support "Black" owned business for the purpose of supporting and promoting a better way of life for people of that specific cultural heritage, I don't believe that is a racist movement. If you only support "Black" owned businesses because you hate all "White" people....well, I believe that would be. See.

Why only one year? If the goal is to empower and support your own race and community then shouldn't it be a lifetime commitment?