“I’m not a fan of Blackout Tuesday. What does it accomplish?”
Blackout Tuesday encourages people to spend money at Black-owned businesses.
If there are no racial economic differences in Barbados, it should be easy to spend one day supporting only Black-owned business. If not, then it’s a good opportunity for everyone.
Consider if a group proposed a day to support businesses owned by individuals with disabilities
Would you feel threatened or outraged? Probably not right?
Would it be easier for you to see it for what is it is? A day to support businesses who have had more hurdles in the way of their success, and a chance to discuss and amend these barriers as a society. A day to encourage them, a day for them to improve and become more competitive in the market. A day for other businesses to stop and consider the ways they need to improve THEIR accessibility and services for those with disabilities.
Would it be construed to be an attack on able-bodied business owners? Prejudicial or hate-filled?
Unlikely.
It’s worth seriously considering why a proposed ‘black-out’ day to support Black businesses creates such a panicked response from some people in Barbados.
What are we hearing?
Maybe some people see “‘spend your money with Black businesses to fight racial injustice and economic disparity” and what they choose to HEAR is “they’re asking people to never spend money with me again because my skin is white!”
White people, by default or habit, choose to interpret it as an attack against them for something they cannot control (their skin tone) and then immediately jump to accusations of ‘racism’ (fully misunderstanding and misapplying the implications of that term) and then go on to accuse the entire movement of hatred, totally ignoring the real purpose and intention of the movement or the context leading us to here.
It’s understandable to feel threatened if you are ever worried about your livelihood. At less than 3% of the population, if every Black Barbadian decided to never again spend another cent with white Barbadians would be in trouble. We have children to feed, too.
But is that what’s actually being said?
And no, not those idle, occasional comments online or in person that echo and validate all of your fears.
You can’t jump straight to the few comments that support your fears and then characterize an entire conversation and movement based on that. You don’t expect Black Bajan to pick the one comment by that crazy cousin of yours who’s blatantly racist and freely uses the n-word to characterize yourself or the entire population of White Barbadians, so don’t turn around and do the same thing.
Let’s return to that hypothetical Disability-business day.
It doesn’t panic you.
It’s not about able-bodiedness being bad, and disabilities being good. Or vice versa. It’s about developing more equal access and opportunities.
It’s not about punishing people for being able-bodied and successful. It’s about making sure the path to success is not blocked for those who are not.
It’s not about punishing you for being white. It’s about making sure the path to success is not
blocked for those who are not.
If you run a business in Barbados and you are white — it’s not a time to feel panicked. It’s a time to:
- Reflect on how you run your businesses and to examine whether there are any biases affecting the ways you operate.
- Question why it’s assumed that the white guy in the meeting is the manager.
- Examine who you hire and why and whether you are treating all your employees fairly and equitably.
- Examine the culture within your business and see if you have been prioritizing white customers over Black customers, white employees over Black employees.
- Examine your suppliers and partners — have you always worked with your cousin’s friend, even though he tends to be late with orders and a pain to work with? Maybe consider switching to a Black-owned supplier with a solid track record. Are you that cousin’s friend? Then it’s an opportunity to improve your business practices for everyone.
If a movement like this makes you uncomfortable — let that discomfort be a motivator to reflect on yourself and the way you operate, not to project mythical vengeance from others.
An excellent opportunity to examine and go further
Furthermore, a day where we examine the ways we take part in capitalism is important because capitalism is an incredibly powerful system, that we very seldom choose to consciously examine.
Un-examined and un-challenged capitalism is the historical heartbeat of systemic racism.
Why not go further? A lot of businesses and therefore people are hurting because of COVD-19 and its impact on tourism and other industries. So when we are able to do business, let’s make sure every penny we spend counts. Think of how so many people suddenly started supporting local farmers instead of just the supermarkets. Everyone benefits from that. How can we take this further?
It should be easy
Returning to the point earlier on, if white Bajans are less than 3% of the population, and if there is no such thing as racial economic disparity in Barbados then it should be incredibly easy to go one day supporting Black Businesses. If there’s no disparity surely 94% of the businesses that you currently use are Black? Which means you ALREADY spend 94% of your weekly spend with Black businesses?
….But, no… right?
So listen… it doesn’t make someone a bad person to realize that when we think about where we spend our money in an average week, a big portion goes go to white owned businesses. It wasn’t a conscience choice, it’s not even bad in and of itself to give white businesses money.
BUT if there is a disparity we should listen and notice. We should do our part to ask why, how did we get here, what is keeping us here, what conscious and unconscious decisions lead to business success for one racial demographic and not another?
If there IS no disparity — then, caw blen, NO WORRIES! This shopping day will affect literally NOTHING.
If there IS a disparity, it does mean you have a responsibility to Barbadian society to help pave an equitable path forward for all segments of Barbadians.
Days focused on supporting certain businesses are used around the world and are an opportunity, not a threat
These days generate conversation — already Blackout Tuesday has done this. There was even a news segment in Trinidad talking about the day in Barbados!!
It gives a chance to highlight businesses people love and want to support more.
Look around the world at other places doing these types of days — it doesn’t mean all the other businesses were cut down, forced into the streets penniless. It just spreads the love.
And if you’re already doing your part then you have nothing to worry about, don’t get sucked into the reflexive white defensiveness that was taught to our ancestors 400 years ago to maintain the status quo for those who were exploiting others in the name of capitalism.
Continue to reflect and examine, because there’s always room for improvement for ALL of us in forging a better Barbados. You work hard, but other people work hard too — and their hard work isn’t worth any less than yours or mine as a white person. And that’s what this conversation is about.
There are going to be more Blackout days, maybe weeks and more, coming up — brace yourself and your business for some reflection. People remember how you treat them, customers, partners, and employees. A perfect time to improve yourself and your business, and support others who could use a leg up.
#BajanBlackOut on social media often has information on the latest Blackout news.
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Frequently Heard Claims
- “Racism is more of an American issue…”
- “I’m white and I’m not wealthy, I don’t have white privilege…”
- “Slavery happened years ago, why can’t people get over it?”
- “I have Black family and friends etc. I’m not racist…”
- “As a ‘white minority’ I’ve experienced more racism than Black people…”
- “I don’t see colour… Why don’t we just spread positivity?”
- “It’s not about race, it’s about class issue etc.”
- “Indentured servants were slaves too!”
- “Black workers are lazy.”
- “My Black friends & family agree with me on this…”
- “Every race segregate and hire their relatives and friends, not just White people”
- “There are many Black people who have done very well for themselves”
- “All Lives Matter”
- “The Nelson Statue should stay, we can’t change history!”
- “I don’t like the tones of these conversations when they become angry and extreme!”
- “Black people sold others into slavery; other cultures enslaved people throughout history”
- “Some Black people were treated well under slavery”
- “I’m not a fan of Blackout Tuesday. What does it accomplish?”
- “Changing all of these brand names is foolishness”
Now I want to talk to all my Black friends and family about racism!
