Where Do We Go From Here? The Survival and Recovery of Black-Owned Businesses Post-COVID-19

Darcelle Lahr; Ashley Adams; Alec Edges; Jillian Bletz

doi:10.1177/01605976211049243

Where Do We Go From Here? The Survival and Recovery of Black-Owned Businesses Post-COVID-19

Humanity Soc. 2022 Aug;46(3):460-477. doi: 10.1177/01605976211049243.

Authors

Darcelle Lahr¹, Ashley Adams¹, Alec Edges¹, Jillian Bletz¹

Affiliation

¹ Mills College, Oakland, CA, USA.

Abstract

Given the direct relationship between business ownership and economic vibrancy within communities of color, this research explores a tailored approach for addressing persistent race-based economic disparities inhibiting business ownership in communities of color. While significant evidence exists regarding the need for access to capital, education, and the market to improve the sustainability of businesses of color, this research demonstrates the need for an additional component (the "Fourth Dimension") to spur the development of thriving, socially oriented Black-owned business communities. We envision the "Fourth Dimension" comprising a collaborative, community-oriented social growth strategy for small Black-owned businesses implemented through enhanced and deliberate cooperative, community-supported market engagement.

Keywords: African Americans; Black-owned business; COVID-19; cooperative business; racial wealth gap; social entrepreneurship.

Publication types

Address