Black-owned businesses get a boost from event
Blackout Day, a national movement born on social media, translated into financial support for Houston-area businesses
As the novel coronavirus continues to affect businesses, especially restaurants and bars, a movement to support Blackowned enterprises took hold in the Humble area this week.
Blackout Day 2020 — a national movement born on social media that encourages people to use their economic power to fight racial injustice — translated into financial support for Black-owned businesses on Tuesday. Supporters committed to only spending money at Black-owned businesses, including banks, movie theaters, gas stations and nail shops.
Local Black-owned businesses, including Humble Pies, Paddy’s Gourmet Popcorn, Wafflez N Creamz and Georgia’s Catfish Kitchen all saw an increase in sales on Blackout Day.
Edwin Powell, Humble store manager for Wafflez N Creamz, said the business had a significant boost in sales. Powell said he was impressed by the community support he received.
“It’s amazing, it really feels great,” Powell said. “And it just goes to show you how far we can go if we all come together and really participate as one — we can really make change.”
Powell said Blackout Day, following protests, social media movements and continued conversations around race, made a powerful statement in the Lake Houston area. He said a diverse group of customers came together to support his business and give it recognition.
“Because I am a young Black man in this community, it really makes me feel valid,” Powell said. “It really makes me feel like we are finally starting to get the recognition and the attention that we need and deserve. And it’s powerful that not only just people of my community are coming out and supporting, but it’s those that aren’t our color that are coming in and supporting.”
Georgia’s Catfish Kitchen owner Anthony Scott said he and his staff were busy from around noon until closing. He could not even step away from the register. Although the business regularly offers a special on Tuesdays, Scott said he thinks the rush predominantly came from Blackout Day supporters.
“I think it was a great idea — I think we should do it more often,” Scott said. “... People don’t respond to threats but what they do respond to is financial situations. So if you can get into somebody’s pockets you normally can get their attention, and especially with business people. The Black and white only goes so far, but the No. 1 color (that people) love is the green.”
By being able to financially support Black-owned businesses and circulating money into those businesses at a large scale, the Blackout Day movement reminded Scott of Rosa Parks and the public transit boycotts in the 1950s that were pivotal during the civil rights movement. He said he hopes Blackout Day encourages people to take a closer look at racial injustice and police violence.
“I think a lot of people get that misconstrued with saying that all cops are bad — I don’t think that’s the case,” Scott said of the Black Lives Matter movement, noting he pursued joining the police force when he first left the military. “It’s just the bad apples in the bunch. It’s that one bad apple can spoil the whole bunch. I think there’s some bad apples out there because it’s power. When you’re dealing with power you have that proficiency to abuse it. It takes a strong person to know how to rein in that power.”
Wayne Padmore, owner of Paddy’s Gourmet Popcorn, said he also saw an increase in sales during Blackout Day. They particularly saw an increase in online sales, with less purchased from their shop at the Braeswood Farmer’s Market.
“Due to a lot of the businesses and stuff being shut down, a lot of the normal places that we can actually sell and go to has declined. With the increase it helps immensely,” Padmore said. “You know it’s a full time ( job just) to stay afloat right now.”