No More Blackout Days

By Keith Boykin, in race
Monday, November 5 2007, 10:13AM

In case you missed it, last Friday was National Blackout Day. It was the day when African-Americans were supposed to refrain from spending any money in the economy in a protest designed to show the country that our dollars are important. Developed by attorney Warren Ballentine, Blackout Day was supposed to harness the economic power of a community that spends an estimated $715 billion a year. "If we were to stop spending for one day that is $2 billion that will not be in the system," a press release announced.

So did it work? As far as I can tell, America did not come to its knees. Although the head of the nation's largest bank was forced out of his job over the weekend, it had nothing to do with the power of Blackout Day. Ironically, the departure of Citigroup's CEO had a lot to do with the collapse of the subprime lending industry that had targeted black and Latino neighborhoods, but the protesters didn't even pay attention to that scandal. So what did the protest accomplish, other than generating a good deal of emails and blog entries and making a few of us feel better? Not much.

Does Blackout Day Accomplish Anything?

The goals of the protest were certainly worthy. With all the "present injustices that are being allowed and accepted in America right now," the press release announcing the protest suggested a blackout day would do something to change it. The announcement said the protest would do something about "Mychal Bell and the Jena 6, Genarlow Wilson, Megan Williams, and all of the nooses being hung all over America lately." Anybody who cares about racial justice would certainly want to do something about those incidents.

The press release had more to say: "Until we have federal legislation in place regarding these hate crimes, as African Americans we need to band together to show our 'Economic Power' by refusing to spend ANY money that day from fast food restaurants to gas." But there's three big problems with that statement.

First, we already have federal hate crimes legislation that protects African-Americans. Hate crimes laws, by the way, don't stop all hate crimes from happening. Instead, they attempt to deter hate crimes by heightening the punishment for those who commit them. But still, black people are already protected by hate crimes laws. It's the gays and lesbians who have been fighting for inclusion in hate crimes statutes, not African Americans.

Second, with or without hate crimes laws, how would a one-day economic boycott accomplish anything? Would the boycott stop a group of white kids in Louisiana from putting up a noose on a tree? Would a boycott stop 6 whites in West Virginia from kidnapping and torturing a black woman? And if we didnt already have a federal hate crimes law in place for blacks, how would a 1-day boycott force Congress and the President to pass such a law?

Answer: It won't.

Third, if all African Americans refrained from spending for a day, chances are we would hurt a lot more black businesses than white ones. It's the struggling black businesses that need our support and shouldn't be caught up in this overly broad protest. Denzel Washington's new movie, American Gangster, debuted on National Blackout Day and became the biggest box office film of the weekend. Should blacks have boycotted Denzel's movie, taking away money from black actors, to somehow help black people? And should blacks have boycotted all the black mom-and-pop stores in the black community where most black people live?

Let's Have a Black-In Day

A Georgia-based web site printed a list of things for people to do on Blackout Day instead of spending money.

  1. Read, reflect, pray.
  2. Call or visit relatives and/or friends.
  3. Make amends where needed.
  4. Walk, jog, bike, lift weights, or make love to raise the heart rate.
  5. Enjoy free parks (with the wife and/or kids if you have them).
  6. Visit Stone Mountain, IF you already have an annual pass.
  7. Drink the beer and/or malt liquor you bought yesterday at home.
  8. Stay home with (or go visit) the kids, for some quality time
  9. Do some of those "Honey Dews" you've been putting off.
  10. Clean house or work on the car or in the yard.
  11. Watch old shows or movies on Peachtree TV or some channel.
  12. Watch HS football games from vantage points outside the fence.

Those are mostly good things to do, but I've got a better idea. Instead of giving power to what we're against, let's give power to what we support. Instead of having a blackout day, let's have a black-in day where African-Americans decide to spend as much money as possible supporting black businesses. Here are some of things we could do on a Black-In Day.

