Mayor Lori E. Lightfoot unveiled a campaign urging consumers to visit Black-owned businesses as they shop during the post-Thanksgiving spree known as “Black Friday.”
Taking place on November 27, Black Shop Friday “encourages Chicagoans to ‘spend green, shop Black’ as they buy gifts and order food to go this holiday season,” according to a release. The initiative was created by the mayor, the Chicago Urban League and ad agency O’Keefe Reinhard & Paul.
Information about more than 500 black-owned businesses in Chicago will be featured on a corresponding website, BlackShopFriday.com, that goes live Nov. 24.
“Supporting Chicago’s small businesses has been a priority of mine since even before taking office,” said Mayor Lori E. Lightfoot. “This inspiring partnership allows Chicagoans to discover the hundreds of Black-owned businesses in our city.”
Strengthening Chicago's neighborhoods
Aiming to “help narrow the wealth gap and strengthen neighborhoods across the city,” the relevance of Black Shop Friday is evident in the Chicago Urban League’s 2019 State of Black Chicago Report, which revealed that Black-owned businesses in Illinois have smaller sales receipts and fewer employees than other businesses.
“I’m thankful for the increased support for my business, and other amazing Black-owned businesses in the Chicago area,” said Momentum Coffee & Coworking Co-Founder Nikki Bravo. “We hope that Black Shop Friday and similar efforts will continue to highlight the businesses that truly help our communities thrive.”
According to the release, the effort is part of Mayor Lightfoot’s By Chicago, For Chicago initiative, “a commitment to dedicate a percentage of all hours worked towards non-profit, social and cultural organizations and City agencies.”
Black Shop Friday is also receiving support from “multiple media channels including out of home, programmatic, online digital channels and social media platforms.”
“We are very proud to be part of this new campaign,” said Illinois Lottery Acting Director, Harold Mays, “As an avid supporter of the communities we serve, supporting Black Shop Friday allows the Illinois Lottery to help bring attention to this important matter.”
The full list of shops participating in Black Shop Friday will be found at the website, BlackShopFriday.com.
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