The internet is now full of different ways to support black-owned businesses including a new pledge that asks for stores to make space on their shelves for black owned businesses. This new idea is known as the 15 Percent Pledge.
The campaign was made my Aurora James, a fashion designer and founder of the label Brother Vellies. In the pledge she is calling on major retailers such as Targer, Whole Foods and Sephora. It has its name because 15 percent of Americans are black, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.
If the pledge is taken retailers would promise 15 percent of their shelf space to black-owned businesses. It would not only help to create equity in the products consumers purchase but also put $14.5 billion back into black communities.
According to a graphic from @monachalabi, 21 percent of black-owned businesses don't think they will survive the pandemic and 40 percent have been forced to close.