My 2021 Black-Owned Business Round-Up

Support Black
Written By Courtney Cross-Johnson

Today is my favorite day of Kwanzaa because it’s UJAMAA aka Cooperative Economics. Why? Because you can say a lot about me, but one thing you CAN’T say is that I don’t support Black. Last year, I saw a fellow member of NULYP list all of the Black-owned businesses she supported and I thought that was clever and simply dope.

In 2020, I determined that I supported 67 Black-owned businesses and I was BIG proud of myself but I knew that I could go harder. Now, I wasn’t planning on becoming a whole entrepreneur that packed her items into a storage unit and move across the Gulf of Mexico to Mexico… but girl, when there’s a will, there is a way. If I’m going to spend the money anyway, I might as well shop small, shop local, and shop Black.

It is my hope that this motivates you take a hard look at your spending habits and see in what ways you can make a shift. I’ve got a long way to go in a variety of categories, but I’m so honored that I was able to support these primarily Black women owned businesses this year.

Keep reading to see if I was over/under my 2020 number of 67 businesses supported.

Body, Beauty, & Self-Care

  1. Angie Watts (Rolesville, NC)

  2. Base Butter

  3. Beauty Bakerie*

  4. The Blissful Collection (Dallas, TX)

  5. Bolden (New York, NY… I think)

  6. Buttah Skin by Dorian* (Florida)

  7. CurlBox* (Atlanta, GA)

  8. Dollface Kara (Dallas, TX)

  9. Fenty Beauty*/Skin (LA?)

  10. Hawlistics

  11. The Honey Pot Company (Atlanta, GA)

  12. Juvia’s Place*

  13. Karité (New Jersey)

  14. London Grant (Atlanta, GA)

  15. LuvMeHair

  16. MHO Beauty (Memphis, TN)

  17. Marjani Beauty (Washington, D.C.)

  18. Marena Beaute (Sweden)

  19. Mented Cosmetics* (New York, NY)

  20. Mielle Organics* (Merrillville, IN)

  21. Pholk Beauty (Jersey City, NJ… I THINK)

  22. PNK Digger* (Atlanta, GA)

  23. Sade Baron

  24. SixTwenty Beauty (Dallas, TX)

  25. Talmadge Larue Bath and Body (Miami, FL)

  26. Undefined Beauty (Los Angeles, CA)

Candles!!

