August is National Black Business Month—a time to honor and celebrate the resilience, innovation, and success of Black-owned businesses across the United States. As we reflect on the significance of this month, we must also recognize the importance of our collective efforts to support and sustain these enterprises. This journey is deeply personal and mission-driven, as I’ve dedicated my life to developing economic vehicles that empower the Black community through collective wealth.

Since founding The Village Market in 2016, I’ve focused on creating spaces where Black entrepreneurs can thrive. As many of you have lived with me—the journey started with quarterly nighttime marketplaces and evolved into The Village Retail. This hybrid profit-share model has not only facilitated over $8.3 million in direct sales but has also served over 1,440 businesses. This success is a testament to the power of community support—intentional action from many of you, to whom I’m forever grateful!

For almost ten years, we’ve united to bring to life The Village mantra, “Support is a Verb,” emphasizing the vital need for active, intentional support for Black businesses. This Black Business Month, join me in amplifying this mantra even more boldly and creating a more profound impact. When we say, “Support is a Verb,” it requires action beyond mere words. The “verb” calls us to translate our support into tangible efforts that uplift Black communities. It’s about showing up, purchasing products, sharing experiences, and advocating for the businesses within our networks.

A Recommitment to Sustainable Legacies & Collective Wealth
To truly support Black businesses, we must adopt a multi-pronged approach that includes creating sustainable business models and building “legacy businesses.” A legacy business outlives its founder, creating generational wealth and impact. It’s not just about what you do in business but how you do it. This means being intentional in hiring practices, ensuring quality in every product or service, and building financial pathways that allow your business to prosper for years to come.

Moreover, National Black Business Month reminds us of the need for practices that support the community. As we build, we must ask ourselves critical questions: How are we showing up in our communities? What are our values? At The Village Market, we’ve integrated grants, mentorship, technical assistance, and a retail platform to create a comprehensive support system for Black entrepreneurs. This model has allowed individual businesses to achieve six-figure success, contributing to the collective success of our shared retail space.

Let’s think about how to circulate the Black dollar within our communities during this month of celebration. The projected $1.7 trillion in Black economic spending power by 2030 presents an incredible opportunity. But it’s not just about having financial capacity; it’s about what we are actually doing with it. We must challenge the status quo and embrace a collective wealth-building model that benefits future generations.

This is a time of significant recruitment to get Black businesses to form coalitions and build collective wealth. We need to divorce the narratives of individualism and retire the “me vs. anyone” mentality. It’s about creating models where we all exist and excel together.

As we unite to build sustainable legacies and foster collective wealth, let’s remember that our actions today shape the future of Black businesses. Together, we can create a thriving ecosystem where every Black entrepreneur has the opportunity to excel and leave an enduring impact.

Happy Black Business Month!