DEAR HARRIETTE: I understand, as an African American, that supporting black-owned businesses is a must in the community. However, it is difficult because I find that many black business owners overcharge their clients. Do you know a reason for this, and if this issue will ever be resolved? -- Supporting Community Businesses
DEAR SUPPORTING COMMUNITY BUSINESSES: Many people try to support others in their ethnic group when making purchases. If you look at communities throughout this country, you will see evidence of this, where money changes hands multiple times within communities, thus helping them to grow and prosper. I will also say that, sadly, this occurs less often in the black community than in many others. I believe this has more to do with the history of our country and how family groups were systematically broken up and allegiances destroyed at the very time when people should have been banding together.
To your point about pricing, it may be true that some vendors overcharge for items. Of course you should be a conscientious shopper. But I will also point out that typically a small business -- regardless of the owner’s race or ethnicity -- cannot compete with a larger chain that has the option of buying merchandise at deep discounts that can subsequently be passed on to the consumer. You may want to make certain purchases locally and leave other, higher-ticket items for the big discounters.