Black Business Month (August) is almost here, and it’s not only a time for celebration, it’s a time for action.
Black-owned businesses are a vital component of society — driving innovation, creating jobs, contributing to the community, and in the case of publishing — sharing and preserving important stories, history, and culture.
When Frederick E. Jordan and John William Templeton founded Black Business Month in 2004, their goal was not only to recognize Black-owned businesses and their contributions but to “drive the policy agenda” given the unique challenges Black business owners face.
For Jordan, one of those big challenges was lack of access to capital, which continues to be a hurdle today. Add to that budget cuts, book bans, growing opposition to inclusive books and history, and a strained economy and indeed it’s a challenging time.
To continue making an impact, Black businesses need sustained investment. As we navigate this climate as entrepreneurs at Just Us Books, we’re also doing all that we can to uplift our fellow Black businesses, including:
-More intentional spending. We prioritize Black, small and local businesses for everything from printing for our books to catering for our events.
-Growing our networks. We want to be able to find the businesses we need and recommend them to others, even if we don’t require their products or services at the time.
-Use our platforms to amplify. We post businesses on social media, highlight them in every newsletter, and use our events and other channels to spread the word.
What’s an action you’re taking to invest in Black owned businesses? We’d love to hear your ideas. For more suggestions, check out: 9 Ways to Support Black-Owned Businesses
Pictured above: Just Us Books founders Wade and Cheryl Hudson with fellow publishers, Haki Madhubuti, founder of Third World Press Foundation and Paul Coates, founder of Black Classic Press, at the Havana International Bookfair in Cuba. | 
