One can give nothing whatever without giving oneself —that is to say, risking oneself. If one cannot risk oneself, then one is simply not giving. – James Baldwin
The Black community is in a paradigm shift right now.
Over the past few months, we’ve experienced both support and scrutiny at pivotal speeds as vacillating loyalty from celebrities, retailers, and brands have left us feeling used and confused about who is genuinely down for us and who’s not. With this, it’s only fair that one would want to ask the question, “How can I make a difference in the Black community?” Enters Black Philanthropy Month.
Black Philanthropy Month (BPM), observed every August, is a global celebration and concerted campaign that elevates African-descent giving. The month brings attention to all forms of Black philanthropy, such as community service, giving circles, and fundraising. The movement not only brings awareness into our daily life, but it dispels stereotypes that cast minorities as takers rather than givers.
We are able to contribute to pipelines that sustain us in the future. It creates an intangible impact that shifts narratives, and normalizes prosperity and solidarity for generations to come.
Locally, New Generation of African American Philanthropists will partner with The National Pan-Hellenic Council of Charlotte, My Brother’s Keeper Charlotte, SHARE Charlotte and YMCA of Greater Charlotte to lead the #BPM2020CLT movement.
The movement will celebrate Black giving in Charlotte-Mecklenburg and will feature Charlotte’s Black-led, Black-benefiting nonprofit community, profiling who they are, why their work matters and how our community can support them. #BPM2020CLT will culminate with a concerted giving day on August 28 called #CLTGivesBlack.
You already know that our goal is to make sure you have a full understanding of how to do YOUR part to bolster the movement, so we’ve put together a few ways for you to get involved and help make life better for you and others in the process. Ready? Let’s get it!
BANK BLACK
Black-owned banks have a deep-rooted history in our community, dating back to 1865 when Congress and President Abraham Lincoln established the Freedman’s Bank to help newly freed Black and brown people in their transition to freedom.
However, as a group, Black people struggle with trusting banking institutions to hold our money. That’s why so many of us waste a lot of money with check cashing stores, prepaid cards, and payday lenders— not truly understanding the disservice we’re doing to ourselves and our communities.
To kick off our efforts to support Black Philanthropy Month, we are challenging all of our readers to #BankBlack. From August 1-10th, we want you to start a banking relationship with a Black-owned bank in the area. No matter if you deposit $25 or $2500, let’s patron these institutions and begin building a legacy of support and trust. And of course, we want you to tag us and use the official hashtag #blackmybread to show your love and solidarity. Need a little help getting started? Check out these options here, here, here, and here.
GIVE BLACK
What better way to show love to the community than by supporting a non-profit or those in the thick of the change? You know, the ones who are out here creating programs and services that are important to us?
Local organizations like the African African American Community Foundation (AACF) and Hope For Harvest, work tirelessly to amplify our voices and ensure that our community has the resources and opportunities to thrive. These systems are the cornerstone of our community, bringing awareness and solutions to the issues that plague us. We threaten these endeavors when appreciation and loyalty diminish, causing our safeguards to be devalued and disconnected.
So let’s continue the BPM celebration by showing our support to an organization that empowers our communities. From August 11-20, plan to connect with and support these institutions by submitting donations and sharing their missions on our platforms. Use the #blackmybread tag to show us how you’re supporting your local non-profits.
BUY BLACK
We know it’s virtually impossible to talk about giving in our community without exploring the idea of buying Black. With gentrification and integration impairing Black businesses all over the country, it’s more important than ever that we are conscientious about how we spend our money. With platforms and e-directories like #BlackOwnedCharlotte and 100+ Black-owned businesses and restaurants in Charlotte, it’s pretty simple to locate and shop primarily or exclusively with Black-owned businesses.
Maybe you need to grab a cup of joe on the go with Coffee Cone Cafe, lunch at Lulu’s ,or a sweet treat from Uncle D’s Southern Donuts. Or perhaps you want to beautify your nails at Elevation Beauty and Nail Spa and get a little special treatment at V Spa Charlotte. Whatever the case, with an estimated 13,000 Black-owned businesses in the city, including restaurants, bars, and shops— there’s no excuse for us not supporting our own.
So for the last leg of this celebration. PUT YOUR MONEY UP!
From August 21-31, let’s buy Black and support our very own, although we should aim to do so as often as possible. If you’re already a strong supporter of the movement, we challenge you to find an undiscovered gem in the community and show them some love. Our mission is to bring as much love and light to these entities as possible.
Of course, we want to see you in action, so share your moves with us on social media using the hashtag #blackmybread .
Supporting our community is not only our responsibility, it’s our birthright. Just as our ancestors did for us, it’s our job to create opportunity and change for generations to come. Let’s do our part to bring realization and reinforcement to the message “Black Power,” and be the change we need to see for each other.
