Black Pound Day has returned following the first ever event in the UK on June 27.
It has been created to encourage shoppers to support black-owned businesses by spending their cash with those types of companies.
The day of awareness is scheduled to take place around every month going forward.
It's the brainchild of Swiss, former member of So Solid Crew, whose campaign formed following the rise of the Black Lives Matter movement in recent months after the death of black American George Floyd.
The day of celebration is to empower the black community and to keep up the momentum of the movement.
The organisation’s website reads: "[Swiss’] idea hopes to underpin our long-term financial growth and infrastructure, empowering and motivating the Black community.
"The day is also an opportunity to find out how everyone can support Black businesses over the long-term. So don't forget to share brands that you love, businesses that you can't live without, and make sure to hashtag #BlackPoundDay.”
Government data in 2018 revealed that five percent of the UK’s small businesses were majority-led by someone from an ethnic minority group with 90 percent being led by someone from a white group.
Sandra Kerr, race equality director for Business in the Community, in response to the government taking action to support BAME entrepreneurs at the time, said: "BAME employees often find they are not able to progress in traditional work environments so may choose to start their own businesses."
How to support
Swiss posted to his Instagram page 'five simple things to do on Black Pound Day'. They are:
- Buy from black-owned businesses
- Take a picture of the purchase, receipt or business
- Post and hashtag #BlackPoundDay
- Share your experience to your social media channels
- Recommend the business to a friend
Shoppers can head to the Black Pound Day website and search for an item they are looking for, where it will then suggest a list of black-owned businesses in your area.
Black Pound Day has been trending on Twitter, with thousands of small business-owners posting messages about their products.
But similarly to the previous event in June, it's received mixed messages of support.
One Twitter-user posted: "Buying stuff based on someone skin colour seems regressive racist and backwards to me. Only serves the elites, to divide and conquer based on race. Stop falling for this tactic."
While another shared: "The point of #BlackPoundDay isn’t to boycott non-black businesses or stop spending there, it is to increase spending and investment at black-owned businesses. It is a day of recognition and appreciation for an under-represented community of businesses."
