After several lists of Black-owned businesses were shared around Los Angeles, Silver Lake resident Blakeney Wallace was looking to support a few while she had the chance. Upon searching the list for businesses in her area, she was disappointed in the selection and had really hoped to find one in a nicer, more convenient neighborhood.
“I thought it would be cool to try a new restaurant or find a cute store, but the closest open black-owned business was in…Hollywood? And mostly farther out from there? I was really just kind of hoping to stay in my comfort zone here.”
The vast majority of Black-owned businesses were on streets Blakeney had never heard of, even though they are only a few miles away from her.
“Have any Black people thought of opening more businesses in gentrifying neighborhoods?” she asked. “There’s a lot of money to be made here. I wonder why they haven’t.”
“Blakeney seems to want to support a Black-owned business that is made for white people,” says Blakeney’s roommate, Sydney. “There’s a lot to unpack there. I’m moving out as soon as this pandemic is over.”
Blakeney resigned herself to Postmates a delivery order from Crenshaw, and after tipping the delivery guy 10% for his service, gave herself a pat on the back for doing some good.
