Pinching pennies doesn’t mean squeezing Black women out of our budgets

In this economy, spending on extras is an act of Black resistance 

Where we put our dollars is always a political choice; in these times, it might even be revolutionary. image credit: Sirita Render

I have never considered paying to get my hair done to be a radical action. In fact, I haven’t had my hair done professionally in close to nine months because it felt financially irresponsible. However, today, I walked into the salon to have my hair braided by a Black mother of three. It wasn’t a financial choice, but a political one. Squeezing Black entrepreneurs out of our budgets, especially Black women entrepreneurs, during a time like this feels dangerous. 

Let’s review.

The federal workforce: shrunk by 238,000 workers.  

Close to 600,000 Black women: pushed out of the labor force.

Gas: $4.25, the national price per gallon up 40% since the U.S. war strike that constricted the world’s oil supply.

Due to jobs loss, higher cost of living and increased cost at the pumps, households across the country have to manage shrinking budgets.  Life will begin to be sorted into needs or wants, and the things that are important, but not necessities will fall off of many budgets. Nail shops and hair salons might lose customers to DIY tutorials. Massage parlors and spas might see clientele dwindle. Artists might see more browsers and fewer sales. Contractors may receive fewer calls. 

The next time we cut a luxury out of our budget to make up for the failures of our government, we must contemplate whether these purchases are truly a luxury or a fundamental part of sustainable communities. We must consider who benefits and who suffers from these seemingly benign choices.

We could call these budget adjustments “responsible adult decisions.” Some would argue luxuries like these should be cut from the budget, but what people often fail to consider is those “luxuries” are people‘s livelihoods. In an economy where conglomerates have eaten up most of the retail market, entrepreneurial service providers are the last standing leg of the market AI has not severely disrupted. 

Those budgetary “luxuries” we cut, pay rents and mortgages, purchase school clothes and buy groceries for families. These luxuries allow parents flexible enough schedules to be present in midday pick up lines.  Those same “luxuries” allow parents to manage the volatile and expensive summer childcare options and help people manage hospital and doctors' visits for chronic illnesses. The next time we cut a luxury out of our budget to make up for the failures of our government, we must contemplate whether these purchases are truly a luxury or a fundamental part of sustainable communities. We must consider who benefits and who suffers from these seemingly benign choices.

In the wake of mass layoffs and minimal government intervention to support the unemployed and underemployed, our support to Black-owned and small businesses is more critical. Billion-dollar CEOs don’t need our money right now. Playing by the dictator’s rules has never won any lasting victory or societal changes. If someone doesn’t get paid on time, let it be the companies that will survive it. If it gets down to who will not be paid at all, let it be billion-dollar companies and banks.   

If they want to ruin your credit through job loss and running the economy into the ground, it may serve us to put some Black business purchases on that card before it gets closed.  This is not financial advice; I’m not qualified to give it. (Editor’s note: This is not financial advice. Truly.) This can have consequences but so will doing nothing in the face of injustice. We have to choose our methods of resistance, even if this isn’t it. Standing on the sideline is almost like playing for the other team. This government is not playing fair, and we are going to have to get creative about the ways we rage against the machine.