Economic Blackout 2026: Turning Boycotts Into “Buy Black” Power
iqra
February 2, 2026
Organizing Dollars in Response to DEI Rollbacks
All over social media, Black consumers are asking a new kind of question: If corporations can organize to roll back DEI, what happens when Black people organize their dollars in response? For nearly a year, civil rights leaders and grassroots organizers have been calling for targeted boycotts of companies that reversed diversity and equity commitments made after 2020. The NAACP issued the Black Consumer Advisory to caution against the ongoing rollback of DEI programs nationwide.
The Economic Blackout: A Response to DEI Rollbacks
CNN reports that Black shoppers have launched an “Economic Blackout” aimed at retailers like Target after executives scaled back DEI programs under political pressure. The National Urban League backed this blackout, urging intelligent spending. A 24-hour economic blackout in February 2025 set the stage, with calls not to shop as a protest. This has extended into broader boycotts, including against Amazon and Home Depot over DEI rollbacks and political ties.
The Logic of Boycotts and “Buy-Cotts”
The logic is simple: If boardrooms are making decisions that disregard Black communities, those boardrooms should feel it in their revenue. But boycotts only become transformational when paired with something else: a clear, consistent plan to “buy-cott”—to intentionally direct that same spending toward Black-owned businesses and genuine allies. Forbes noted Target lost nearly $1 billion in sales due to such boycotts.
Black Pages International: A Tool for the Economic Blackout
This is where Black Pages International becomes essential. It is not enough to say “support Black businesses” if most people do not know where those businesses are. BPI gives structure to the Economic Blackout by functioning as a live map of Black-owned options.
Making the Shift: How Consumers Can Participate
Instead of wandering big-box aisles in frustration, a shopper can:
- Search BlackPagesInternational.com for local Black-owned grocery stores, beauty suppliers, and boutiques.
- Use the directory to find Black contractors, accountants, and marketing agencies when it is time for bigger purchases.
- Share BPI links with friends and church groups planning to shift their spending for a weekend, a month, or the full year.
The Call for Business Owners to Get Visible
For business owners, this moment is a call to get visible. If your company is not listed on Black Pages International, you are missing the wave. Organizers are literally telling millions of people to “find Black-owned businesses and support them” during boycott days. The businesses that win most will be the ones that are easiest to find. Events like Economic Blackout 2.0 on Good Friday further amplify this, targeting multiple retailers.
Economic Blackout: Not an Abandonment, But a Choice
The Economic Blackout is not about abandoning every mainstream retailer forever. It is about proving that Black consumers are not trapped—that they can choose where their dollars live and what values those dollars reinforce. A directory like Black Pages International turns that conviction into daily practice.
Building a Lasting “Buy Black” Movement
If you are participating in these boycotts, do not stop at “no.” Use Black Pages International to build a consistent “yes”—a pattern of buying Black that lasts long after the hashtags fade. As we enter 2026, with ongoing “Mass Blackout” protests against economic inequality, sustaining this shift through digital tools like BPI will be key to long-term impact.
