The Ebony Experiment: Buying Black For a Year


Meet John and Maggie Anderson, a middle-class, Black family willing to change the comfort of their daily life in order to do their part in stimulating a failing economy. For one calender year, the Anderson family has publicly committed to only support Black owned businesses and professionals in hopes to encourage economic growth within the Black community and motivate others to do the same.

This project launched on January 1, 2009 and has already gained national media attention. As of January 26, the Andersons have spent $5,689.64, and have experienced challenges with some of modern life's necessities like finding a Black owned grocery store and gas station. At the experiment's conclusion, a study and book will be published to show their progress and success as well as chronicle the hurdles they encountered along the way. Please keep in mind that they are completely committed to this experiment. This will be no small undertaking and will come at the expense of general convenience. But, they understand that this is bigger than them and necessary to achieve their goal. For more info: http://ebonyexperiment.com

Could your survive buying Black for a year? Do you feel more pride in buying from Black and what are your favorite Black-owned businesses?

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Permalink Reply by Karima on February 2, 2009 at 2:11pm
I think this is wonderful. I hope you can accomplish it. I'll be following to learn of great purchases.
Permalink Reply by i.henry on February 2, 2009 at 2:28pm
This is not only a great idea it can be life changing for alot of black businesses. I challenge all people to TRY and go out of their own way to support Black businesses in their areas (not just wait for the report). If your not part of the solution you are the problem. I happen to have a black owned business so I know how challenging it is for us at this present time.
Permalink Reply by Leo on February 2, 2009 at 4:47pm
I think this is truly racist and very ignorant. Why would you deny your dollar to a business because of the color of their skin? Do you realize the products they sell or use in their business are most likely from china or some other country? Wouldn’t it make more sense to not use a product that was not made in the USA? You shared how it was hard to find a Black owned grocery store and gas station. Well let me tell you it is hard to find an individually owned grocery store and gas station. Most are big corporations who have squeezed out the small guy. I see Obama is on your cover. I might be wrong but I thought Obama being elected would help the removal of racism and segregation in America. Sure doesn’t sound like that is what is happening.
Moral of the story get over the color of your skin and Buy American!!!!!!! Promote jobs for anyone who pays the same taxes we do!!
Permalink Reply by i.henry on February 2, 2009 at 5:08pm
You are disrespectful and I'm going to stoop to your level of ignorance and address your concerns. 1st you are on the wrong website if you don't think we are or should be pro-black, which dosn't make us racist. You just don't get it. So do me/us a favor when you try to make a point, be more intelligent aboujt it. Don't hide who you are and name call and expect someone to take you serious. this is probably as nice as your going to get.

Leo said:
I think this is truly racist and very ignorant. Why would you deny your dollar to a business because of the color of their skin? Do you realize the products they sell or use in their business are most likely from china or some other country? Wouldn’t it make more sense to not use a product that was not made in the USA? You shared how it was hard to find a Black owned grocery store and gas station. Well let me tell you it is hard to find an individually owned grocery store and gas station. Most are big corporations who have squeezed out the small guy. I see Obama is on your cover. I might be wrong but I thought Obama being elected would help the removal of racism and segregation in America. Sure doesn’t sound like that is what is happening.
Moral of the story get over the color of your skin and Buy American!!!!!!! Promote jobs for anyone who pays the same taxes we do!!
Permalink Reply by monniej on February 2, 2009 at 9:13pm
i started thinking about everything i buy. everything. this will be a great story to follow.

my fav black stores are goodwells foods organic grocery, tulani rose b&b, flo boutique, source booksellers, nandi's knowledge cafe, and p.a. dreamers b&b, all in detroit, mi.
Permalink Reply by Nandi on February 3, 2009 at 2:34pm
Although I applaud the Anderson's for their part in buying Black and the gemologist who was on here a few days back upset at us for not patronizing him will be past happy if they can hook up. But the thing on this is that there are not a lot of us that do know if a business is black or not. How do you find that out? A lot of us are entreprenuers but how do you find that out? I wish them nothing but the best and I will be looking at this as well and praying for the best.
Permalink Reply by Cicely on February 3, 2009 at 6:32pm
It is quite admirable, and I do wish them well.

I'm not so sure I'd be up for this challenge. Customer service and product quality are paramount with me. I hate to say it, but often when I enter a black-owned establishment, the customer service (or lack there of) turns me off and away in an instant. If I could find the products and services I use (or ones of similar purpose and quality) from black owned businesses that at least seem to appreciate my patronage, then I think I could successfully complete the Ebony Experiment. Not quite sure who it really helps, though, if it costs you, the customer, substantially more money to patronage black businesses. In this time of a recession, it might help most people to find the most economical items and services rather than finding those that are simply black owned. Much luck and success to the Andersons.