  1. Go to a black-owned store
  2. Get your hair done at a black barber shop or salon
  3. Put some money in a black-owned bank
  4. Support a black film at the theater
  5. Purchase a book written by a black author
  6. Invest in a company that services the black community
  7. Give to a black charity
  8. Make an appointment with a black doctor
  9. Subscribe to a black magazine
  10. Join a black organization

Let's do something constructive to build up our community instead of complaining about all the people who are tearing it down. Let's build our economic power as black people instead of withholding it from the economy.

Over the years we've seen a lot of meaningless demonstrations and symbolic gestures that make us feel better but don't accomplish much else. The Internet makes it easy for people to push a button, forward an email, or sign an e-petition and feel like they've fulfilled their civic duty for the year. You can set up a myspace page or upload a YouTube video faster than you can create a long-term sustainable movement for change. But these low-impact episodic protests aren't enough.

CNN contributor Roland Martin, while not expressing an opinion about the boycott itself, seemed to question the idea of quick fixes to complex problems. "Maybe Ballantine will get people to express their frustration. OK, fine. But that's just not [enough] for me. And it shouldn't be for you," he writes.

Martin seems to suggest that it's not enough to complain about racism and injustice if we don't do something constructive about it too. "Now we must take action," he writes. "You must decide whether you want to complain about your situation or work to fix the problem."

Similarly, Mother Theresa was once asked if she would come to an anti-war rally and she refused. It wasn't because this peaceful woman supported war, but she didn't want to focus her energies on what she was against. So instead she told the organizers that if they had a peace rally she would come to that instead.

That story comes from The Secret, a book which talks about the law of attraction. The law is simple and true: What we focus on will expand. So instead of focusing so much of our energy on the problems, it's time to focus on the solutions. Here's my solution. I won't be taking part in any more Blackout Days. But the next time we have a Black-In Day, I'm there.

Comments (36) reveal

Comments conceal

Kenneth Winfrey
November 5 2007, 11:05AM

Excellent idea! I agree whole-heartedly agree.

I felt as if I had to bow out since, as a small business owner, I couldn't stop buying goods and services that sustain my business for the day. I certainly would rather have welcomed a few more black clients though!

It is true that blackouts don't really send a message. Few business measure sales on daily basis. They are either w/e (week ending)/w.e. (weekend for bars and other business that serve weekend only crowds), monthly, or quarterly. If you go out to hoard your goods and services the day before or restock on the day after, the money is still counted the same way.

If you want to send a message, take your money from the business that don't support you and give it to the ones that do--who, what, WHEN and wherever they may be.

Ostend Street
November 5 2007, 11:09AM

Great commentary Keith. I am with you. Let's go after effective solutions and stop whining about what isn't. Surely, if you are looking for a problem you will not disappoint yourself.

Equalnox
November 5 2007, 11:42AM

I don't think this accomplished anything, other than making us look like an angry mob with no direction and no purpose.

We should have had a National Buy Black day (or like Keith said a National Black-In Day)where we make a concerted effort to buy from black owned businesses. That would put more money into the black community. This would accomplish something.

Let's accentuate the positive and not spend so much time on the negative.

gs
November 5 2007, 12:14PM

Very good piece Keith! I listen to Warren Ballentine, and honestly I thought he was off base with this. Yes, the boycotts worked 50-years ago but we are living in a new time and era. And as you so aptly pointed out, we have the electronic tools at our disposal to make a greater noise than a black-out day. There are too many problems within our community that WE need to address such as homophobia, crime, misogyny, etc. Warren's call for a blackout was too emotional and not well thought out.

Dean
November 5 2007, 1:05PM

Excellent commentary. Like the song says, "Accentuate the positive. Eliminate the negative. Latch on to the affirmative. Don't mess with Mister In-between." And that follows for other things such as studying hard, who you chose as friends, habits, what you eat, use of the "N" word, voting, etc. Don't excuse the negative. Eliminate the negative and spend twice as much time on the positive/affirmative as on the negative.

Finally, when it comes to results, few things are neutral. Almost always an action is positive or negative to any result. Once again, excellent commentary, Keith.

Chicago Angel
November 5 2007, 1:31PM

Blackout day for African Americans?? What about dark skin latinos?????

