April 11, 2025 • 48 mins
Nikki Porcher of Buy From A Black Woman breaks down ethical buying, boycotts and supporting local businesses and communities.
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Speaker 1 (00:05):
Hey, this is Annie and Samantha and welcome to stuff.
I've never told you a productive of iHeartRadio.
Speaker 2 (00:18):
Today, we are having a wonderful crossover with one our
background when we start looking up people and we get
really excited about amazing people doing amazing things, and I
start fangirling. Yeah, we're having a crossover where we get
to actually talk to one of the amazing activists, advocate, entrepreneur, writer,
(00:40):
all the things, you're all the things, Nikki. We're having
Nikki Porchet, who was on our Activism around the World.
Speaker 3 (00:47):
Welcome to the show, Nikki. I'm so excited.
Speaker 4 (00:50):
Thank you so much for having me. I really appreciate it.
Speaker 2 (00:52):
Oh. You know, when we do those episodes, we want
to do justice in the fact that you're doing so
much work and it's so hard to put it in
such a short episode.
Speaker 3 (01:00):
So when your people.
Speaker 2 (01:02):
Reached out to us, we're like, oh my god, they
liked it and they want to be on the show.
Speaker 5 (01:06):
Holy.
Speaker 3 (01:08):
Just know we're honored and I'm very excited right now.
Well nervous, Oh no, this is.
Speaker 2 (01:13):
This is what happens when I get nervous and I'm like, oh,
this is real life people who do real life things
who do amazing things and okay, I'm okay. So now
that I have fangirled for the moment, thank you listeners,
Thank you Nikki.
Speaker 3 (01:24):
Can you introduce yourself to our listeners.
Speaker 5 (01:27):
Yes, my name is Nicky Pourchet. I am the founder
of Buy from a Black Woman. But, like Samittha says,
I do a lot of things for a lot of people,
but the most importantly is making sure that black women
are seeing heard and support it and all the work
I do. I don't want to bore you with a
whole bio introduction, but I guess Google can tell you more.
Speaker 2 (01:47):
I mean, technically, we did introduce you, so if you
haven't listened to our past episode, you should go back
and listen. It's like a ten minute episode. We try
to cram as much as we could so we get
to have a real life conversation about all of the
amazing work you're doing and have been doing.
Speaker 3 (02:03):
I have been doing it for a while, and.
Speaker 2 (02:05):
In fact, when I was researching you, reading your interviews
and looking at your background, you talk about how this
organization and your path from your past, your education, on
all these things, unforeseen circumstances, all the things have really
put you at this point, can you tell our listeners
about how you began your organization and you know where
(02:26):
you are today with it?
Speaker 3 (02:27):
And that's a good question.
Speaker 5 (02:29):
So it's funny because I always say, well, one of
the mantras is I want people to look at my
life and think it's a movie.
Speaker 4 (02:36):
So I lived that way.
Speaker 5 (02:38):
And you have to be careful what you ask for
because sometimes I'm like, how is this my life? That
sounds made up? But I experienced it right. So I
was out sumer wrestling with some friends in Philadelphia and
during that I shouted my kneecap. So when I shouted
my kneecap, I was so that I would have a
hard time with full motion range and I probably would
(02:59):
be like really run properly because of the surgery. And
they put like some dissolved screws in it because I
didn't have health insurance.
Speaker 4 (03:07):
So they were like, hey, can we experiment on you
on me? Oh yeah, I gotta mone to take you
anyway go for it.
Speaker 5 (03:13):
Was that and then when they told me that part,
I was like, okay, well let me see how I
can get into running.
Speaker 4 (03:19):
So I started getting into running.
Speaker 5 (03:20):
I moved to Atlanta and the run community was one
of those communities that you can just go out.
Speaker 4 (03:24):
And meet people.
Speaker 5 (03:25):
And then I discovered that people were running half marathons
and marathons in every state, and I was like, okay,
well I want to do that as well. I was
working at a nonprofit. I was very bored at this nonprofit.
So I was like, okay, well I'll run to keep
myself entertained. And also it'll be a great way for
me and my son to see the country because the
certain states I would never ever think about going to,
(03:45):
but now I'll travel there to do a half marathon.
We can make a whole weekend about it. So this
one particular weekend, I was headed to Florida. It's always Florida, right,
I was headed to Florida. I missed my flight and
I was very upset that I missed my flight. So
in order to make myself feel better, I went shopping
because that's what we did. So I'm at this shopping
event and I'm the only black woman at the shopping event.
(04:07):
There were no black women vendors, there were no black
people in attendance. It was very odd to me, and
I know black women who are doing things that are
similar to these vendors. How can I help? You know, like,
let me do something again. I was bored at work,
so you always look for a side project when you're
bored at work, right, So buy from a Black Woman
came to me where I was like, what do I
want people to do? Well, I want to buy from
black women. Okay, well let's call it buy from a
(04:28):
black woman. And I was just blogging. I would just
buy something from a black woman once a week and
I would blog about it and tell people what I bought. Then,
you know, express about the thing, then ask the question,
well did you buy from a black woman this week?
And the community just was like yes, Like can you
feature my business? You have a directory or the educational resources,
all these things. And I started thinking like, okay, well
(04:50):
I do know how to do these things. I can
do that because I collected a lot of experiences and
a lot of degrees when I was bored in my life,
Like maybe I'm supposed to be doing all this.
Speaker 4 (05:00):
I started doing that.
Speaker 5 (05:01):
I'm learning about nonprofit, learning about all the things. And
I was approached by my employer. I had recruited one
of my coworkers to help because she too was bored,
so I'm like, hey.
Speaker 4 (05:13):
Girl, you know you want to be part of this.
It's like going, yeah, let's do this.
Speaker 1 (05:15):
Right.
Speaker 5 (05:16):
So we had our photos on the website, and this
is part of the reason why I don't have about
section on the website.
Speaker 4 (05:22):
But I guess I could do that now, right.
Speaker 5 (05:24):
But we had our photos on the website, and they
called her into a room with printouts a buy from
a Black woman and our photos. It was like, are
you doing this? Like this is a conflict of interest.
We have to let you go. So they let her go.
Then they came to me and told me the same thing.
They're like, you got to stop doing this, or we
have to let you go. So I said, well, I
guess you're going to have to let me go because
(05:45):
I'm not going to stop doing this because here is
this white man who has been a nonprofit his whole
career telling me I have to stop doing something. And
it's like, well, you must see something I don't, because
why is this such a threat. Why do you feel
like in order to continue to doing this work and
I'm doing it. It has nothing to do with buy from
a black woman? I need to stop that you see
(06:08):
something I don't see yet. So I'm gonna keep doing
that and I won't work here anymore. And that's really
how it got started.
