Choosing Real Support During Black Business Month

As we celebrate Black Business Month, I’ve been reflecting on a lesson that has shaped me over the years as a business owner.

Not every organization that says it supports small businesses is equipped—or willing—to support you when it matters most.

Recognition is wonderful. Awards are appreciated. Features and publicity feel good.

But real support looks different.

Real support looks like respecting a business owner’s time. It looks like listening before responding. It looks like taking ownership instead of passing responsibility. It looks like offering solutions instead of excuses.

Over time, I’ve learned that visibility and advocacy are not the same thing.

As a Black woman business owner, I’ve become much more intentional about where I invest my time, energy, and partnerships. I no longer confuse being celebrated with being supported. Celebration is public. Support is proven.

A Look Back: Why Black Business Month Matters

Black Business Month isn’t just a moment on the calendar — it’s rooted in history, resilience, and advocacy.

According to 2018 data from the Annual Business Survey and Non‑employer Statistics by Demographics, the U.S. Small Business Administration reported that there were more than 3.2 million Black‑owned businesses in the United States, employing over 1.18 million workers. In 2019, 19.4% of employer firms were minority‑owned, and 2.4% were Black‑owned — powerful numbers that reflect both progress and the ongoing need for support.

The origins of National Black Business Month date back to 2004, when two Black entrepreneurs — engineer Frederick E. Jordan and John William Templeton, president and executive editor of eAccess Corp. — designated August as a month to uplift and advocate for Black businesses nationwide.

Jordan’s motivation came from lived experience. After facing major obstacles securing financial support when he launched his engineering firm in San Francisco in 1969, he became determined to spotlight the challenges Black business owners face and push for real change.

Together, Jordan and Templeton aimed to drive policy, increase visibility, and empower Black entrepreneurs navigating barriers in access to capital, contracting opportunities, and equitable support.

If you’d like to read more about the history and significance of Black Business Month, here’s an excellent article: https://www.blackenterprise.com/national-black-businesses-month-america-history/

How You Can Support Black Businesses Today

This month, I encourage you to support Black‑owned businesses beyond a social media post. Build relationships. Refer us. Hire us. Invest in us. Advocate for us when no one is watching.

Those actions create lasting impact.

And if you’re looking for a place to start, I invite you to explore Renee’s Boutique Small Business Friends — a curated list of incredible Black‑owned and small businesses you can support, collaborate with, and learn from.

Browse the directory here: https://reneesboutiquellc.com/pages/our-small-business-friends

If you’re a small business owner who would like to be included on our Small Business Friends page, feel free to email me at reneesboutiquellc@gmail.com. I would love to highlight your work and help more people discover your business.

Here’s to another year of building, growing, and choosing partnerships rooted in mutual respect — and to every Black business owner who continues to rise, lead, and thrive.