Community News
You want me to buy black; treat me better – How to improve the black buying experience
BY SIMONE J. SMITH
“I would love to support black businesses, but…”
How many times have you heard this statement? More than ever, there is a push to “Buy Black.” Buying black has always been at the centre of the fight for civil rights. There are some outspoken community activists who say that integration is what has hurt black businesses.
Before our emancipation, black businesses flourished in areas known as Black Wall Streets. Most notable are places like Tulsa, Oklahoma, Richmond Virginia, and Birmingham, Alabama. It was a time where the black community supported each other. Back then, other businesses would not service Africans living in the Americas, so we decided to service ourselves. We had thriving communities that were only brought to ruin because of lynchings, tax sales, predatory land speculation, and disenfranchisement.
Since then, we have seen a steady decline in black collective economics, and there are systemic reasons for this. We also have to take into consideration another side of the story, and ask ourselves some key questions:
- Why don’t we support black businesses?
- Is there a lack of trust?
- Do we unconsciously think that black is inferior?
- Do we have an unconscious bias against our own?
- Do we lack professionalism?
- I received a disturbing phone message this week from a community member who was disturbed at what she was experiencing. In her message she expressed concern about how she was being treated when she went into black businesses. She thought it was important to mention it because she knows that I am always pushing to support black-owned businesses. Her message, “I don’t mind supporting black owned businesses. They just have to start treating their customers better.”
She then proceeded to tell me about four different scenarios and negative experiences she had when supporting black-owned businesses in the last few weeks. I will not be outing these businesses in this article, because my point is not to damage their credibility. If anything, I think that this article is a strong reminder that we all have to do better. If we want to grow as an economic force, we have to trim the edges of our deficits, and learn how to service our communities.
Why is it important to support black-owned businesses? First, and foremost, doing so will allow the black dollar to circulate longer in our community. The result. We no longer have to rely on people who have historically shown us that they only need us when we are spending money at their establishments.
I want to note that in some cases, complaints about black-owned businesses have nothing to do with their race or nationality. It has to do with the fact that they are a one-person show, trying to wear many hats, working 60 plus hours a week, and taking from Peter to pay Paul. Their intentions are good, they just don’t have the know how to serve their community because they are focused on staying afloat.
Now, in saying this, there is still no excuse for bad business practices. Let’s go through some of the major complaints held by black-owned business shoppers, and provide some solutions that will assist in strengthening our community business structures.
Insufficient or inadequate communication
There seems to be a problem with lack of communication from black-owned businesses. As a business owner, you have to know that people do not like being ignored, especially when money is involved.
As a new, and growing business, it is easy to get swamped with orders. Sometimes you may miss an order. In this case, organization is key. There are online tools to help your business track orders and shipments. It is important that you have a website, and that your website is up to date because consumers will check your website for information.
Utilize your social media as another way to communicate with your clients. As much as this can be time consuming, stay on top of your social media, and continue to share news about what you are doing as a business, and any changes that are happening.
Terrible customer service
This is the complaint that I hear the most, and the one that my disgruntled community member brought up as most frustrating to her.
CUSTOMER SERVICE TRAINING IS KEY!
Make sure that you have a team of staff that are on the front lines, who are able to deal with frustrated and agitated customers empathetically. The frontline team has to be aware, and knowledgeable about the customer’s wants, needs and pain points. When a customer takes the time to share suggestions or vent frustrations, stay open to this even though it might be difficult. It is the only way to revise your customer service strategy so that you do better the next time around.
One way to ensure that your company’s customer service etiquette is on point is to delegate tasks, and select a team that is as passionate about the vision of your company as you are.
To improve your product and service offering, you need to have the best possible understanding of what your customer’s needs are. For restaurants, if you are not offering something on a specific day, let your customers know that ahead of time, so that they don’t have to hear those dreaded words, “We nuh have dat!”
Do your best to keeping consistent business hours. Your customers need to know that they can depend on your service, or they will take their business elsewhere. If you are going to make changes to your business hours, let your customers know weeks to months ahead of time, and update this on your social media platforms.
Another proactive approach to improving your customer service is by providing customers with several ways to provide feedback (social media, email, on-site suggestion box). This will enable you to monitor and implement changes and address issues when they arise.
Overinflated prices
I had an opportunity to visit a black-owned hair supply store this weekend. I did notice that her prices were much higher then ones that I found in let’s say Asian owned black hair supply stores. She explained that because they are larger, they are able to buy in bulk. I got it. As a small business, her overhead cost was probably expensive, and she has to make a profit somehow.
I paid her what she asked for, and she threw in some freebies. That helped out a lot. It showed me that my money was worth something, and it felt good to get something additional.
Low visibility in the market place
If people don’t know you exist, they will not buy anything from you. If you don’t market your beauty supply store, then customers who would support you, will continue to shop at the store that they do know about. Trust me; making your business visible is a challenge, but it’s worth the effort. I would rethink your budget, and find ways to put a little bit more into advertising. Think about hiring a marketing firm or a social media manager to help you reach potential customers. Another great source; community newspapers. They usually have special rates to help out new, and developing businesses.