Speaker 3 (06:15):
I love that.
Speaker 2 (06:16):
I also love that you say when you're bored, you
do a side business. I think that's just you and
your ADHD being successful. I want to say that with
love because me, I'm a fall asleep.
Speaker 3 (06:26):
I'm like a lot halftime.
Speaker 2 (06:27):
I've been taking nap. So good on you, Nikki, you
are amazing. I love that that's how you focus. But yeah,
you're You're special. I want to give you that shout
out that you are extra extra in this level of
like making sure not only are you accomplished, but other
people are accomplished with you. So don't don't those be
like side project. No, ma'am, that was you and you're from.
Speaker 4 (06:51):
As it really was.
Speaker 5 (06:52):
I could not if you would have told me in
twenty sixteen that it would be this thing.
Speaker 4 (06:56):
I wouldn't believe you. I was like, how you know,
I can't. I don't know how to do that. I
don't know those people. I don't you know. It has
just been all these I don't knows, but yeah, so.
Speaker 2 (07:07):
Well, this is one of the reasons we talk about
activists like you and advocates like yous because it's literally
because it wasn't there, and you're like, well, I'm gonna
do it. I'm gonna do this and watch me and
it was so needed and it is so needed. Like
your timing is perfect with the fact that for the
longest time people ignored the issue that black women, black creators.
(07:29):
They have been the forefront of every movement, but they've
been left behind when it comes to any kind of
uh recognition. So finally being able to say, okay, let's
do this organized in a way that you have done
it is amazing because you have made it from one
small thing, the blog, into a whole organization and that's
a beautiful coming together. It really is like a movie.
(07:52):
You just watched this organism organizing coming about. And with
that again, you're so passionate. You have so many titles
under your belt, can you because I need to know,
I need to look into your ring, as you said,
side project. With these many hats, how do you keep
yourself organized? I need information here.
Speaker 5 (08:10):
Well, shout out to my team because they're amazing, you know,
and so they do it. But then also counter the
reminders I have PTSD. So my therapist has taught me
a lot of different ways to do things, and sometimes
in full transparency, I don't do nothing. I'm like, you
know what the White lowis is on is a new season.
We watch all these episodes today so we can just
(08:31):
get out the way, like a moving of my life,
because if I watched one episode, I'm gonna be thinking
about what I'm gonna watch next one, and nothing's really
long get done. So let's just watch all of them
today so we can just move on. So it's a
balance of doing everything and doing nothing.
Speaker 4 (08:47):
For the most part.
Speaker 2 (08:48):
I gotta get a team, that's what you're telling me.
I gotta get good people. And he's part of my team.
To be honest, she does keep me organized because I
am also like I'm just gonna sit here and he's like, no, no, no,
we have these things to do. And I'm like, oh, yeah,
my bad.
Speaker 3 (09:00):
You just push though therapists. Is that what I heard?
Speaker 2 (09:03):
Because we love some therapy in this shows off to that.
Speaker 3 (09:07):
I love that well.
Speaker 1 (09:09):
Another thing we talked about a lot on the show
is about how to be a conscientious consumer. Can you
give us some advice on doing so in a way
that's ethical and supportive.
Speaker 5 (09:23):
Yes, I say, in order to be a conscious consumer,
you must be a community consumer. So if you are
not shopping in your community, or if you're not shopping
with businesses that support your community, that give back to
your community, that help your community, you're not being a
conscious consumer. So I always say, of course by from
a black woman, but also by local, by small. And
there are a lot of businesses that you can actually
(09:45):
go to that are in your neighborhood, that are owned
by people who live in that neighborhood, opposed going to
some big box stores. There's a lot of coffee shops.
You don't have to go to Starbucks or dunk It right.
There are a lot of libraries, so you don't have
the vials books online because the library is right there
in your commun and they need your support to as well.
And then also saving your money. You don't need this
stuff at this point in life. You don't need anything.
(10:07):
But let's keep it honest, right, Like you got a
whole bunch of junk, you keep buy the whole bunch
of junk thinking that you need a junk, but you.
Speaker 4 (10:13):
Don't need it.
Speaker 5 (10:13):
It's just stopped to help you feel better. So do
like swaps with your friends and family. There's a lot
of groups that promote like buy nothing, give nothing situation
where you can give stuff away that you're not using.
Speaker 4 (10:26):
But also if you're.
Speaker 5 (10:27):
A collector of stuff, you can go get stuff from
those people too who are just putting all together. So
doing it locally, doing it small, doing businesses that go
into your community.
Speaker 4 (10:37):
Those are the top three things that you just can do.
Speaker 2 (10:40):
Yeah, I think it's a lot to undo that mindset,
that consumerism mindset, because I will say, when it came
to the pandemic and the shutdown, I started really.
Speaker 3 (10:53):
Enjoying that delivery.
Speaker 2 (10:54):
And we know that that's really kind of on a
toxicity that's hard to let go of. I think it's
gotten easier as we've started talking more and more about
how capitalism is not helping us right now and how
the government has leaned towards big corporations instead of the
individual people's. So that's a big mindset that changed to
(11:17):
And with that we're gonna jump into.
Speaker 3 (11:20):
The boycott activism conversation. Are you ready, Nikki? Are you ready?
Speaker 5 (11:25):
And I set off air to those listen, they picked
a great week, they have me.
Speaker 3 (11:31):
We did it feel like we did the perfect timing.
Speaker 2 (11:33):
It may not feel like it, and I'm sure you're like,
why is this happening right now? But for us, we're like, yes, yeah,
don't you hate that though, You're like, you have all
these things and now they put more on your plate
and you're like, but why. I was just trying to help, y'all.
Help y'all. Okay, So with that, we talked before. You
(11:54):
are featured in the Conversation on the effects of economic blackouts,
whether they are effective, and then whether or not it
will be effective and how it can be effective on
the long term.
Speaker 3 (12:06):
So can you talk to us and tell us what you've.
Speaker 2 (12:08):
Seen being done correctly when it comes to things like
boycotting and the economic blackout, and then also what you've
seen being done incorrectly.
Speaker 4 (12:18):
Yeah.
Speaker 5 (12:19):
So, I because I'm pretty sure somebody's attorney is listening
to this, because they all watching everything I do now,
So I just want to make sure that it's clear.
