When Medina Oyefusi started “I Buy Black Too,” her goal was to give Philadelphians a chance to support Black-owned businesses.
In its first year, Oyefusi managed to rally more than 100 people to an event in support of Black businesses in Philadelphia.
In an interview with Travel Noire, she discusses how she plans to make the movement bigger and better.
Travel Noire: What inspired the “I Buy Black Too” campaign?
OYEFUSI: It started as an idea after I attended a business call in December, and I was just like, ‘wow we should have one in North Philly.’
I started doing some research to see if there was anything similar and because the one that I participated in was in DC.
I kept finding small tours or guided tours but nothing for fun and entertainment.
The number of Black people in Philadelphia compared with the amount of Black-owned businesses was astronomically different. There are over 600,000 people in Philadelphia but only 1-in-40 businesses are Black-owned/
When I launched the initiative, I started with a couple of my own favorites and then more restaurants reached out to be included.
Travel Noire: After this event, when can people expect part two?
OYEFUSI: I just had a meeting about it because people are really excited and want me to do it again. We’re thinking about in August for Black Philanthropy Month because I think it would be a good follow-up for Black History Month. We’re going to do it much bigger and better because so many businesses want to be involved. We’ll probably do it another part of the city just to keep it moving forward.
Travel Noire: Why do you think that like this is important to have an event like this in Philadelphia?
OYEFUSI: I think it’s important for Philadelphia because there is such a large black community here.
To showcase businesses in this way and entrepreneurship is inspiring because you know we like to see each other do good we like to see each other strive.
We want to feed into that and we want to support that and sometimes we’re not sure how. People want to support their own and there is a hunger for that. What I loved the most is seeing people outside of the Black culture who we’re so ready to support Black businesses.
