Supporting Black-Owned Business ... REAL TALK

When it comes to supporting black owned businesses, I must admit that I am a glutton for punishment. I have been burned more times than I have been able to give praise, yet I do not give up hope. I have dealt with quite a few brothers - a couple I met or learned of online who have given me GREAT service and EXACTLY what I expected in terms of the products I've purchased from them; however, there have also been those businesses that just cause me to shake my head & sadly say to myself, "Ni&&az."

The problem that (NOT ALL but) many of our people face when running their businesses is that they are more concerned with getting paid than they are providing a quality product or service. On the flip side, some brothers & sisters can make crappy customers as well.

My wife is a professional photographer specializing in everything from family portraits to HUGE weddings, & the majority of the problems she deals with come from US. The best & shortest description I can give would be to say that sometimes our people tend to want to get "Triple-Platinum Taj Mahal" service, but only want to buy from the "value menu."

On the service side; as a people, we will do better in commerce when we realize that prosperity (i.e. repeat & new business) will come from providing a quality product or service at a reasonable price & truly good customer service as opposed to charging some ridiculous amount of money in an effort to try & get paid all up front as much as possible & having a funky attitude in the process.

On the consumer side; as a people, we will do better in commerce when we realize that you're not always going to get "a hook-up." You're not going to get EVERYTHING you want at a bargain. Not EVERY single transaction is going to be about trying to haggle over a price. Sometimes you're just going to have to pay the price. OF COURSE - make sure you're getting what you're paying for though! Sometimes - as the old saying goes - "If you have to ask, you can't afford it."

Combined, when we can establish a symbiotic relationship between providing quality products & services at reasonable prices, and a willingness to pay for those products & services without expecting a discount or a "hook-up" EVERY TIME, then we will begin to trade as do other cultures and keep our money within our communities.