  1. Cel Sal (Dallas, TX)

  2. FORVR Mood (Santa Fe Springs, CA)

  3. Gatson Home (Dallas, TX)

  4. Ignite Your Peace* (New Jersey)

  5. Laguna Candles (Laguna Beach, CA)

  6. Lindsey Created (Charlotte, NC)

  7. Posh Candle Co* (Los Angeles, CA)

  8. Sensual Candle Co. (Miami, FL)

  9. Southern Elegance Candle Co* (Raeford, NC)

Clothing & Accessories

  1. Beacon Threads (Baltimore, MD)

  2. Black Cadre (Ft. Washington, MD)

  3. Brownie Points for You

  4. Coco + Bronze Swim* (New Jersey)

  5. FBF Body* (Philadelphia, PA)

  6. Glam-a-holic Lifestyle* (Detroit, MI)

  7. Love, Vera* (Honey Brook, PA)

  8. Mandy’s Market (Houston, TX)

  9. The Modern Day Queen Collection (Houston, TX)

  10. Material girl Kloset (Dallas, TX)

  11. Newd Style

  12. Nichole Lynel

  13. Sassee Chic

  14. Thick Athletics

  15. Taylor Jay Collection (Oakland, CA)

Miscellaneous & Novelty

  1. Blavia* (Cleveland, OH)

  2. Blooms By Bem (Dallas, TX)

  3. Cool Coffee Clique (Orlando, FL)

  4. Foolproof Body (Orlando, FL)

  5. Harriett’s Bookshop* (Philadelphia, PA)

  6. Chic Geeks*

  7. Ivy’s Tea Co.

  8. McBride Sisters Wine *(Oakland, CA)

  9. Manifest Your Purpose* (Dallas, TX)

  10. Painting & All That Jas (Dallas, TX)

  11. Tequila With Friends (Dallas, TX)

  12. The Weed Spot* (Dallas, TX) And it’s CBD, so chill, lol.

Professional & Creative Services

  1. Natania Creates (Toronto, ON)

  2. Millionaire Mob University (Atlanta, GA)

  3. Auntee Rik

  4. Cimone Key Creative Studio (Dallas, TX)

  5. Calendly* (Atlanta, GA)

  6. Candace Junee Marketing (Chicago, IL)

  7. Create Her Stock*

  8. Darren G Photography (Playa del Carmen, MX)

  9. Haus of Vibes (Playa del Carmen, MX)

  10. The Helpful Digital Marketer

  11. JOA Creative Lab

  12. Positive Influences (Dallas, TX)

  13. Trove Social Academy

  14. WhatShanWrote

Restaurants, Lounges, & Grub

  1. Aldeez Caribbean Restaurant (Dallas, TX)

  2. Bar 5015 (Houston, TX)

  3. Bar One Miami Beach (Miami, FL)

  4. BJ’s Baywatch Seafood & More (Houston, TX)

  5. Breakfast at Barney’s (Atlanta, GA)

  6. Brunchaholics (Dallas, TX)

  7. BurgerIM West End (Dallas, TX)

  8. Cake Bar (Dallas, TX)

  9. Caribbean Caribana (Dallas, TX)

  10. Cookie Society (Frisco, TX)

  11. Crabman 305 Restaurant (Miami, FL)

  12. Crescent City Beignets (Houston, TX)

  13. Cupcake Kitchen (Houston, TX)

  14. Distinctive Vines Wine Lounge (Dallas, TX)

  15. Fluellen Cupcakes (Dallas, TX)

  16. Frenchey’s Chicken (Houston, TX)

  17. Kookie Haven (Dallas, TX)

  18. Morrow’s (New Orleans, LA)

  19. Nice Guys Bar & Grill (New Orleans, LA)

  20. Neyow’s Creole Cafe (New Orleans, LA)

  21. Rockas Jamaican Kitchen (Playa del Carmen, MX)

  22. Seafood Haven (Willingboro, NJ)

  23. Smokey John’s Bar-B-Que (Dallas, TX)

  24. Soiree Coffee Bar (Dallas, TX)

  25. The Stuffed Baked Potato Factory (Houston, TX)

  26. Supreme Burger (Playa del Carmen, MX)

  27. Taste Bar & Kitchen (Houston, TX)

  28. Vegan Food House (Dallas, TX)

  29. Vonda’s Kitchen (Newark, NJ)

  30. Whiskey’s (Dallas, TX)

  31. WingBucket* (Dallas, TX)

“*” denotes repeat business from 2020.

The Final Numbers

Pardon me as I screamed when I totaled it up multiple times to ensure I wasn’t tripping.

Y’all. Ya’ll. Y’all.

I supported 107 Black-owned businesses this year! Yes, OVER 100! Including 3 countries outside of the U.S.

Wow wow wow.

Similarly to last year, please note that this does not include the books I’ve read nor does it include the non-profit organizations I donated to! Either way, I’m proud of myself by exceeding my 2020 number of Black-owned businesses supported and now I’m going to challenge myself to shoot for 120 in 2022. I definitely think it’s within reach. Even something as simple as choosing a Black-owned restaurant when I’m scrolling on Uber Eats counts big time to a fellow entrepreneur.

Buying Black is not simply a square on your social media or a cute gif. It’s a lifestyle. - me

Shout out to me for walking it like I talk it!! If you ever want to see some of these products in action, be sure to head to my IG story highlights.

I encourage you to check out the businesses I mentioned, since you know, I hyperlinked their info for you. Let’s keep UJAMAA aka cooperative economics at the forefront today and every day.

Courtney Cross-Johnson
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