“Because of the untiring work of the Housewives League ... Detroit has more businesses owned and operated by Negroes than any other city in the U.S." When the Housewives’ League of Detroit was founded in 1930, the message was clear: “Buy, Boost, Build.” The organization and that saying built a movement across the nation.
By 1933, the Housewives League of Detroit had become the National Housewives’ League of America. Its goal was to support Black-owned businesses and companies that hired Black employees.
The League established educational and civic programs to teach Black consumers the importance of using their purchasing power wisely. They knew that Black economics was powerful.
For over 60 years the League empowered Black businesses, showing how strong a force we can be when we’re unified.
The National Housewives League knew that Black businesses were the backbone of strong Black communities. But more than that, they remind us that our unity is our most valuable currency.