The summer of 2020 once again highlighted significant disparities that Black people and other minorities face here in the United States. "In the United States Only 4.3% of the United States' 22.2 million business owners are Black, according to a February 2020 Brookings Institute report." This is due to the systemic racist structures within the United States that historically have been weaponized against the Black community. From education to entrepreneurship, it is clear the United States has not done enough to provide equality and equity to Black communities.
It's time to celebrate, embrace, and support the local Black businesses in your area. One might ask why it's necessary or why it even matters? The truth is every dollar that is spent within local businesses provides more economic value to those direct communities. The wealth is spread literally. If the people have the power to be a positive difference within the local or neighboring communities, that power should be harnessed.
Buffalo, NY, has various Black-owned businesses that visitors, students, and residents can and should support. Some of those very businesses have been around for multiple generations despite the trials faced. Other businesses are startups and can truly use financial and good ol' "word of mouth" marketing tactics to prolong longevity. Take hold of the value of the dollar and spend it in an area where an impact is made. The following Brochures will highlight different industries and multiple Black-owned businesses within those industries.
The use of the BoB is a great idea! This emphasizes on these businesses being black owned businesses, and can be used to highlight each individual brochure. For example, the BoB brochure on beauty could have an eye with makeup represented, where as the brochure highlighting wellness could have a chakra symbol on it, etc.
ReplyDeleteOn Cole's second inside middle panel, the use of diagonals breaks up the space and adds a visual surprise. These diagonal shapes may be both graphics / photos and the colors of the African American flag. Perhaps the big bold images Lorraine has on her top right inside layout may be an idea for all group members to have their own big bold images across the middle to unite the series. The way Dahlia uses the image of the afro; that could be incorporated smaller on the back of each brochure, yet made invidiualized for that specific brochure. And the way Scott's inside panel on his second thumbnail has a cascading montage of images that make up his sub-topic of arts and entertainment. Perhaps each group member can have cascading pics that represent their sub-topic.
Make sure to use elements / ideas from each of the group member. For example, discuss what are the strengths in each of the group members' brochures, and see if they may be incorporated into the final thumbnail brochure which will serve as the final layout. That way, the look of the final brochure will be incorporated as a series, yet individual elements / graphics that create these as standalones.