Just as you are an individual, each black-owned business is unique. They are not all the same, and they are not all bad. They do not all have terrible customer service, nor are they all cutting corners when it comes to operating as a respectable business. Try not to view all businesses in the same light. We all have a lot to learn, and mistakes will be made. All we can do is work together to get it right.
BY KHADIJA KARIM
Have you ever forgotten someone’s name, or where you left your phone and thought, “Why can’t I remember anything?” Forgetting might feel frustrating, but it turns out that forgetting things can actually be good for you. Experts believe forgetting might be an important part of human survival and could even have benefits.
You probably think that remembering everything would be better, right? If you remembered every tiny detail, like what you had for breakfast three weeks ago, or the colour of every car you saw today, you would be overwhelmed. Our brains are constantly receiving information, and if we didn’t forget some of it, we wouldn’t be able to focus on what really matters at that time.
Forgetting helps you clear out information you don’t need, and it helps your brain remember the most useful memories. Think about how hard it would be to focus on important things if your mind was filled with random thoughts. Forgetting helps you stay focused and keeps your mind from getting lost.
So, why would evolution make us forget things? Early humans had to deal with dangerous environments that changed quickly. They needed to remember things that helped them survive, like where to find food, or how to avoid predators. They didn’t need to remember every small detail, like what happened last week. Forgetting information, they didn’t need allowed them to make quick decisions based on what was most important at that moment in time.
For example, if you remember a recent storm, you might make sure to stay inside or find shelter. If you remembered every storm you’d ever seen, it would be harder to make decisions about the present. Forgetting irrelevant details helps you stay on your feet and helps you react faster to new situations. This ability to forget likely helped early humans survive and make better decisions in their everyday lives.
Next time you forget something, don’t be too hard on yourself! Forgetting is a natural part of how our brains work and can actually help you stay focused on the important things. It might seem annoying at times, but it’s helping you make better decisions. Forgetting isn’t just something to be annoyed about, it’s a smart way to survive in a world that’s always changing!
Community News
Blink equity dives deep into the gap between people of colour and decision-making roles in Canadian law firms
BY ADRIAN REECE
Representation in the workforce has been a topic of conversation for years, particularly in positions of influence, where people can shift laws and create fair policies for all races. Representation in the legal system is an even more talked about subject, with many Black men being subjected to racism in courts and not being given fair sentencing by judges.
The fear of Black men entering the system is something that plagues mothers and fathers as they watch their children grow up.
Blink Equity, a company led by Pako Tshiamala, has created an audit called the Blink Score. This audit targets law firms and seeks to identify specific practices reflecting racial diversity among them in Toronto. A score is given based on a few key performance indicators. These KPIs include hiring practices, retention of diverse talent, and racial representation at every level.
The Blink Score project aims to analyze law firms in Ontario with more than 50 lawyers. The Blink Score is a measurement tool that holds law firms accountable for their representation. Firms will be ranked, and the information will be made public for anyone to access.
This process is ambitious and seeks to give Canadian citizens a glimpse into how many people are represented across the legal field. While more and more people have access to higher education, there is still a gap between obtaining that higher education and working in a setting where change can be made. The corporate world, at its highest points, is almost always one race across the board, and very rarely do people of colour get into their ranks. They are made out to be an example of how anyone from a particular race can achieve success. However, this is the exception, not the rule. Nepotism plays a role in societal success; connections are a factor, and loyalty to race, even if people are acquainted.
People of colour comprise 16% of the total lawyers across the province. Positions at all levels range from 6% to 27%. These numbers display the racial disparity among law practitioners in positions of influence. Becoming a lawyer is undoubtedly a huge accomplishment. Still, when entering the workforce with other seasoned professionals, your academic accolades become second to your professional achievements and your position in the company.
What do these rankings ultimately mean? A potential for DEI-inclusive practices, perhaps? That isn’t something that someone would want in this kind of profession. This kind of audit also opens law firms up to intense criticism from people who put merit above all other aspects of professional advancement. On the other hand, there is a potential for firms to receive clientele based on their blink score, with higher ones having the chance to bring in more race-based clients who can help that law firm grow.
It is only the beginning, and changes will undoubtedly be made in the legal field as Blink Equity continues to dive deep into the gap between people of colour and decision-making roles in these law firms. This audit has the power to shift the power scale, and place people of colour in higher positions. There are hierarchies in any profession, and while every Lawyer is qualified to do what they are trained to do, it is no shock that some are considerably better than others at their jobs. The ones who know how to use this audit to their advantage will rise above the others and create a representative image for themselves among their population.
BY SIMONE J. SMITH
We are living in a world where promises of health and safety came packaged in a tiny vial, one injection was promoted by powerful governments, supported by respected institutions, and championed by legacy media worldwide. Sadly, beneath the surface, a darker truth emerged.
Reports from around the globe began to tell a different story—one that was not covered in the news cycles or press conferences. Families torn apart by unexpected losses, communities impacted in ways that few could have foreseen, and millions questioning what they had been told to believe.