Billy
November 5 2007, 2:03PM

...Anyway getting back to theme of the article "No More Blackout Days." I loved it! Although, you're not saying anything new it's still good to hear it. Thanks for a positive read.

Ron Lee
November 5 2007, 2:05PM

First of all I want to think Mr.Ballentine for the efford;but, like Keith I was thinking a black/out was the wrong answer. I going to e-mail Mr.Ballentine and suggest we have a GREEN/DAY where everyone donate funds to his organization and in return we establish businesses for young black man gradulation high school to manage. The organization could also give loans to black investors to start businesses. We could train young men with criminal records to become manchanics and carpenters. We could give student loans & car loans.

Robb Caples
November 5 2007, 2:14PM

The bottom line is Economic PERIOD! So, when I heard of a group called The 100 Black Men Inc. I was so happy, that the will, will now get done... BUT, I was wrong again, because they too got lost in the mists of fundrasieding and awards presentions. Maybe their should be a 1000 Black Men Inc.(Gay Men)... Where every black gay man has at least $100 in a Black-owned bank. (A POOR FACT THAT OVER 90% OF 100 BLACK MEN INC. HAS NO DOLLARS IN ANY BLACK-OWNED BANKS)... we must help ourself first then others will follow!

MidwestGuy
November 5 2007, 3:14PM

Robb, In defense of 100 Black Men, Inc. the main inititative that has had residual effects is the mentoring/training programs. The structure is that of a membership-driven organization not a business with vested interests.

I do not know anything about the "90%" issue you raise here. Are you suggesting that the "organization" has only 10% of our dollars invested in black banks? Or that out of the total members, only 10% of us do business with black banks? I don't have proof to dispute either assumption but that figure seems odd.

I agree that we must help ourselves first.

Cadence
November 5 2007, 4:33PM

I thought the message should have been to support Black owned businesses, and those companies that have shown support for the Black community. Few seem to remember that not too long ago supermarket giant Winn Dixie was pretty much driven out of business because they were such strong supporters of South Africa's apartheid. I've never understood why so many of us continue to support companies that don't appreciate our business, or only want our dollars, but don't want mainstream America to know they are doing business with us, least they get a reputation for being a Black business.

Also, I've never understood the idea of letting your "haters" be your motivators, or keeping your friends close or your enemies closer. It seems if you do either of those then you just lose site of who and what's important in your life. And you put people who don't care about you on a higher pedestal than those who do care.

Jared
November 5 2007, 8:10PM

While laudable, it won't work unless the word is spread, I had not heard anything about it, so, I would assume others didn't either. The Latino community here in Arizona did something similar, a day without Latino's, none working or spending, it was a flop. While blowing money on things like clothes or entertainment are easy to do, money for food and to pay your bills are a whole other thing.

And, if you do chose the black out method, try and support black owned business, even though at times some of them can work your last good nerve!

Cadence, Winn Dixie should have been put of business with that name alone, yuck, I wouldn't spend a penny there.

saint james
November 6 2007, 9:03AM

Yes, Great Alternative! I love it. Buy Black instead of Black Out. In my neck of the woods the black out day included not sending children to school which I thought was a completely misguided action.

elg
November 6 2007, 9:07AM

I heard Warren Ballentine refer to homosexuality as an "abomination" on his radio program several months ago. When will black gay men who have achieved some sucess in life organize to help other black gay men who need hope, direction and even (dare I say it) care. Let's put ourselves first, in a practical way. For example, Keith recommends things we could do on a Black-In Day: # 5 is purchase a book by a black author. Change that to purchase a book by a black gay author; # 6 is join a black organization. Change that to join a black gay organization (if there's none in your area, start one yourself). And so on. Get the picture. Let's help ourselves, our black gay selves, not some "community" which does not support us. I cannot find it within myself to help anyone who thinks I'm an "abomination" because I'm gay. Ballentine is a homophobe for saying what he said.

MidwestGuy
November 6 2007, 9:55AM

Black gays need the help and support of the black community.

