💋 When “Support Black Businesses” Turns into “Support Bad Attitudes” 😩

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💋 When “Support Black Businesses” Turns into “Support Bad Attitudes” 😩

You ever try to do the right thing — support a Black business, show love to the culture, put your money where your mouth is — and somehow walk away mad, disappointed, or confused? Yeah, me too.

Let me tell you what happened at this weekend’s beauty expo because baby, I’m still shaking my head.

So my sister and I were excited. We had our little budget ready, we were browsing vendors, sampling products, smelling body butters, and hyping each other up like, “Okay, I see you supporting the culture!” Everything was smooth until we got to one particular table.

This lady had a cute setup — lashes, lip gloss, and lip liners all lined up like they were about to go on tour. My sister found a lip liner she liked — $17. Not cheap, but we get it — small businesses gotta eat too. So she pulls out a $20 bill, hands it over, and waits for her change.

That’s when the mood shifted.

The lady looks up and says, “Oh, I don’t have change.”

Now, we thought maybe she was joking. Maybe she’d call someone over to help or offer Cash App. Nope. She starts rummaging through her purse, doing that fake “I’m looking but not really looking” thing. After a dramatic minute or two, she pulls out a single dollar bill like it was buried treasure.

My sister, still being polite, says, “Okay, you can just give me the dollar.”

And baby… the way this woman’s whole face changed? You would’ve thought we asked her to donate her whole booth. She got defensive, snappy, and suddenly had an attitude like we were the problem.

She huffed, handed the dollar over like it hurt her soul, and then gave my sister a look that said, “You’ll never shop here again.”

And honestly? She was right.

Because here’s the truth nobody wants to say out loud — sometimes, supporting Black businesses feels like walking on eggshells. You want to help, you want to uplift, but when the customer service is zero beyond zero, it makes it hard to keep the same energy.

We can’t keep saying “buy Black” if buying Black comes with attitude.

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🖤 The Real Talk: Customer Service Is the Product

At the end of the day, your attitude is part of what you’re selling. It doesn’t matter if your product is lip liner, candles, clothes, or hair bundles — people are buying the experience.

Think about it: when you shop at Target or Sephora, it’s not just the items that bring you back; it’s how you’re treated. You feel seen, respected, and appreciated. Even if they mess up, they fix it with a smile and maybe a coupon.

Meanwhile, at some small events or pop-ups, you ask a simple question like “Do you have this in another color?” and get hit with, “What you see is what I got.” 😒

That’s not business — that’s burnout disguised as boss energy.

You can’t demand community support if you’re not showing community spirit.

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💬 Let’s Be Honest: Some Black Businesses Make It Hard to Support

It’s not that we don’t want to support. We really do. But experiences like this make people hesitant. Because instead of feeling valued, we feel dismissed. And when you feel dismissed after spending your hard-earned money, that’s a problem.

I’ve had it happen before — you buy something, it breaks, you message the seller, and they ghost you like you’re an ex they owe money. Then they hop online and post, “Y’all don’t support Black businesses.”

No ma’am. We tried. But support works both ways.

You can’t say “support Black businesses” and then act like customers should accept poor treatment in silence. Respect is not optional.

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💄 How That One Bad Moment Ruins Everything

Let’s go back to that beauty expo moment. It wasn’t about the $2 difference. It was about how she handled it.

If the vendor had simply said,

> “I’m so sorry, sis, I just ran out of change. If you can come back in a few minutes, I’ll get you right,”

we would’ve smiled, understood, and probably came back later to buy more.

But instead, she made us feel like we were wrong for asking for fairness.

And that’s where many small business owners lose people — not over the price, not over the product, but over the pride.

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💡 Five Tips for Black Business Owners Who Want to Grow

I’m not here to bash, I’m here to teach — with a little bit of shade and love. If you’re an entrepreneur, take notes:

1. Carry Change. Period.

Don’t assume everyone’s paying with a card or Cash App. Cash is still king, especially at expos and pop-ups. If you’re charging premium prices, have premium preparation.

2. Respect Every Customer.

Whether someone spends $5 or $50, treat them like they matter. That word-of-mouth will make or break you.

3. Don’t Take Everything Personal.

Every question isn’t an attack. If a customer asks something simple, it’s not shade — it’s curiosity. Breathe before you bark.

4. Presentation Is Everything.

Your booth, your tone, your vibe — it’s your brand. The way you treat one customer can determine if ten more show up tomorrow.

5. Keep a Professional Mindset.

You’re not just hustling — you’re building a business. Practice patience, polish, and pride the same way big corporations do.

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👏 Advice for Customers Too

Now let’s be fair — as customers, we can do better too.

If a small business owner is genuinely trying, meet them halfway. If they communicate respectfully, support that effort. Give feedback privately when possible. Not every mistake is worth a public dragging.

But if someone is rude, dismissive, or unprofessional — you don’t owe them your peace or your purchase. Your money is your power. Spend it where it’s appreciated, not tolerated.

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💬 Final Thoughts: Excellence Is the New Black

I’ll always love supporting Black businesses because I love seeing us win. But winning means evolving. It means shifting from “I got a hustle” to “I run a brand.” It means realizing that good customer service isn’t extra — it’s expected.

That beauty expo moment reminded me that support without service doesn’t last. You can have the best products in the world, but if your attitude stinks, nobody’s coming back.

As a community, we’ve got to hold each other accountable. If we truly want “Buy Black” to mean something, we need “Serve Black Excellence” right alongside it.

Because at the end of the day, it’s not about the lip liner. It’s about respect, professionalism, and the energy you bring when you say you’re building something for the culture.

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Moral of the story:

Don’t let one bad experience stop you from supporting our people — but don’t let loyalty blind you from demanding quality either.

We deserve better. From each other. For each other. 💅🏾

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