I have never ever told anyone to stop shopping anywhere.
I always say, buy from a black woman, buy local,
buy small, buy in your community. I've never said stop
shopping at fill in the blank here. That's not something
(12:39):
I do. But if you're going shop here, make sure
you're buying black, make sure you're supporting small. Also note
where your products are going to. There is one company
that's being you know, boycotted, and I have shared that
there's a lot of stuff that's in there that you
think is owned by black businesses, by black people.
Speaker 4 (12:57):
However it's not.
Speaker 5 (12:59):
It's kind of, I don't want to say, is white facing,
but it's black facing because it'll put like black names
on it. Are making a T shirt that looks like
it's care to a minority group, but it's actually that
company who is doing that. So you have to be
very very careful doing your research. If you see something
that's made by a company. We all have computers in
our hands, in our pockets and our purpose. Just look
(13:20):
it up real quick if you have any doubt about that.
If you really are truly trying to be a conscious consumer,
make sure you're doing your research. Also again, act yourself,
do I really need this? Is this something I really
need to have? Do I have to go to this
store to buy this thing that I think I need
to have for this new event or this new recipe or.
Speaker 4 (13:40):
Any of that stuff.
Speaker 5 (13:41):
So doing it that way, there are a lot of
people who have decided to stop shopping a lot of
places because those people in those places are no longer
supporting other people in places. And for that, I say kudos.
I know that I support businesses that support me. I
support businesses that support my community. That's my first question.
How is this company, corporation, business supporting black women, black people,
(14:04):
small communities and they're not doing of that. It's not
it's not a hard decision for me. They won't get
my money right, I've worked very hard for my money.
I'm not just going to give it away to people
who have no value in me as a person are
my community. So there's that the ones who are doing
it incorrectly. Oh how to say this? So I don't
(14:24):
get it, but clear because if you sue me, I
would tell people you suing me? So yes, just like
that's just I don't get that, Like, oh, guess who
said they're gonna sue me? Y'all? But the people who
(14:45):
are doing incorrectly are that's example bullying. If you are
trying to bully people to do something because you see
that what they're doing is working, that's doing it incorrectly
instead of trying to change their minds. Why don't you
change your Why don't you say, well, what's the problem.
Why are you deciding that we're not a business that
you are support anymore? How can we fix that and
(15:07):
make sure it's not performative but it's actually something long
term to ensure. You cannot care to everybody, You can't
make everybody happy. I get that, But also you cannot
blow with the wind. If this is the trend and
you're like, Okay, we're gonna jump on this trend. Oh
that's not the trend anymore. We're no longer doing that.
That's very performative acting. So ask yourself, like where your values,
your morals, your integrity really stand and make sure that
(15:29):
you're abiding writers right.
Speaker 2 (15:31):
I think that the big key is like the integrity
and morals, and you will if you want to pretend
that you have to have them, you better stick on them.
And that's that true conversation like don't just back down
because someone threatens because they say it's inclusive is too much,
which is hilarious because in that conversation, like what is
so bad about giving more options? Inclusivity is wonderful. I
(15:53):
have more options to things. Question mark, like why why
is this such a threat? We know why, but you
know that's a plain ignorant question. Yeah, in that interview
(16:14):
where we discovered and like we had to have you
on the show or talk about you on the show.
On the Salon article, you actually say at the very beginning,
if if people return to their usual spending patterns the
next day, the momentum can be lost. Additionally, without clear
demands or follow up actions, corporations may not feel compelled
to change. And I think that's such a big impactful
statement because a lot of times me, especially like I
(16:37):
want to do something, but then I don't realize, Wait,
did that actually help? What is the follow up? What
are we asking for? Can you kind of elaborate on
that quote.
Speaker 5 (16:47):
Yeah, so again, a lot of these corporations are really
weighing us out. They know we have short attention spans.
They know as a matter of time before we stop.
Because everybody loves convenience, everybody loves to be able just
to do it right. You know, when you were talking
about the pandemic, that shopping thing, it was we were
having nothing to look forward to.
Speaker 4 (17:05):
So now I ordered something.
Speaker 5 (17:07):
Now I'm looking forward to a package being delivered because
we're stuck in a house, so it was like a
mental thing. We didn't need that stuff. We just had
nothing to look forward to. Now I have a package
to look forward to in my house, right, But you
don't have to feel like you have to look forward
to shopping at these places.
Speaker 4 (17:23):
That are not supporting your community.
Speaker 5 (17:24):
And if you are saying, hey, I'm going to stop
shopping here for thirty days, and you realize you can
do that for thirty days, you can do another thirty
days and another thirty days after that, so there's no
need for you to actually go back. Especially when they're
counting on you to come back. They think, okay, so
you said you'll do this for thirty days. After thirty days,
you're going to go back shopping there, So no jo,
(17:45):
just wait you out and they won't have to change anything.
So if you're really truly trying to be a conscious consumer,
and you can do it for a week, a day,
a month, you can do it for the rest of
your life or until they change your practices and just
keep your minding yourself. Well, I really didn't need that
a month ago. Why do I have to go there
to that?
Speaker 4 (18:01):
Oh and see how much money you saved in.
Speaker 5 (18:03):
That month because I don't know about you all, but
not shopping is great for my account, my big account,
you know, Like it's like, girl, I don't need that.
And also it's helping my community relationships, Like I'm discovering
my neighbors more because of those neighborhood activities as far
as like book swap and clothing swaps and like even
recipe swaps. Right, I'm talking to my girlfriends more because
(18:24):
I needed something to wear, Like I need this to wear.
I don't own anything in that color. You got something, Yeah,
but I saw that dress she was wearing. Can I
borrow that? So now we're going back to that, right,
And we're creating more stronger friendships with that because now
we're sharing intimate things like our clothes and our style.
So it's like all these things that really can be
beneficial of it if you really decide that you want
(18:44):
to change, but you don't have to go back, you.
Speaker 2 (18:47):
Don't, right, Right, And I think that's an interesting conversation
of like having the swaps and creating community that really
does bring about a whole different perspective when you go
to the bigger picture of like bring in people and
collaborating together and how oftentimes that has been missing when
it comes to the individual consumerism. So although that means
(19:09):
I have to socialize and I'm an introvert, Nikki, what
do I do something?
Speaker 5 (19:13):
Just think that we're introverts, but we're really not right.
We're we're all awkward and we're just nervous to be
awkward in front of each other.
Speaker 4 (19:22):
But guess what, they're awkward too.
