04/05/2026
If you’re a Black man or woman who loves to shop for candles, books, oils, gifts… and you’ve never really thought about where that money actually goes…
This might shift your perspective.
Because this story isn’t just about shopping.
It’s about value.
It’s about respect.
It’s about being INTENTIONAL instead of doing what’s most convenient.
And it’s about where our dollars are building… or not building.
This story is hard to tell.
But it needs to be told.
Because it changed everything about the way one woman spends her money.
And it just might change yours too.
᯽᯽᯽
Last July, a woman named Monique walked into a popular retail store.
The kind with bright lighting. Clean shelves. Endless options.
Candles stacked high. Books lined up. Body oils and self-care products everywhere.
She’d been there before.
Spent good money there.
Left with bags full of items more times than she could count.
This time, she came prepared.
She had about $200 in her wallet—set aside just to treat herself.
She looked good. Felt good. Ready to shop.
But within moments… something shifted.
᯽᯽᯽
She noticed it almost immediately.
The subtle watching.
An employee glanced… then glanced again.
Another one walked past her—then circled back.
“Can I help you find something?”
The tone wasn’t warm.
It wasn’t welcoming.
It felt… suspicious.
Monique smiled politely and said she was just browsing.
But they didn’t leave.
They lingered.
Every aisle she moved to… someone seemed to be nearby.
Every product she picked up… eyes followed.
Not assistance.
Surveillance.
᯽᯽᯽
Her excitement faded.
Her confidence shifted.
That feeling—you know the one.
When you go from customer… to question mark.
She kept browsing for a few more minutes.
Then quietly… she put everything back.
And walked out.
No purchase.
Just… done.
᯽᯽᯽
She sat in her car for a moment.
Hands still on the steering wheel.
And she felt it.
That mix of frustration… disappointment… and something deeper.
Because this wasn’t new.
She had spent money in places like this for years.
Hundreds. Thousands.
And still…
She didn’t feel like she belonged.
᯽᯽᯽
On the drive home, one thought stayed with her:
Why do I keep supporting places that don’t support me?
She thought about all the purchases.
All the candles burned down to nothing.
All the books bought from everywhere but her own community.
All the self-care products that never poured back into her world.
And she started to question something bigger.
Where is all of our money actually going?
᯽᯽᯽
That night, she started researching.
And what she found… changed everything.
Black Americans spend over 1.8 TRILLION dollars every year.
We are the trendsetters.
The culture drivers.
The most brand-loyal consumers in the country.
We make things popular.
We make things move.
And yet…
We own less than 2% of the nation’s wealth.
Think about that.
Trillions going out.
Barely anything staying in.
᯽᯽᯽
Then she saw the number that stopped her cold.
The Black dollar leaves our community in 6 hours.
Six.
Hours.
Not days.
Not weeks.
Hours.
Meanwhile—
Other communities circulate their dollars for days… even weeks.
Building businesses.
Strengthening communities.
Creating generational wealth.
And us?
We spend… and it disappears.
᯽᯽᯽
That’s when it hit her.
It’s not just about what we buy.
It’s about where we buy it.
Because every purchase is a decision.
A vote.
A direction for our dollars.
᯽᯽᯽
She started thinking differently.
What if…
Instead of spending $200 somewhere she felt watched…
She spent it somewhere she felt welcomed?
Seen.
Valued.
Appreciated.
᯽᯽᯽
A place where the products reflect her culture.
Where the books tell her stories.
Where the oils, candles, gifts, and treasures are curated with intention.
Where the owner looks like her.
Understands her.
Respects her.
᯽᯽᯽
Because when you spend with Black-owned businesses like African American Art & More…
That money doesn’t just disappear.
It circulates.
It supports families.
It keeps doors open.
It creates opportunity.
It builds something that lasts.
᯽᯽᯽
Monique’s story isn’t rare.
Too many of us have felt it.
That moment when you realize—
You’ve been loyal to places that were never loyal to you.
᯽᯽᯽
But here’s the shift.
Being intentional doesn’t mean you stop buying the things you love.
It means you start being mindful about where your dollars land.
Because when we choose differently…
We build differently.
Dollar by dollar.
Purchase by purchase.
We stop bleeding…
…and start building.❤️🖤💚
