Island Origins | The Caribbean American Lifestyle Magazine
The police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis last summer reignited the long simmering Black Lives Matter movement and invigorated broader campaigns for Black equity.
Just before that, in February and April 2020, about 41% of Black-owned small businesses closed, devastated by pandemic-related closures and reduced customer traffic, according to a study by the National Bureau of Economic Research. Although small companies across the board struggled, Black entrepreneurs were hit hardest. Haitian owned businesses in Miami rode the economic wave.
Yet, these dual crises also inspired new investments in Black businesses, reinforced long-standing traditions for Black communities to look after their own, and spurred some to pursue new opportunities despite pandemic uncertainties.