Our Black asses are ready to BUFU
Welcome to the tenth installment of This Black-Ass Life! Sorry for the delay in our newsletter this week, we’re still piecing our edges back together from Black Panther.
Speaking of, we were inspired by the thought of what we could have been had Africa been left the hell alone. So the theme of this newsletter comes to you from the movie How High: BUFU (By Us, Fuck U). So read till the end for the when, why and how of buying Black.
Don’t forget: We've managed to grow this list thanks to y'all forwarding to friends so please keep it up! If possible, forward this link to subscribe to five friends! And please send us topics you'd like to see covered in the newsletter, texts from your Black-ass people, Kanye Omari West updates and any Black-Ass anything from around the world and web.
l. The Facts
Buy Black. Bank Black.
During the Reconstruction Era, Black people engaged in nearly unparalleled political, social and entrepreneurial involvement.
Black people led something of an entrepreneurial and political revolution for decades after Reconstruction.
Then America did its White thing and literally used American infrastructure like highways and redlining to break up Black communities and businesses.
Why is this important?
Black buying power currently stands at over $1.1 trillion and will hit about $1.5 trillion by 2021. Unfortunately, we are not spending our hard-earned dollars buying from Black enterprises.
According to one study, less than around 3% of the current Black buying power is spent buying from black-owned enterprises. Black people actually spend less money in black-owned businesses than other racial and ethnic groups spend in businesses owned by members of their groups.
Supporting Black businesses creates incredible impact in our community (i.e: Black-owned enterprises actually powered Detroit’s resurgence).
What can my Black Ass do?
You can start with We Buy Black, a website and app listing Black-owned merchants.
You can also check out the movement to buy and support Black weed since that’s an industry they've been trying to shut our Black asses out of.
And here’s some info on banking Black. I (Jumoke) highly recommend Mocafi and FSCardInc.
A closer look: Read Our Black Year: One Family's Quest to Buy Black in America's Racially Divided Economy.
ll. Other Things
Black-Panther themed because we’re still recovering
I (Mitu) love this *largely spoiler-free* conversation on Still Processing pod between Wesley Morris, Jenna Wortham and Ta-Nehisi Coates on Black Panther.
For some reason, there are a couple videos online that are just supercuts of Chadwick Boseman laughing and I (Mitu) am HERE for it.
I (Jumoke) need ya’ll to go see Okoye/Danai Gurira’s new play, Familiar in D.C. TBH, I’m actually sick of her because she is better than my best version of myself. She has muscles in places where I only seem to collect fat deposits, has the perfect shaped head, is an award-winning playwright and has perfected the art of staying graceful while being bothered by a mediocre White man.
I (Mitu) am ready to bark M’Baku style at men and White folks who speak out of turn.
(Other) Other Things:
Speaking of buying Black, check out our friend/former boss Cynthia’s dope new site, Black-Owned Brooklyn.
I (Jumoke) loved this article about how Sister Rosetta Tharpe, a queer Black woman, created Rock ‘n’ Roll as we know it. It is a reminder that Black people created every single form of American popular music (yes, even country).
I (Jumoke) think Chris Rock’s new Netflix special is so good. It’s a vulnerable and introspective look at a Black man in late middle-age who suddenly realizes that he needs to grow the fuck up.
Our Black-Ass song of the week (Mitu):
I know we’ve all seen it, but the God’s Plan video really did bring me to tears.
BONUS: Lupita raps again and this time includes Letitia. WATCH.
Obligatory Kanye check-in:
Kanye surprise returned to the stage to perform with Kid Cudi and I know I’ve been repeating this often, y’all, but I just KNOW an album is coming soon-ish.
Things we are looking forward to / things we are not looking forward to:
I (Mitu) look forward to more Winston Duke love because he really stole the show from other fine men in Black Panther. Thick thighs save lives, y’all.
I (Jumoke) am not looking forward to Toni Braxton’s future nuptials with Birdman because EW/GROSS/VOM/WHY. I understand if she needs the money, but he ain’t even rich no more.
lll. Not a text from a Mama, but a Black-ass, East African-ass video
Tiffany is tapping into her East African side with a STURDY elelelelelelele at the sight of Michael Bae Jordan. Honestly inspirational and beautiful.
Stay Black, stay beautiful and WAKANDA FOREVER!!!! We’ll hit your inbox next on March 5.