Pay Your Black Friend: Easy Ways to Support Black People

Gone are the days of offering feel good sentiments of support without investment.  As Black America works towards unity for collective bargaining, there is something we need to talk about amongst ourselves. In today's climate, people are genuinely looking for ways to support black people. Here is one sure way to assure support:

Pay your black friend.

If you find yourself budgeting for services or products but decide to consult a black friend who specializes in that area, “for the free”, then you are not “for the people”.

Examples of this could be:

• Asking your therapist friend for advice 3 times a week without asking her hourly rate.

• Asking your personal trainer friend for at-home workouts instead of paying for a gym membership or personal training sessions.

• Asking your esthetician friend for skin care samples, as opposed to buying the product.

We must stop threatening to take our support away from big corporations that continue to play in our faces while playing in the faces of those within our own circles.

Being “for the people” is understanding that minority-owned small businesses lack funding and resources.  A significant amount of time and energy go into researching how to run a business effectively, long-term. Not only is it incredibly offensive to feel taken advantage of, but it is also adding to the many problems.  Expecting handouts or discounts drain us of resources, energy and time.  “For the free” doesn’t equate to sustainability.

How we are conditioned to view ourselves, in terms of value, is also in play.  Choosing not to pay your black friend for services or products you would pay their white counterpart reaffirms devaluation.

So.  Pay your black friend… or, at least ask for their rate.  Someone might appreciate the acknowledgement of their talents and then decide to bargain with you.  Or if they don’t, ask yourself “why do I think they should have to?” And… pay them their worth.

If you REALLY can’t afford them (as in, you’re eating Ramen noodles on the daily), here are some other ways in which you can show real support:

• Speak your black friend’s name in EVERY room.  The opportunity or contact that they could be looking for may be in a room with YOU.

• Offer to trade services.  Ask for products/services in return for what you can offer.  Call it even.

• Come up with some sort of promissory note.  Yep, it said it.  Agree to a “promise to pay” contract; not some pinky promise or gentleman’s handshake.  Put it in writing.

Your friends are talented.  You should absolutely use their skills.  Pay them what they are worth or, let the choice truly be theirs. They have earned it.