Back on May 12th, I commented on both Twitter and Facebook about the Buy Black Movement. Big Brother and I had watched a YouTube video explaining its origins. Since neither of us were familiar with it, I did my thing by researching. It’s a wonderful idea and something sorely needed in the black community.
However…
I wondered if writers are a part of this too. And if not, why? I haven’t received a response to my questions yet. I even invited the BBM to contact me privately on Facebook. Maybe they’re too busy and get thousands of requests daily. That’s just a guess on my part.
Writing is a love, but it is also a business and we have products to sell, so why aren’t we included in the group? When I visited the site, I started by going to the store and there is a link for books. This is what I found. Many books are from a company called Imani Enterprises. I say company because I’m not sure if the site I found is for a book publisher. I could be wrong. But having seen hundreds of publisher websites in my time, I can honestly no it’s not.
There’s a second place called The Shepard’s Harvest. Incidentally, when you click on the links, for said companies it just takes you back to the BMM home page. Again, I’m not sure if this is the right place. It’s also not a publisher. Last, Motherland’s Gold. Their booklet is an advertisement for some pills they sell. I can honestly say they do not support black writers like myself, who write in a variety of genres. Do they believe we aren’t important enough because many of us write outside the subject of black culture even though many of us write within the African Diaspora or focus our stories and characters on people of color?
Do I need to list some of my favorites or provide the names of well-known authors? How about writers like Angie Thomas, Beverly Jenkins, Jacqueline Woodson, N. K. Jemisin, Nnedi Okorafor, Kacen Callender, George M. Johnson? Hell, I’ll just leave some lists I found online right here:
12 Contemporary Black Authors to Celebrate by Carmen Kennedy February 7, 2022
LIFESTYLE
There may be some repeats, but you get the general idea. So Buy Black Movement, what’s the verdict? Will you include black authors in your list of entrepreneurs? Will you support and advertise OUR products? It’s important that all black people are involved in the movement, otherwise you defeat the purpose. The more there are, the more powerful you become.
I would love to have a discourse with the powers that be at the BBM. I’m waiting.
https://twitter.com/buyblackmovemnt
https://www.instagram.com/buyblackmovement/
Peace~
Wendy
Addendum: I am seeing when you go to the JOIN NOW page there is a form you can fill out for your own personal BBM URL. Don’t know if it would work for me or not, but I’ll try it and let you know.
Author WA Simpson 