At the end of the day we are still apart of the the black "community" and should learn to work within it rather than outside or around it.

elg
November 6 2007, 12:44PM

MidwestGuy: Children need good parents. Men (in this case, black gay men) do not need others, particularly others who call them "abominations" and worse, unless they are weak-minded and believe they do.

Cadence
November 6 2007, 1:43PM

MidwestGuy, that's an interesting typo you made. Actually, I don't think Black gay people are apart from the Black community as a whole. I think Black people are very diverse, and gay Black people are just an example of that diversity.

But, while I'm a member of the Black community, I'm not going to support or associate with anyone who denies my rights as a human being. I don't care if they have a problem with my race, gender, or sexuality, if they treat me like I'm less than human, for any reason, then I don't have time for them. I applaud those, like Keith, who try to work with these people, but for me, life is too short to fool with them.

'dre
November 6 2007, 3:44PM

Good points, however, the black gay, lesbian community is out in the cold, we get no support from anyone, blacks see us headed to hell, and, the white gay community as a whole seem to not know we exist and/or bring their own racist ideas to the table.

That said, I do it my way for myself, no time for any of these "alliances." But, in some cases, I will stand with the black community, since, first and foremost, I am black, no matter where I may be standing.

And, there really is a store called Winn Dixie, in 2007, amazing!

MidwestGuy
November 6 2007, 4:32PM

ELJ, I'm sure the fantasy world you live in tells you just that--you can exist on your own without the help of anyone else. There are people within the black community who do not support just as there are those who do support us. There's no reason to apply the standards of some to an entire group of people.

I don't know anyone in their right mind who would support someone who expresses hatred toward. Please don't make up yet another argument.

Cadence, unless you are self-employed/financed, I'm sure you work with people who have issues with your race, gender or sexuality. How they outwardly express that is the big concern.

It is sad to see so many gay men isolate themselves from society. Yet, have issues when someone not gay does the same.

We don't need black heterosexuals, black heterosexuals don't need us.

I guess that's why we're one big unhappy family.

Mikey
November 6 2007, 5:47PM

I thought the purpose of the Blackout was not to buy anything from white owned businesses and such, but we could buy things from businesses that were owned by black people.

elg
November 6 2007, 7:33PM

MidwestGuy: I suggested black gay men of substance offer direction, hope and care to black gay men who are struggling. Starting from Keith's Black-In Day list, I suggested purchasing a book from a black gay author (I bought two copies of Keith's book 'Beyond the Downlow' and gave one to a friend) and joining or starting a black gay organization, etc. According to you, because of these relatively mild ideas, I "live in a fantasy world". Black gays/lesbians organizing around and acting on our own issues is not subversive or living in a fantasy world. It's called common sense. Internalized homophobia and self-doubt keeps us from doing it. It surprises me that in 2007 more black gays don't share my feelings.

MidwestGuy
November 6 2007, 8:36PM

What I clearly responded to was your post about need. Hence, my subsequent response about not being able to exist alone.

You clearly can not counter the legitimate fact that we do need the black heterosexual community for their support.

Therefore, you now present your suggestions in an attempt to show that I, for whatever reason, would object to those suggestions--as good as they are. That I would think that's the reason you live in fantasy world.

Nice try. The good thing is that we all can read.

I'll accept the fact that you mispoke when you said black gays don't need others--that it wasn't exactly what you meant.

ChicagoChild
November 6 2007, 8:54PM

Wow! I wonder who made all of these homosexual people?

Oh! That's right! Heterosexuals!

I don't feel left out in the cold because of heterosexuals. They are some great folks. Mom and Dad to name a few.

As for the Black Out, if Black people themselves are too blase, blessed or whatever to give a damn----well, I guess there goes the neighborhood.

Imagine....a bunch of Black people arguing about whether they should support THEMSELVES or not.