Speaker 5 (19:24):
Like everybody is really just like, oh my gosh, well
you know, but nobody's thinking about you because they're thinking
about their own awkwardness and believe or not, your awkwardness
is probably cool to somebody else. They're like, oh my goodness,
Samantha just laughs all the time. I wish I could
laugh at everything, you know what I mean.
Speaker 4 (19:39):
So you're like, oh my goodness, I laugh all the time.
People won't take me serious what another.
Speaker 5 (19:43):
Person's just like, I wish I had that much joy
where I can find laughter and everything. So like, nobody
is thinking about your awkwardness because they're too busy worrying
about there. So I say, get out there and be
who you are. And also why are you care what
other people think?
Speaker 4 (19:55):
Like it's twenty twenty five. We have a phone as
a president. Why do you can't when people think about you?
Speaker 2 (20:01):
It's true, Amen, let me have your numbers so I
can text you and be like the purses that I'm
off work, I'm good on.
Speaker 3 (20:09):
Tell them I'm a joy. Please you are.
Speaker 5 (20:13):
It's just it's one of those stories, those false narratives
that we tell ourselves that we can't do something, or
we are uncapable to make a change, or I can
only do this temporarily. And the crazy part is like
you can literally your body can trick your mind into
doing things, Like you can be very sad and depressed,
but you can say, you know what, I'm a smile
and the next thing you know, your mind is it
(20:34):
has changed.
Speaker 4 (20:35):
Right, you can control all these things. Everything is a choice.
I know. I'm telling it like it's very easy. It's not.
This is years and years and years of therapy and practice, y'all.
So I didn't wake up with this revelation.
Speaker 5 (20:47):
These are things I've actually had to work towards and
with knowing who I am and what I've come from
and what I've dealt with. And I really just want
you all to know, like if I can do all
these things and say all these things and be all
these things. Me there is so much more hope for
you all because everything that came in my life told
me that I'm not supposed to be where I'm at today.
Speaker 4 (21:07):
I should have been.
Speaker 5 (21:08):
Dead, kidnapped, a baby, mama of twenty five different men,
with twelve kids, all these things. But I'm not those things.
And if I can do it, I could live this life.
I'm pretty sure it will be a lot easier for you.
Speaker 3 (21:21):
Hel You just gave me some daily affirmations here.
Speaker 1 (21:23):
Yeah, I feel like that was a wonderful pep talk.
Thank you.
Speaker 3 (21:27):
I'm ready, I'm ready, let's go.
Speaker 1 (21:30):
Well you've kind of spoken to this already, but could
you talk a bit more about some companies or organizations
that we could look at as good examples of ethical consumership?
Speaker 4 (21:46):
Yeah, buye from a black woman. We are a great example.
Speaker 3 (21:49):
Yes, yeah, that's a good one besides yours.
Speaker 2 (21:53):
Some but yes, that's a huge one.
Speaker 5 (21:56):
But as far as like big corporations, and I again
I've feel so embarrassed to say this. If they're not
in your community, if they're not a local business, why
are you shopping from them? Like the thing that we
have to remember is those people are already billionaires. And
if you're complaining about capitalism, you're complaining about there being billionaires,
(22:17):
Why do you want to continue to make them billionaires?
What you love that your neighbor who owns the local
coffee shop down the street that you can have, you know,
theme game night at become a billionaire. The only way
we'll get more billionaires than millionaires if we start supporting
new businesses so that they too can be billionaires and millionaires.
Speaker 2 (22:35):
Right.
Speaker 4 (22:36):
It's really just that easy.
Speaker 5 (22:37):
So I cannot say a big corporation name that is
doing it right when I'm telling everybody to buy from
a black hoe and buy local, buy small, buy from
a community. Those businesses who decide that your community was
worthy enough that they wanted to start a coffee shop,
whatever restaurant, they're like, you know what, this is where
I want my dreams to live. This is where I
want to serve these people who live here. Those are
(22:59):
the ones who are doing it right because.
Speaker 4 (23:00):
They actually thought about you when they decided to start
their business.
Speaker 2 (23:04):
Right right, Oh, okay, speaking of being being in controversy
right now, you recently spoke out about performative DEI from corporations,
and it's such an important conversation we need to have
in relation to ethical consumerism advocacy all of the works,
(23:27):
and especially in today's political climate. Can you break down
what you have seen and how corporations have been using
black women and black women owned businesses for profit or
just exploiting them for publicity.
Speaker 4 (23:40):
Yeah.
Speaker 5 (23:40):
So we did a research paper last year about the
defunding of DEI and the social justice impact it had
on black owned business owners. And during that research, we
found out a lot of businesses who got a lot
of the good support during the beginning of social justice uprising,
and when all of these companies and stuff started, they
got to support the beginning, and then it dwindled, like
(24:01):
these people who are working at these corporations no longer
work there, there's no more money, the classes that offered,
all the mentorships no longer exists. And it did a
real harm to a lot of these businesses because they
were getting the media, they were getting the support, people
were buying from them, and then everybody just stopped, like
they're unsubscribing from emails, they're no longer followed them for
(24:22):
social media. So if I had such a breakout year
in twenty twenty one. I'm going to project for that
for my next sale. So now I'm buying more things
so I don't run out. I'm doing more with my
AD dollars. I'm doing all these things because the last
two years have been great. But now you're three, nobody's
buying those things because they're no longer have to in
(24:43):
their mind.
Speaker 4 (24:44):
Right now they're back outside.
Speaker 5 (24:45):
They were able to forget the troubles of what happened
to black people, black bodies because they're no longer in
their face. So now they don't feel like they have
to support black businesses. But this poor black business is
now all this overstock stuff, all of this money they
wasted trying to make sure that you continue to be
a consumer. So like that's a big headache and a
(25:05):
big thing, because now what do you do with our product?
When we see the defunding of the DEI stuff the
same thing you thought this big corporation was going to
be there because they told you that they believed in
you and your business and your dreams and they want
to guide you. But now it's like, oh, well, let's
think about that.
Speaker 4 (25:23):
We're going to have to figure that out. We don't
have the money for that.
Speaker 5 (25:27):
But if you had the money two years ago for
this program, where is that money going this year? If
you dont longer can do that program, like what happened
between we were able to fund this there and now
you can no longer fund it, where does that money go?
And also how much did you make off of the
backs of black women to do these programs? Because you
and I know, especially as women. If I see a.
Speaker 4 (25:50):
Woman over there and I'm like, oh man, they're over.