Those who dared to question were silenced or dismissed (the Toronto Caribbean Newspaper being one of those sources). “Trust the science,” we were told. “It’s for the greater good.” As time went on, the truth became impossible to ignore.
Now, I bring more news to light—information that demands your attention and scrutiny. The time to passively listen has passed; this is the moment to understand what’s really at stake.
I reviewed an interview with Naomi Wolf, journalist and CEO of Daily Clout, which detailed the serious vaccine-related injuries that Pfizer and the FDA knew of by early 2021, but tried to hide from the public. I was introduced to “The Pfizer Papers: Pfizer’s Crimes Against Humanity.” What I learned is that Pfizer knew about the inadequacies of its COVID-19 vaccine trials and the vaccine’s many serious adverse effects, and so did the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The FDA promoted the vaccines anyway — and later tried to hide the data from the public.
To produce “The Pfizer Papers,” Naomi, and Daily Clout Chief Operations Officer Amy Kelly convened thousands of volunteer scientists and doctors to analyze Pfizer data and supplementary data from other public reporting systems to capture the full scope of the vaccines’ effects. They obtained the data from the Public Health and Medical Professionals for Transparency, a group of more than 30 medical professionals and scientists who sued the FDA in 2021 and forced the agency to release the data, after the FDA refused to comply with a Freedom of Information Act request.
It was then that the federal court ordered the agency to release 450,000 internal documents pertaining to the licensing of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine. The data release was significantly and the documents so highly technical and scientific that according to Naomi, “No journalist could have the bandwidth to go through them all.”
The “Pfizer Papers” analysts found over 42,000 case reports detailing 158,893 adverse events reported to Pfizer in the first three months The centerpiece of “The Pfizer Papers” is the effect that the vaccine had on human reproduction. The papers reveal that Pfizer knew early on that the shots were causing menstrual issues. The company reported to the FDA that 72% of the recorded adverse events were in women. Of those, about 16% involved reproductive disorders and functions. In the clinical trials, thousands of women experienced: daily bleeding, hemorrhaging, and passing of tissue, and many other women reported that their menstrual cycle stopped completely.
Pfizer was aware that lipid nanoparticles from the shots accumulated in the ovaries and crossed the placental barrier, compromising the placenta and keeping nutrients from the baby in utero. According to the data, babies had to be delivered early, and women were hemorrhaging in childbirth.
Let us take us to another part of the world, where research has been done on other pharmaceutical companies. A group of Argentine scientists identified 55 chemical elements — not listed on package inserts — in the: Pfizer, Moderna, AstraZeneca, CanSino, Sinopharm and Sputnik V COVID-19 vaccines (according to a study published last week in the International Journal of Vaccine Theory, Practice, and Research).
The samples also contained 11 of the 15 rare earth elements (they are heavier, silvery metals often used in manufacturing). These chemical elements, which include lanthanum, cerium and gadolinium, are lesser known to the general public than heavy metals, but have been shown to be highly toxic. By the end of 2023, global researchers had identified 24 undeclared chemical elements in the COVID-19 vaccine formulas.
Vaccines often include excipients — additives used as preservatives, adjuvants, stabilizers, or for other purposes. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), substances used in the manufacture of a vaccine, but not listed in the contents of the final product should be listed somewhere in the package insert. Why is this important? Well, researchers argue it is because excipients can include allergens and other “hidden dangers” for vaccine recipients.
In one lot of the AstraZeneca vaccine, researchers identified 15 chemical elements, of which 14 were undeclared. In the other lot, they detected 21 elements of which 20 were undeclared. In the CanSino vial, they identified 22 elements, of which 20 were undeclared.
The three Pfizer vials contained 19, 16 and 21-23 undeclared elements respectively. The Moderna vials contained 21 and between 16-29 undeclared elements. The Sinopharm vials contained between 17-23 undeclared elements and the Sputnik V contained between 19-25 undetected elements.
“All of the heavy metals detected are linked to toxic effects on human health,” the researchers wrote. Although the metals occurred in different frequencies, many were present across multiple samples.
I am not going to go any further with this; I think you get the picture. We have been sold wolf cookies, very dangerous ones. These pharmaceutical companies must be held accountable. I am proud of anyone who has gone after them for retribution, and have received it. Regardless, in many ways, there is no repayment for a healthy life.
REFERENCES:
https://ijvtpr.com/index.php/IJVTPR/article/view/111
https://childrenshealthdefense.org/defender_category/toxic-exposures/
Pfizer’s ‘Crimes Against Humanity’ — and Legacy Media’s Failure to Report on Them
55 Undeclared Chemical Elements — Including Heavy Metals — Found in COVID Vaccines
FDA Should Need Only ‘12 Weeks’ to Release Pfizer Data, Not 75 Years, Plaintiff Calculates
Judge Gives FDA 8 Months, Not 75 Years, to Produce Pfizer Safety Data
Most Studies Show COVID Vaccine Affects Menstrual Cycles, BMJ Review Finds
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