You guys have DEFINITELY arrived. Pass the latte?

myview
November 7 2007, 4:33AM

ELG by now you should know when you are obviously debating with a fool the best thing to do is declare VICTORY AND LEAVE THEM BE.

titi
November 7 2007, 7:29AM

I SINCERELY BELIEVE THAT OUR FIGHT TODAY IS MISGUIDED.
OUR TRUE GOAL WHICH WE HAVE NEGLECTED AND IGNORED IS TO INVERST 100% OF OUR EFFORT INTO BUILDING AND CONSOLIDATING BLACK BUSSINESS AND INSTITUTIONS BESIDE THE LARGER INSTUTION.THAT ACTION WILL TAKE A GREAT DEAL OF BOUNDING WITH OUR OWN COMMUNITY.
STREET PROTEST HAVE LOST IT POTENCE THOSE DAYS ARE GONE..
let's find NEW WAY to DEAL WITH OUR STRUGGLE OR WE ARE ABOUT TO sTAGNATE forever.

Equalnox
November 7 2007, 9:56AM

@ELG starting or joining a gay black organization is a good idea. What would make it better, in my opinion, is if that organization invites heterosexual blacks to join. Then that way we can see that there are straight blacks who do support and respect our contribution to society. Maybe call it the "Black Gay and Straight Alliance".

J
November 7 2007, 5:21PM

Some people may not like this, but the fact is a lot of these megachurches are pushing us forward.

I'm not dismissing the efforts of others in the community, but every other day I see these places explode and do the very things we all want and need to do. How many of them have created decent black schools and programs that benefit our community here and abroad?

They unite and organize us. I understand the issues many have with them, but what's really important?

CyberMan
November 7 2007, 6:23PM

When I first heard of the "blackout" I knew immediately that it would not have any economic impact simply because of the reasons mentioned already, 1) if you don't buy this week, you will next week and the store's balance sheet for the month will be the same.
In hindsight, it may have been helpful to advise that if "certain businesses" were boycotted .. the balance sheet of the boycotted companies never recover those losses and it then makes an economic statement.
Many recommend we concentrate on supporting black-owned businesses. I don't think most people would know where to find a black-owned business to get all the same items they get elsewhere, i.e. I'm a gay black man that lives in Atlanta but I couldn't tell you where to find a local black-owned bank. Many places have "black-faces" but are not black-owned, i.e. B.E.T. I suggest this information be aggregated and provided online for those who want to find it. As Martin said, stop complaining and start doing something. (continued below)

CyberMan
November 7 2007, 7:05PM

(continued)... As Martin said, lets stop complaining and start doing something.

I own a web hosting company here in Atlanta and would be willing to provide the needed space, hosting services, SEO marketing, etc., at no cost for someone with a plan to aggregate this information and provide it online.

If interested you can initially contact me at atlgaexec at yahoo.com.

luna
November 8 2007, 12:01AM

Great article, Keith!!

elg
November 8 2007, 2:30AM

Equalnox, starting a black gay organization that invites heterosexual blacks to join is a great idea. And don't sit around thinking 'when is someone else going to start a black gay organization that invites hetero blacks to join'. You might be waiting forever. Start it yourself. You start out by inviting people you know (and they invite people they know) to a meeting in a safe space, like your living room (or a friend's living room) to talk about it. You go from there. The name you picked is as good as any.

titi
November 8 2007, 9:36AM

that was a great ideas cyberman!!! keep up the good work!!

Equalnox
November 8 2007, 10:18AM

ELG I ran a gay social group for two years. I got very little to no help from the group members so I gave it up. I don't think I have the strength to start another one. However, if someone starts a black gay/straight alliance, I'll join.

Justin
November 9 2007, 1:04PM


I would love too support black own businesses. If I could find them. Finding a black own stores is like finding the proverbial needle in a haystack. And we don't own the business in our own neighborhoods. They're run by asians and middleasterners.

elg
November 9 2007, 6:38PM

I order for me to feel like I had to support a black owned business, I would have to know that, if it was not black gay owned, it was at least gay-friendly.

Justin Spearman
November 11 2007, 3:11PM

The one thing I couldnt understand about this whole Blackout thing was how was this supposed to be effective if we withold our money one day but then run out and spend spend spend the next day. To be effective this has to go on longer than one day; and this event would have to be planned out for a while to accomidate the numerous variables involved in a sustained Blackout, not just a one shot deal.

I love the idea, however I just do not feel as though this was not thought out completely.


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