Speaker 5 (25:52):
There shopping and supporting women, supporting black women, I'm gonna
go ahead and give them my money because I see
that they're doing something in the community. I can relate
to a community that I identify with. And they're not
even giving them a portion of their sales are the
total revenue, So that's that's harming them as well. I
hope I answer your question. I forgot what the original
question was. I'm just rambling because I'm on my soapbox.
Speaker 3 (26:13):
We love soapboxes over here, so I keep going.
Speaker 2 (26:15):
No, I think you are, because it really we were
talking about the level of exploitation that has been especially
when it comes to like Black Lives Matter movements. They
took that and they didn't see that as an actual
movement but more of a profit margin.
Speaker 3 (26:29):
And like as we've noticed the louder has become and
it has they have made a profit. We know this,
we know they've made a profit off of this.
Speaker 2 (26:37):
Now that people are saying we're going to take away
things if you support DEI, which has become a trigger
word for something that is just about equity. Like it's
just an absurd, like politicized moment of like what is happening?
But we're seeing the corporations giving in because they are
just all about the dollar size. And so my question
(26:57):
really it's like exactly what you're talking about, how they've
exploited its specifically black women. And unfortunately it's not just corporations.
Speaker 5 (27:06):
It's yeah, it's the country. I mean, like, if we're
gonna go to the ocean, let's get deep. The country
is built off the back of black women's right. When
we talk about the enslaved people and those women who
were taking care of their person I'm not gonna use
the word slave master, but other person who owned the
property that they were living on, children Like I'm good
(27:28):
enough to take care of your child, I'm good enough
to even breastfeed your child. But I'm not good enough
to walk on the same side of the road as you.
I'm not good enough to eat in the same restaurants
as you. But you want me to raise your children,
You want me to educate your children. You want me
to do all of these things for your children. But
I can't even sit at a lunch calendar because I'm sitting.
Speaker 4 (27:44):
Next to you.
Speaker 5 (27:44):
It's like stuff like that, And it has been a
tell old as time the new administration.
Speaker 4 (27:49):
I'm gonna say, if you listen to your administration, holler
at me.
Speaker 5 (27:52):
But y'all raised this, y'all doing all these things because
for whatever reason, you don't want other minority groups to
get ahead, not just black women.
Speaker 4 (28:01):
Right when we talk about de I d I was
started for white women, right, it really was.
Speaker 5 (28:05):
It was there to benefit white women. And it's just
it's tough try is because it's like you started something
and now you're using it to attack a whole different
demo that it wasn't even created for. Right now you
can use it to say, Okay, well, I just got
(28:25):
a text from my man friend about this group who
was unable to perform and the band because it was
helping black.
Speaker 4 (28:33):
Students who were playing instruments.
Speaker 3 (28:35):
So it was just like, like, how was that?
Speaker 5 (28:37):
DEI Like, how is that going to actually do a harm?
There is another article because I'm a vet, so I
get all that stuff. When there are scrubbing an all
time is the big cemetery for military people, They're scrubbing
black names, black women names, They're scrubbing that from their website.
Speaker 3 (28:55):
How is that?
Speaker 5 (28:55):
DEI Like, what is so bad about people knowing their history?
But they're rewriting the country's history. They're rewriting the narrative
because for whatever reason, these white men are intimidated and
I don't know why, because you're a white man, Like,
you're a white man, Like, how can.
Speaker 4 (29:10):
We intimidate you?
Speaker 5 (29:12):
You're a white man, like I know if you're a
white day listen to this, donate to buy from a
black woman?
Speaker 3 (29:20):
Can we be friends place? Can we out? Oh my god,
this is amazing.
Speaker 2 (29:26):
But yes, there's so much to be said into this,
like the fact that this is not about DEI.
Speaker 3 (29:32):
We know this, We know this is racism.
Speaker 2 (29:34):
This is the usage of Christianity for racism, the usage
of power in every way for white supremacy.
Speaker 3 (29:43):
We know, we've seen it.
Speaker 2 (29:44):
And what has threatened them is that there was not
even like any growth in power for marginalized people black women,
black men in general, but just that they were starting
to become seen, not even really seen, but become a
part of the conversation. And somehow that has become a threat.
And we know they don't like anything because they started
(30:06):
to realize they actually were the focal point and it
wasn't marginalized people against marginalized people as much anymore, and
they were getting directed towards white supremacy.
Speaker 3 (30:14):
And that is a threat in.
Speaker 2 (30:16):
Itself, and the easiest way to make the structure crumble
from what was it could be equality or equity is
going after black women.
Speaker 5 (30:26):
Yeah, and going after pockets like the money is the
only conversation.
Speaker 4 (30:30):
And to your point, Samantha.
Speaker 5 (30:32):
I believe that's part of the reason why these programs
that started as a result of such as Auroizing are
being the fund they are now rolling back because too
many black women, black businesses, we're getting the attention, we're
getting the money, We're becoming the new millionaires. And it's
like whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa whoa. We just wanted you
to have ten thousand dollars. We didn't know that you
can make ten a million dollar of ten thousand.
Speaker 4 (30:54):
We had no idea you were that resourceful. So we
got to stopped this before.
Speaker 5 (30:58):
You know, we don't need all these black people come
a millionaire, because how can we control a narrative? They
say that black people have one point seven trillion spending
power in this country, but however, we are only fifteen
percent of this country. So like that math is amazing, right, right,
So like wait, man, too many of you are are
getting some of that spending power back. We need all
that money, and we need to make sure that you
are just suffering and giving us the money because if
(31:21):
there's another if I'm a black woman who's a millionaire
and I'm supporting black women, I'm going to continue to
give to other black women, and that becomes a wilfall,
and they just have to cut that off at.
Speaker 3 (31:30):
The ease, right, And they are.
Speaker 2 (31:32):
And it's amazing because the amount of people who are successful,
who are given the rights to be successful, and I'm
saying that very loosely, is still a small percentage, Like
that big number is still a small percentage compared to
and that's such so obnoxious. But it's like this doesn't
even make sense in what way? Like, literally, the five
white men the has the most amount of money in
(31:53):
this country, why are you so worried about us?
Speaker 3 (31:55):
Like it's literally.
Speaker 5 (31:58):
I was about to say so, I'm pretty sure people listening,
so I'm not going to say that.
Speaker 2 (32:03):
To be fair, being on our podcast in itself might
get you.
Speaker 4 (32:07):
Well, i'd bean like that.
