If you haven’t heard yet, Black folks are taking a stand on February 28th by boycotting all the major corporations that have been all too eager to fall in line with the whims of our dear president.
The movement, sparked by theater director Anthony Mapp in a massive Facebook group of Black theater professionals, is calling on Black people not to shop at Amazon, Target, or Walmart (basically anything and everything that isn’t Black-owned) for 24 hours on Friday, February 28th.
And this will just be the beginning. According to the group, if corporate America doesn’t get our message (and let’s be real, change rarely happens overnight), the one-day boycott will stretch into a three-day shopping freeze and then move on to targeting specific companies until our voices are impossible to ignore.
The idea here is to show these corporations the power of collective action—that Black people have real spending power, and when that money stops flowing, the impact on their bottom line will be undeniable.
And for those who think this is a waste of time and energy, history has proven time and time again that boycotts work. If you need proof, here’s a short history lesson on Black resistance through economic boycotts.
The History Of Black Folks And Boycotts
In 1955, nearly seven decades ago, Rosa Parks said, “Enough is enough,” when a bus driver, Mr. James Blake, demanded that she give up her seat to a white man in Montgomery, Alabama.
That sparked a 13-month boycott—the Montgomery Bus Boycott—that got the entire Black community: pastors, first ladies, labor leaders, business owners, and everyday folk working together to give a literal middle finger to the bus system.
For 13 whole months, our ancestors walked instead of riding the bus. They sacrificed their comfort, safety, and livelihoods to take a stand—and they won.
But that boycott didn’t just lead to the desegregation of buses. It showed America and the rest of the world the power of Black economic resistance. It crippled the city’s transit system, forcing them to change.
And when insurance companies tried to silence them, they fought even harder. When taxi drivers were threatened for supporting the movement, they kept going. And when the world told them to tone it down, they responded with action.
And we’ve seen that same power time and time again.
In September 1965, the Delano Grape Strike Boycott, led by César Chávez, resulted in the creation of the United Farm Workers (UFW) union.
Then, in the 1980s, Reverend Jesse Jackson and Operation PUSH organized a boycott against Coca-Cola, demanding that the company invest in Black businesses and communities.
After 30 days of relentless pressure, Coca-Cola caved—agreeing to funnel millions of dollars into Black-owned enterprises, expand diversity in its workforce, and increase Black representation at the decision-making table.
In the 1990s, Jackson teamed up with Glenda Gill to take on another giant—the auto industry. This time, they turned their attention to Japanese car manufacturers, demanding they invest in Black suppliers, dealers, and employees. Their efforts paid off, with Toyota alone committing $7.2 billion to diversity initiatives.
So, you see, boycotts really do work. Economic action drives systemic change, but it also requires sacrifice.
And the sacrifice being asked of you now—by theater director Anthony Mapp and millions of Black people impacted by corporate DEI rollbacks from Amazon, McDonald’s, Target, and Walmart—is just 24 hours. Not 13 months. Not 30 days. Just one full day of a total economic boycott against corporate America.
Economic blackout February 28th
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How To Join In On The Boycott
If you’re ready to take part in this historic boycott, follow the guide below by Anthony Mapp. And don’t just stop there. Spread The Word.
Copy this post and email it to friends who aren’t on social media or aren’t active online. Right now, social media is the only place to learn about this movement, so your voice matters.
CALL TO ACTION
From: Anthony Mapp — Black Musicals, Theater & Arts (BMTArts)
Event: The 24-Hour Economic Blackout
When: Friday, February 28th
Time: 12:00 AM to 11:59 PM
WHAT NOT TO DO:
- Do not make any purchases.
- Do not shop online or in-store.
- No Amazon, no Walmart, no Best Buy—nowhere!
- Do not spend money on fast food, gas, or major retailers.
- Do not use credit or debit cards for non-essential spending.
WHAT YOU CAN DO:
- Only buy essentials that are absolutely necessary (food, medicine, emergency supplies).
- If you must spend, ONLY support small, local businesses.
WHY THIS MATTERS:
- Corporations and banks only care about their bottom line.
- If we disrupt the economy for just ONE day, it sends a powerful message.
- If they don’t listen (and let’s be real, they won’t), we make the next blackout longer.
