“People were beginning to wake up and think for themselves, how they were being exploited and how they were being used in their community, even to their buying power.” While the Great Depression left the economy in shambles, a movement arose from the rubble that showed everyone just how powerful our voices were and still are.
The Don’t Buy Where You Can’t Work movement lasted through the 1930s, especially in cities like Chicago, New York, and Washington, D.C. But regardless of the location, the mission and the message stayed the same: Support Black business and get our people employed.
Even though they were located in Black neighborhoods, grocery stores with no Black employees tried to entice customers with steep discounts on produce, thinking that if their products were cheap enough, residents would still spend their money there. But many people couldn’t be bought because they knew improving Black economics was worth much more.
The movement helped create jobs for thousands of Black people, establish Black hiring programs, and advocate for expanding Black businesses.
The Don’t Buy Where You Can’t Work Movement showed that the power of unity can help improve Black well-being. We have the power to keep that same energy.