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How Blackout Tuesday, which supports Black-owned businesses, benefits everyone

"Blackout Tuesday really is about solidarity. It's a way of helping people understand what the African American community spends on a daily basis."

MEMPHIS, Tennessee —

Last week "Blackout Tuesday" was declared all over social media as a day to encourage African Americans to only spend their green at Black-owned businesses.

It also prompted questions like, "Why don't we have a white out day too?"

Organizers are trying to help everyone understand how the concept is a call to action that actually benefits everyone. We shed a little light on the concept known as Blackout Tuesday. For a better understanding of what's become an economic empowerment movement we spoke with a couple of Black business owners.

"It's really hitting people differently this year. So, I think I saw a swell of enthusiasm that we haven't seen before."

Joy Doss is a journalist, podcast host, and business owner. Cynthia Daniels owns her own business and promotes others through events like Juneteenth Buy Black.

"Blackout Tuesday really is about solidarity. It's a way of helping people understand what the African American community spends on a daily basis," said Doss.

$1.2 trillion a year is how much Black America spends in the consumer arena. Daniel's Juneteenth Buy Black event showed the power of the Black dollar amidst the turbulent coronavirus crisis.

"On June 19th it brought in $1 million to 100 participating Black businesses," said Daniels.

RELATED: #BlackoutTuesday spreads across Instagram in show of support for nationwide protests

RELATED: Juneteenth event encourages online shoppers support dozens of Memphis area Black owned businesses

RELATED: How to discover and support 100 black-owned businesses this Juneteenth

Daniels says while Blackout Tuesday was a form of protest in the wake of George Floyd's death at the hands of police, regardless of color, everybody benefits.

"Honestly, people of all ethnicities see the importance of supporting Black even though they're not part of the community physically," said Daniels.

Some non-Blacks see it as a form of punishment of white businesses.

"The reality is buying Black is about creating wealth and opportunities in our own communities, and that is very dangerous thinking that we want to punish white businesses by supporting black businesses," Doss.

Doss points to the Black owner of Memphis' People's Grocery Store being lynched in the 1800s over similar ideas.

"If I support our businesses it does not mean that I want to undermine your businesses," said Doss.

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