Speaker 2 (32:09):
I mean, you're already doing all the work anyway, but
like this is like a double.
Speaker 5 (32:12):
Like and I guess saying the words that we are
saying are hitting you in the way where you're feeling offended.
If you think we are targeting you, if you think
that we're talking about you, then it's not us, it's
you because if you were not doing those things to
feel emotionally attacked, you would not have to feel emotionally
(32:32):
attacked by our words that we're saying. So if you're like, oh,
my goodness, she's talking about me, whoever you are, corporational lawyers, attorney's,
p R.
Speaker 4 (32:41):
People, whatever. If you're like, oh, Nikki got.
Speaker 5 (32:44):
On this podcast and she targeted this person or that
group or this company, then why is your company up
for target nothing?
Speaker 4 (32:51):
I'm saying is lie.
Speaker 5 (32:52):
I'm not telling anybody that you are a bad person.
I'm literally just saying the facts. So if you're if
you have an emotional reson spons what was that that
flight fight flea thing, if you're doing any of those apps,
look at yourself and ask yourself why.
Speaker 3 (33:07):
You are right, Because like I'm a talk right, I'm
talk I love it. This is the big conversation.
Speaker 2 (33:13):
This is something that has to be said, especially right
now as things are being destroyed, like you're talking about
that people are being removed from history from doing the
things that they have done to save individual countries, like
battles all these things, which is a bizarre way of
reacting when it's not even hurting anything. They're not adding something,
they're not taking away from something. They're just literally a
(33:35):
part of history that people didn't want to talk about
to begin with.
Speaker 3 (33:37):
And it doesn't make sense.
Speaker 5 (33:39):
Yes, And the crazy part is like you're a racing
dead people's name would you finally even know?
Speaker 3 (33:45):
Right?
Speaker 5 (33:46):
Like we probably even know they were they were dead
until you made us go, look right, they were dead.
Speaker 3 (33:51):
So and also you're a white man, right, like your
amount of you got to you know what I mean?
You're got bankrupt five times and you're still rich.
Speaker 4 (34:02):
How they'll say that you're a success story.
Speaker 5 (34:04):
Oh my goodness, he bankrupted sixteen times and started his
business again. I depressed Sverance that that man has to
keep going and just to keep going.
Speaker 3 (34:12):
Oh my goodness, his daddy gave him money.
Speaker 2 (34:15):
But yeah, I mean that's the thing is like most
of the people that were talking about weren't discovered until
much later and had to be rediscovered.
Speaker 3 (34:22):
And there's so many more.
Speaker 2 (34:23):
People we have yet to discover because of the white
watching of history in general, and why we have to
fight for those conversations. And it's not even a threat.
It's an amazing story that everybody would be inspired by.
Like it doesn't anyway, Yeah, we might have to put
you on a part two. We're gonna have to be
a part three, part four. I don't know, Nikki that
(34:43):
this is gonna be a long show. So with all
of that, let's take some time to celebrate everything you
are doing, everything your organization is doing. To buy from
(35:05):
a black woman directory dot org has so many great suggestions.
I went there started looking at candles and shops and such.
But what are some of you your favorites to shop at,
or what are some items that you've gotten that you're like, yes,
you must get this.
Speaker 4 (35:19):
Oh my goodness, Now you're gonna put me on the
chopping block because she didn't say my business, so.
Speaker 3 (35:25):
I know, I was like, oh, she's gonna be like
what are you doing?
Speaker 4 (35:27):
Just you know.
Speaker 5 (35:29):
Is that all of directory are my favorite business. I
love shopping with all of them. They're so great and
even the ones who have yet to do in Directory,
I can't wait to discover you so I can call
you my new favorite.
Speaker 2 (35:39):
Yeah, you're not getting me.
Speaker 3 (35:46):
You're not getting me in this show.
Speaker 2 (35:47):
She said, all right, that's fine, I understand. But with that,
you have so much great information. I'm not gonna lie.
As I was trying to go through each one researching
your stuff and any two we were like, okay, there's
all these things because it jumps from you have the blog,
you have, the grants and funding, you have, the directory,
you have how you can support you will have other
(36:11):
businesses to be a part of it. So you've got
a lot. So let's let's break down. Tell us what
is in your sight? Tell us the breakdown of everything
that you want to highlight as every just tell us
everything everything.
Speaker 5 (36:22):
Yeah, so if I know you're referenced earlier, but the
organization is also my ADHD live for as well.
Speaker 4 (36:32):
I'm sorry because of all the different things.
Speaker 5 (36:35):
I did a roadmap of the business of different things
that I want to do, because I do want to
do all the things, especially when it comes to the organization,
things that we can do for our business owners who
are part of it and the people who support them too.
Because there's our education resources are not just for black women,
and there have been women who are not part of it,
even men who have emails and say.
Speaker 4 (36:57):
Hey, well I see this worksheet, I really need it.
Can I use it? Yes, yes you can.
Speaker 5 (37:02):
So with that being said, our education resources we have
tons of worksheets for those who are looking to make
sure that their business is started correctly. Those are free
worksheets as you can download. We also have education courses
on our BFA BW dot TV that are taught by experts.
One of our leading one is our Trademark Copyright IP
of course, led by Nicole Gaither, are on retainer ish
(37:25):
trademark IP attorning to make sure that the black women
business owns is part of the community have that then
also we do community outreach, which was a lot of
different live events. We scaled back of those because of
the pandemic, but we're bringing those back up. We had
the online directory where you can find businesses that are
owned and operated by black women, and we vet these businesses.
Speaker 4 (37:46):
We check them out.
Speaker 5 (37:46):
We make sure that they are one hundred percent owned
by black women, So those are one hundred.
Speaker 4 (37:50):
Percent owned black women owned businesses.
Speaker 5 (37:52):
We have that. We have our podcast where I talk
to other black women business owners, and we also have
community conversations where we bring conversations that the community of
talking about behind the scenes to front of the scenes
because as you know, I like to talk about some
things and I'm gonna talk about it all on to
create safe spaces, I'm gonna forget a lot of things.
Speaker 4 (38:09):
So you know, if you go to the website, you
can discover more.
Speaker 2 (38:13):
There's so much And your own personal website has a
lot of information as well. Uh yes, we looked at everything.
Your LinkedIn has a lot of information as well, Like
I would, I will. I looked at it. I'm talking
to you in a business professional way, Nikki.
Speaker 5 (38:29):
Oh no, I don't appreciate I don't take it as
stalking whenever somebody said I'm stalking you, like, no, you're not.
