“Buy Black” Financial Toolkit to
Empower Black-Owned Businesses
2025 has shown Black Americans many things—notably that we can’t rely on DEI initiatives either to support or to sustain Black businesses. This year has underscored the challenges Black Americans face, notably the limitations of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives in supporting Black businesses. “The work of increasing economic justice and Black wealth is ours, and the time to increase our commitment to Black businesses is now,” says Chanté Griffin, journalist and author of Loving Your Black Neighbor as Yourself.
In response, Griffin developed the “Buy Black” Financial Toolkit, a comprehensive, step-by-step guide to supporting Black-owned businesses throughout the year. This free, year-long resource assigns a theme to each month, providing curated lists of businesses to support and practical strategies for intentional spending. The toolkit launched in April 2025, aligning with Financial Literacy Month, and continues through March 2026.yougochante.com
Griffin was inspired to create the toolkit after two of her friends' products were removed from Target's shelves amid the company's rollback of DEI initiatives in January. “My friends’ experiences, coupled with sobering news stories, prompted me to become more intentional about putting dollars into Black communities and to provide a resource for others to do the same,” she explains.
