Are You Joining The Economic Blackout?
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Have you heard the news? A nationwide economic blackout is planned for February 28, urging marginalized communities to flex their financial power and influence. You’re not alone if your group chats, social media timelines, or even email boxes have been flooded with messages about a spending freeze. The information is spreading.
While details may vary across different calls to action, the core message remains the same: abstain from spending at major retailers for 24 hours to make a statement about economic justice, corporate accountability, and the value of diverse consumers in the marketplace.
What’s the Economic Blackout All About?
The movement, led by organizations like The People’s Union USA, has dubbed this a day of economic resistance. The idea is to show corporations, politicians, and policymakers that ignoring marginalized communities can come at a cost. Put another way: Real dollars matter.
According to the Associated Press, organizers are asking people to pause all non-essential spending from 12:00 a.m. to 11:59 p.m. EST—that means no Amazon orders, no Starbucks fixes, no last-minute Target runs. And if you must make a purchase, the advice is to support a Black-owned business or a local small business instead.
But the blackout doesn’t stop at just one day. Some activists are also pushing for multiple boycotts of major corporations like Walmart and Amazon, companies that have long faced criticism for their labor practices, treatment of marginalized communities, and wavering commitments to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI).
So Why Are These Economic Blackouts & Boycotts Happening Now?
The timing of this economic blackout is no coincidence. Not only does it fall on the last day of Black History Month, but the movement comes on the heels of a rocky first month under the new administration. Several high-profile orders have specifically targeted DEI initiatives in both corporate and political spaces.
Companies that once made bold DEI commitments are changing course. Many have been rolling back their programs, leaving many consumers and advocacy groups taking notes.
Take Target, for example—recent changes to its DEI strategies have sparked outrage and disappointment. (Is the Future gone from their Future Collective?) But Target isn’t alone; other companies have also faced pressure to scale back efforts, leading activists to take a stand.
“As our first initial act, we turn it off. For one day we show them who really holds the power” reads The People’s Union USA website.
Earlier this month, the NAACP also called for change with Black communities issuing its Black Consumer Advisory. Though directly associated with this blackout, the historic civil rights organization is calling for members to “spend [their] money where [they are] respected, support Black-owned businesses, and demand businesses prioritize people over profit.”
Will the Economic Blackout Work?
That’s the million-dollar question. Some skeptics argue that a one-day spending freeze isn’t enough to move the needle, especially without mass participation. Others believe that when marginalized communities unite, history has proven that economic pressure can bring change.
Of course we remember the Montgomery Bus Boycott – the sustained economic protest that helped dismantle segregation. Advocates hope to channel some of that 1960s energy in 2025.
While one day may not be a financial earthquake, it can be a wake-up call. This is especially true as it relates to Black women. As Black Enterprise reports, our contributions play a key factor in the success of the U.S. economy.
So, what do you think, HB? Are you joining the economic blackout?
SEE ALSO:
NAACP Creates ‘Black Consumer Advisory’ To Let Black People Know Which Pro-DEI Companies To Support
‘Listen To Black Women’ Episode 2: Are Boycotts Effective In 2018?
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