I do wonder, though, what happens after the one year? Is this is a simple experiment or will it lead to a true lifestyle change?
Permalink Reply by monniej on February 4, 2009 at 9:13am
i looked at this as more of an attempt to save their community. just driving in my neighborhood i see so many abandoned homes and businesses shut down. it's just a matter of time before nothing will be left and we'll have to go to the mega stores because they'll be the only ones with to resources to purchase in quantity. i frequent my small independent, neighborhood businesses a lot! most of them are black, but i want to see all of them survive!
Permalink Reply by marcy on February 6, 2009 at 11:43am
In a way I see where you are coming from. Kudos to those who take advantage of capitalism, but let's flip the script for a second. If a white person shopped at only white owned businesses, that'd be considered racism. How do those Anderson's do it with all these greedy multi-national corporations everywhere like WalMart

Why is Leo being attacked? He has a valid point about imports. As far as all that skin color mumbo jumbo, why can't we all just be Americans and support capitalism since these greedy corporations kill capitalism.

I just so happened to go to a black owned beauty mart and the service stunk like a septic tank. the clerk behind the counter had an attitude and looked at me like i had a problem when i asked her for help. Merchandise was thrown everywhere. the whole store looked sloppy like they didn't take pride in their store. I'm never shopping there again.

We're better off supporting capitalism regardless of skin color

Am I the only one that sees where Leo is coming from?

Leo said:
I think this is truly racist and very ignorant. Why would you deny your dollar to a business because of the color of their skin? Do you realize the products they sell or use in their business are most likely from china or some other country? Wouldn’t it make more sense to not use a product that was not made in the USA? You shared how it was hard to find a Black owned grocery store and gas station. Well let me tell you it is hard to find an individually owned grocery store and gas station. Most are big corporations who have squeezed out the small guy. I see Obama is on your cover. I might be wrong but I thought Obama being elected would help the removal of racism and segregation in America. Sure doesn’t sound like that is what is happening.
Moral of the story get over the color of your skin and Buy American!!!!!!! Promote jobs for anyone who pays the same taxes we do!!
Permalink Reply by Kianta Key on February 7, 2009 at 7:00am
In some cities like Atlanta, D.C., or Chicago, but not Tallahassee. I tried to organize a Blackout, where student supported black-owned businesses for one day and there just isn't enough.
Permalink Reply by monniej on February 7, 2009 at 10:27am
i have never stepped foot in walmart! i have never spent a hard earned dime of my money in their establishment. i found out about their pratices while helping my son on a book report in 2000. again, this is about saving our communities. there are independent businesses of all kinds in my neighborhood and i want to see them survive. it can be done and may just be the way to save our way of life.

marcy said:
In a way I see where you are coming from. Kudos to those who take advantage of capitalism, but let's flip the script for a second. If a white person shopped at only white owned businesses, that'd be considered racism. How do those Anderson's do it with all these greedy multi-national corporations everywhere like WalMart

Why is Leo being attacked? He has a valid point about imports. As far as all that skin color mumbo jumbo, why can't we all just be Americans and support capitalism since these greedy corporations kill capitalism.

I just so happened to go to a black owned beauty mart and the service stunk like a septic tank. the clerk behind the counter had an attitude and looked at me like i had a problem when i asked her for help. Merchandise was thrown everywhere. the whole store looked sloppy like they didn't take pride in their store. I'm never shopping there again.

We're better off supporting capitalism regardless of skin color

Am I the only one that sees where Leo is coming from?

Leo said:
I think this is truly racist and very ignorant. Why would you deny your dollar to a business because of the color of their skin? Do you realize the products they sell or use in their business are most likely from china or some other country? Wouldn’t it make more sense to not use a product that was not made in the USA? You shared how it was hard to find a Black owned grocery store and gas station. Well let me tell you it is hard to find an individually owned grocery store and gas station. Most are big corporations who have squeezed out the small guy. I see Obama is on your cover. I might be wrong but I thought Obama being elected would help the removal of racism and segregation in America. Sure doesn’t sound like that is what is happening.
Moral of the story get over the color of your skin and Buy American!!!!!!! Promote jobs for anyone who pays the same taxes we do!!
Permalink Reply by Wla on February 8, 2009 at 7:56am
This is wrong. I always support black business but at this time of econmoic crisis we need to be supporting US products. Everyone deserves to eat...you cna't cry racism when it's good for you then turn around & do it to someone else.

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