‘Spend in the Black’ event boosts investment in Black-owned businesses

CHICAGO – A celebration of Black entrepreneurship designed to boost economic power in historically Black communities is empowering consumers to re-think where they spend their hard-earned money.

From sweet treats and food to clothing, accessories, flowers and so much more, Natasha Olguin joined hundreds of people on 75th Street near King Drive Saturday for “Spend in the Black.”

“There were all these amazing corridors on the West Side and the South Side. We had 63rd Street, you had 75th, you had Pulaski and now, unfortunately, we don’t always spend with us, so these type of events are extremely valuable,” Olguin said.

Personal trainer and body builder Jerisa Upton was also in attendance at Saturday’s event. Upton owns House Fitness based in Hyde Park and was one of more than 100 vendors out on Saturday.

“The way that I’m living now, I feel like a completely new person and I want to give that to everybody,” Upton said.

While focusing on overall wellness, she said she’s also passionate about helping clients look really good.

“Learning how to unlock nutrition and exercise can literally age you backwards,” Upton said.

Ald. William Hall (6th Ward) and Rev. Dr. Charlie Dates, senior pastor of Progressive Baptist Church and Salem Baptist Church, helped spearhead Saturday’s event.

The hope is for Spend in the Black to have a lasting impact, ultimately pouring a significant amount of money back into the local Black community.

“When you add up all of these businesses, this is a whole different tax bracket and so SSA’s TIF dollars are formed with businesses, and so I believe what we need to do right now is use our money in a micro way,” Hall said.

Aside from empowering business owners and highlighting their goods and services, Spend in the Black also serves as a response to several corporations cutting back diversity, equity and inclusion programs.

“At a time when some of the larger businesses take our dollars but do not respect our dignity, this is an opportunity to spend our dollars where our dignity is affirmed,” Dates said.

Cook County Comm’r. Tara Stamps (1st District) echoed these claims.

“Out of great chaos, we’ve created enormous opportunity to be self reliant, to be interdependent so that we know we can do for ourself and practice principles that come down from our ancestors,” Stamps said.

Fellowship Fleet Car Service, a luxury limo company that serves the city and some major institutions, also participated in Saturday’s festivities.

“Not too many people know about our company. They don’t think that Black means luxurious, but there is no opportunity where Black is not luxurious. Everywhere we show up we are excellence,” Tiabryanna Balentine of Fellowship Fleet said.

Throughout Spend in the Black, several shoppers were given $1,000 for an emergency savings account.

“The average America doesn’t have $1,000 saved. We’re going to meet that need today for eight people,” Dates said.