Your Dollar is Your Weapon: Supporting BIPOC Businesses

"...those with financial privileges have a unique opportunity to disrupt the status quo. You have to think about your dollar as a tool for change."

Various forms of activism have been circulated through social media channels and created several different ways individuals can engage in the #BlackLivesMatter movement. An area of support that has been consistently endorsed and amplified is the act of supporting BIPOC businesses. This key area has garnered close attention as individuals and companies share resources about different restaurant food and dine-in businesses owned and operated by BIPOC individuals and families. Different regions and organizations have compiled resources about supporting BIPOC businesses with a critical focus on restaurants and different patron options. These common resource guides encourage individuals to patronize these businesses and highlight the top businesses in their respective categories.

For reference, visit this fantastic Instagram page that has taken off in Toronto- which promotes a variety of black-owned businesses.

With the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic still salient for restaurant and dine-in food services, supporting local businesses has never been more vital. Specifically, supporting BIPOC businesses allows you to support entrepreneurs and BIPOC business owners across the country financially.

Drawing back on our discussion with Meena, the Commerce Society’s Diversity and inclusion officer, she eloquently discussed the power that your dollar can have in fighting systems of oppression and understanding that racism is not always visibly violent. As Meena explained, those with financial privileges have a unique opportunity to disrupt the status quo. You have to think about your dollar as a tool for change. Where you put your limited financial resources on an individual level has dramatic impacts on our economic landscape, one patron at a time. Knowing this, you can learn about and locate BIPOC businesses in your community, support them, and spread the message. As we re-emerge from this pandemic, where customers chose to spend their dollars will have dramatic impacts on our economic landscape. Keeping this in mind, making a conscious effort to support BIPOC businesses in your respective communities can ultimately be a catalyst for change.

Beyond just patronizing businesses, you can employ this additional list of suggestions to support BIPOC entrepreneurs and businesses in your local area.

1. Leave positive reviews on a utilized platform such as Google or Yelp

2. Share your positive experience on social media or in your social circles

3. Do your research and locate BIPOC businesses in your community so that you can connect other people to local businesses

For Queen’s students and faculty, there are several fantastic BIPOC restaurants students can actively support in our Kingston community as they begin to return to campus and transition back to Kingston over the next year. The fantastic team at Staycations has organized a list of BIPOC restaurants students can try on their local vacations this summer, or when they return to campus this fall. Give the restaurants a try and let us know what you think!

Below is the list from StayCations, courtesy of Omar!

• Sally’s Roti Shop

  • Sally’s Roti Shop serves authentic Trinidadian cuisine – and it’s the only business that does in Kingston! That means Sally’s is the only place you can find snacks like phulorie and doubles or find meals like roti wraps. Sally’s also offers Trinidadian “Sweet drink” – soda pop that is more common in the Caribbean (like Solo and Apple J). Sally’s recently reopened for takeout orders.

• Burning Grill Korean Cuisine

  • Burning Grill has an enormous menu with tons of different dining/ takeout options. They are also on Uber Eats, so their food is easily accessible for delivery. Online, many reviews praise the restaurant for the quality of their food!

• Pat’s Restaurant

  • Pat’s Restaurant also recently reopened and offers a Cambodian/ Thai menu. Pat’s boasts 55 “Excellent” and 23 “Very Good” reviews on Trip Advisor. The food quality and value for money ratings are notable – a strong indication that Pat’s will give you a good bang for your buck!