More than 100 local businesses showcased at Spend in the Black event on South Side

CHICAGO (WLS) — There was a push on Saturday to transform 75th Street into a “Black Wall Street.”

Spend in the Black is a national movement, simply encouraging people to shop at Black-owned businesses over Easter weekend.

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Ald. William Hall, who represents the 6th Ward, and Dr. Charlie Dates, the pastor of Progressive and Salem Baptist churches, are leading the movement locally.

“We can literally see a half a million to $1 million spent between three blocks. These are some of the best businesses in the city of Chicago. We just want people to know about the secret on 75th Street,” Hall said.

The two say so many businesses wanted to participate that they had to build a waitlist.

“This is about resurrecting the Black dollar. So rather than being in the red, we are spending in the Black,” Dates said.

More than 100 businesses were set up on Saturday at 75th and King Drive, showcasing their goods and services. The event ran from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

“We need to understand that when we begin to invest in Black-owned businesses, we begin to build generational wealth for our community,” said City Treasurer Melissa Conyears-Ervin.

From Italian Ice and coffee to homemade bracelets and beauty products, there is something for everyone in this rich and vibrant small business community.

“It’s a blessing, an honor. We are grateful to be a part of this, so we are bringing it back to our community,” said Stefanie Moore with Mams Bracelets.

This is also all part of a growing movement led by faith leaders who are using their platforms to push back against corporate retreats from diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives.

“What we do on 75th will have an impact on what happens on 79th. What happens on King Drive has an impact on what happens on Madison,” said Mayor Brandon Johnson.

In fact, that is what Dates is doing: encouraging his congregation to shop at Black-owned businesses and not major retailers.

Jurema Gorham owns Burst Into Books, the only bookstore in the Roseland community, she says.

Gorham says Spend in the Black is about building community.

“For me, it’s more than sales. I want to meet other vendors, the families that come out and just continue this beyond today,” Gorham said.

Shoppers are also eligible to win $1,000 every hour on Saturday. That money is put into an emergency savings account.

All were welcome to attend the Spend in the Black event.

More details can be found here: https://www.progressivechicago.org/events/spend-in-the-black