Are you headed to homecoming this weekend? If so, you need a strategy to make sure you stay on track, before you get there. Yes, you want to stay within your travel budget but just as important, you’ll want to make sure that you buy Black once you get back to the yard. After all, supporting your HBCU is way less cool if most of the coins you spend end up outside of our community. Here are a few ways to make sure you keep the Black dollar circulating, even while traveling.
Food
You have to eat and chances are food will consume a major portion of your budget. Why not spend some of that at Black owned restaurants? There are an abundance of opportunities — breakfast, lunch, dinner, the next dinner and the one after that…you know, after the club. Eat Black Owned is a website that helps travelers find Black owned restaurants. All across the country, you can locate places where you can eat well and also recycle the dollar, so there’s no excuse.
Clothing
You definitely want to rock gear that supports your HBCU. But “support” is tricky. You’ll want to make sure that the gear you’re buying is officially licensed and not just a cheap print off of Amazon. In other words, make sure that your Black institution is actually benefiting financially from your purchase. The best way to do that, of course, is to shop at the school’s bookstore. Also, you need fresh gear to wear to all of the other festivities. Consider buying that next outfit from a Black owned designer!
Transportation
Are you headed to homecoming with a group? How will you get there? If you are thinking of chartering a bus, look for a Black owned bus company. You’d be surprised at how many are actually around. Are you going in a van? Take the time to locate other Black owned transportation companies who can rent a vehicle to you. It may take a little more time but it’s definitely worth it to recycle that Black dollar.
Events
Are you hosting an event around campus? Make sure you find a Black owned venue to do so. Whether you’re looking for an intimate setting that a restaurant can provide or a larger facility for a late night party, there are certainly venues that you can rent from your own people and in doing so, provide a much needed boost to our community. If you don’t know of one offhand, get creative — a church basement could be the solution where a Black owned banquet hall isn’t readily available.
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