You a ways to inspire yourself through the working examples
that I have done. That's all that is because just
no way you looked at my stuffs of Samantha and
Anny and thought, oh my goodness, oh well that's I
can't do that. You're probably like, oh my goodness, well
this is good. I wonder and the idea came to your.
Speaker 4 (38:51):
Head because of something that you saw on my website.
Are all my socials?
Speaker 3 (38:55):
I am my line I said I need Nicky on
the show. That was That's.
Speaker 2 (39:00):
What went through my head. I needed to break this
down for me so I know where to go. Yes,
I also, you know, it is amazing because again, the
directory has been something that we've been begging for ourselves
as a show, asking our listeners, asking people, because when
it comes to gift times, when it comes to like
(39:22):
buying sincere, thoughtful gifts, and especially like you know, when
I have a racist family and I want to be
like this is where I bought it from.
Speaker 3 (39:28):
You're welcome knowing that at.
Speaker 2 (39:30):
Least I'm doing something good and a little petty, but
not just you know, anyway, I have trauma.
Speaker 3 (39:39):
Nikki have trauma. I do have therapists.
Speaker 1 (39:42):
You know what I'm saying.
Speaker 5 (39:44):
But I think that's what makes us special because could
you imagine being a white man with no trauma.
Speaker 4 (39:49):
Oh my gosh, that's just narcissism.
Speaker 2 (39:54):
But anyway, no, so let's go back to your podcast,
because we, of course as fellow podcasts with you. I did,
we did listen to the episode and I love the
whole double dutch theory.
Speaker 3 (40:06):
Can you talk about that?
Speaker 5 (40:08):
So the double Dutch rule is, as a young girl,
especially in the black community, you had to play double dutch.
You had to in some way. You were either turning
the rope while you were jumping. More than likely you
were doing both. And the crazy part, I'm telling some
secrets now. We would get our ropes from the electric company,
man with he hemes, the neighborhood, those wires that they
were used to wire the houses.
Speaker 4 (40:29):
Stuff. We would we would we would gently.
Speaker 5 (40:32):
Take away for resources in our community because they made
the best ropes. And when you are playing double Dutch,
you are either going to jump right in without even
thinking about it, or somebody's going to tell you to
jump right in and you're just gonna have to just
go ahead and do it. So the double dutch theory
is just to take a deep breath counter three and
(40:55):
just jump right in. And by the time you jump in,
the rhythm's going to catch you. Your feeling's going to
catch you. You're not even going to really have time to
process and think you're actually jumping. You're actually jumping double dutch.
So that's my theory. When it comes to a lot
of things you're doing, just jump into it and it's
going to catch up with you. It's going to figure
it out, and you'll get the rhythm and before you
know it, you're jumping with Buy from a Black Woman
(41:17):
I literally, you know, with that, I was like, Okay,
I want to do this, let me go do it.
I didn't really think about the repercussions. I didn't think
about buying from a Black women. It's such a bold
aggressive name. Until somebody told me it was a bold
aggressive name, right. I just was like, Oh, this is
what I want people to do. I want them buy
from black women. I'm calling it buy from a Black Woman.
I just jumped right into it. And when you jump
right into something, by the time you are scared, you
(41:40):
realize you're doing it, so just jump in.
Speaker 2 (41:45):
I have memories of welts on my legs when I
did this.
Speaker 4 (41:50):
That's a good a good place to men.
Speaker 5 (41:52):
Like we're going to get beat up sometimes, right, Like
people have some markings, but that's how you know you're
actually doing it and you're alive.
Speaker 3 (41:58):
Right, You gotta.
Speaker 1 (41:59):
Practice in practice. Yes. Well, one thing we always like
to ask people when we have them on the show
is you know your work. It sounds like it could
be very emotionally taxing, especially with the United States. How
it is right now, what are some ways that you
(42:23):
recharge and take care of yourself.
Speaker 5 (42:25):
Yeah, it used to be a lot of whiskey, but
I had to stop doing that because I realized I
was drinking too much.
Speaker 3 (42:33):
Uncle, of course, Uncle.
Speaker 5 (42:35):
There is also guidance. Whiskey is another one that's black
one as well. But I spend time with my friends
and my family. I really do make sure I make
time girlfriend time. I get kidnapped by my friends sometimes,
like they literally will pop up at my house and be.
Speaker 3 (42:50):
Like, let's go, Like you get get out of the house.
Speaker 4 (42:53):
Yeah, Like, come on, girl, you've been inside all day.
Let's go. I go outside.
Speaker 5 (42:57):
I had last year was going through some stuff because
again the work is a lot heavy, a lot taxi,
and I had to remind myself that I can build
something out of nothing.
Speaker 4 (43:07):
So I build my deck.
Speaker 5 (43:08):
I built the closet first, then I built my deck,
and it was like, I need something to remind me
that I am capable of building things. I'm capable of
creating things that are long lasting and useful to people.
And that's where my closet, my deck came in. So
sometimes I take over ambition goals like that to say,
just like how outrageous of a thing can I do?
(43:30):
To remind myself that I can do outrageous things. So
there's that as well. I run, still run, I ride
my bike. I do a lot of different things, and
sometimes I do nothing at all. I'll just watch TV
all day and I'll I'll.
Speaker 1 (43:46):
Do that white loads and building a deck building.
Speaker 2 (43:50):
I love that that was your part time, Like I'll
build a deck, Like that's completely normal. Girl.
Speaker 3 (43:54):
You got not a signe project. What's happening.
Speaker 2 (43:57):
That's for yourself at least, But I'm like that that's
whole that's a whole challenge. It's not who you Yeah, okay.
Speaker 5 (44:04):
Yeah, I reached out to one of my son's old
teachers because he's taught construction as well. So like, hey,
I'm out here, I'm building my deck. You come look
at it and make sure like it's safe.
Speaker 2 (44:14):
You know.
Speaker 5 (44:15):
He's like okay, and he's like, well, my senior's in
your project, so I'm gonna bring them out here to
help you. So it became a senior project, so as me,
like fifteen seniors building a deck together.
Speaker 2 (44:26):
So not only did you do a side project as
your relaxing thing, but you also enlisted and collaborated with
more people.
Speaker 3 (44:32):
I love that. You can't just sometimes you watch TV.
I heard I heard that part, but she also built
a deck. Who is this person? Also? Can you again
be my friend's I can get this task because I
need a deck.
Speaker 4 (44:44):
Now you know I'm not building nobody else's deck.
