#BuyBlackNB Works to Empower Local Black Entrepreneurs

Among many historically significant events, 2020 will be marked as the year of a long-overdue social awakening. Across the country, activists mobilized and community organizations were formed that became part of a rapidly growing movement for racial equity.

From the outset, New Bedford became and remains the epicenter of this movement on the SouthCoast. Local leaders have taken up the broad spectrum of causes to empower communities of color on the SouthCoast, causes such as criminal justice reform, equity in housing, and in the case of Buy Black NB, fostering entrepreneurship. Buy Black NB is an online platform dedicated to highlighting, discovering, and promoting Black-owned businesses on the SouthCoast.

In the year since it was formed, Buy Black NB's directory has grown at a rapid clip, having discovered over 150 and counting Black-owned businesses in the region that provide a comprehensive list of goods and services that meet all local consumer needs.

This year, Buy Black NB will be hosting its first in-person community event. "Black in Business" will be a pop-up market featuring over 20 vendors in the Buy Black NB directly. The event will be held from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Rotch-Jones-Duff House on County Street in New Bedford on June 19, also known as Juneteenth.

Recently, Justina Perry, the founder of Buy Black NB, joined me on-air to talk about the directory, the importance of Juneteenth, and what to expect and the event. You can listen to the full conversation here:

Marcus Ferro is the host of The Marcus Ferro Show airing Saturdays on 1420 WBSM from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Contact him at marcusferrolaw@gmail.com. The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of the author.

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