Speaker 3 (44:49):
Un fair enough, fair enough enough?
Speaker 1 (44:53):
Well, clearly we would love to have you back on if.
I mean, if you're in Atlanta, we should hang out,
and we should hang out so we can go.
Speaker 2 (45:05):
You know, we do happy hours and such, so we
can come together and have I like, yes, we'll come
in and have an episode with you talking about your
deck building projects.
Speaker 3 (45:13):
Or or you're.
Speaker 5 (45:14):
Always down for a happy hour, especially a happy hour trivia.
Speaker 2 (45:18):
Like I.
Speaker 3 (45:22):
Believe you.
Speaker 2 (45:22):
I believe you all this information and knowledge I can. Yeah,
I'm gonna see you on Jeopardy or something.
Speaker 3 (45:28):
I have a feeling.
Speaker 1 (45:31):
Zero down, zero down.
Speaker 4 (45:33):
I don't know, like the smart facts I know, like,
well did you know?
Speaker 3 (45:36):
But Jeopardy is not smart facts. They are just random questions.
Speaker 2 (45:40):
You start thinking like this is just trivia when you
really start looking at the level of like I think
our fellow podcasters how stuff works was a podcast answer
on something a while ago. Oh yeah for Jeopardy, Like
it was like it was a house stuff works question
or stuff you should know, and they were a featured
question on the Jeopardy I'm just saying that that's the
(46:02):
trivia thing. It's like, so that's why I'm like, I'm
sure random trivia.
Speaker 3 (46:06):
I have a feeling you have that officially, maybe.
Speaker 5 (46:08):
That should be a next goal. I want to be
a trivia question on Jeopardy, Like I want my life
to be so impactful that I become a trivia Who
is Nikki Porschet?
Speaker 3 (46:16):
Like that be the question runs fair enough.
Speaker 2 (46:24):
I mean, I'll give you three years, please do please
run the world, just change it.
Speaker 3 (46:28):
Ever now we need we need revamping. The world needs revamping.
We need a reboot, Niki.
Speaker 1 (46:33):
We need to do this, Oh God, absolutely true. Okay, Well,
in the meantime between goals and hanging outs, where can
the good listeners find you?
Speaker 4 (46:49):
Yes, so all roads lead to roam. Buy from a
Black Woman dot org.
Speaker 5 (46:52):
They can go there to learn more, to donate to
the calls and discover more businesses. Also, a black woman's
website is my personal website. And then you just put
and buy from a black woman. They keep poche. You'll
get a lot of links to figure out which direction
you want to come to find me. I'm always open
for conversations and dialogue and all that jazz. So hit
(47:13):
me up.
Speaker 1 (47:15):
Yes, yes, absolutely do that, listeners, And thank you so
much for being here. This was such a delight.
Speaker 4 (47:21):
Thank you all so much for having me. I had
a great time. I appreciate it.
Speaker 1 (47:27):
You can find us. You can email us at Hello
at Stuffnever Told You dot com. You can find us
on Blue Sky at mom Stuff podcast, or iNeST Graham
and TikTok at stuff We Never Told You for us
on YouTube. We have a t popic store and we
have the books you can get wherever you get your books.
Thanks as always to our super producer Christina or executive
ducer my Inner contributor Julia, Thank you, Thanks to you
for listening. Stuff I Never Told You is production by
Heart Radio. For more podcasts from my heart Radio, you
(47:48):
can check out the heart Radio app Apple podcast for
wherever you listen to your favorite show
Hey, this is Annie and Samantha and welcome to stuff.
I've never told you a productive of iHeartRadio.
Speaker 2 (00:18):
Today, we are having a wonderful crossover with one our
background when we start looking up people and we get
really excited about amazing people doing amazing things, and I
start fangirling. Yeah, we're having a crossover where we get
to actually talk to one of the amazing activists, advocate, entrepreneur, writer,
(00:40):
all the things, you're all the things, Nikki. We're having
Nikki Porchet, who was on our Activism around the World.
Speaker 3 (00:47):
Welcome to the show, Nikki. I'm so excited.
Speaker 4 (00:50):
Thank you so much for having me. I really appreciate it.
Speaker 2 (00:52):
Oh. You know, when we do those episodes, we want
to do justice in the fact that you're doing so
much work and it's so hard to put it in
such a short episode.
Speaker 3 (01:00):
So when your people.
Speaker 2 (01:02):
Reached out to us, we're like, oh my god, they
liked it and they want to be on the show.
Speaker 5 (01:06):
Holy.
Speaker 3 (01:08):
Just know we're honored and I'm very excited right now.
Well nervous, Oh no, this is.
Speaker 2 (01:13):
This is what happens when I get nervous and I'm like, oh,
this is real life people who do real life things
who do amazing things and okay, I'm okay. So now
that I have fangirled for the moment, thank you listeners,
Thank you Nikki.
Speaker 3 (01:24):
Can you introduce yourself to our listeners.
Speaker 5 (01:27):
Yes, my name is Nicky Pourchet. I am the founder
of Buy from a Black Woman. But, like Samittha says,
I do a lot of things for a lot of people,
but the most importantly is making sure that black women
are seeing heard and support it and all the work
I do. I don't want to bore you with a
whole bio introduction, but I guess Google can tell you more.
Speaker 2 (01:47):
I mean, technically, we did introduce you, so if you
haven't listened to our past episode, you should go back
and listen. It's like a ten minute episode. We try
to cram as much as we could so we get
to have a real life conversation about all of the
amazing work you're doing and have been doing.
Speaker 3 (02:03):
I have been doing it for a while, and.
Speaker 2 (02:05):
In fact, when I was researching you, reading your interviews
and looking at your background, you talk about how this
organization and your path from your past, your education, on
all these things, unforeseen circumstances, all the things have really
put you at this point, can you tell our listeners
about how you began your organization and you know where
(02:26):
you are today with it?
Speaker 3 (02:27):
And that's a good question.
Speaker 5 (02:29):
So it's funny because I always say, well, one of
the mantras is I want people to look at my
life and think it's a movie.
Speaker 4 (02:36):
So I lived that way.
Speaker 5 (02:38):
And you have to be careful what you ask for
because sometimes I'm like, how is this my life? That
sounds made up? But I experienced it right. So I
was out sumer wrestling with some friends in Philadelphia and
during that I shouted my kneecap. So when I shouted
my kneecap, I was so that I would have a
hard time with full motion range and I probably would
(02:59):
be like really run properly because of the surgery. And
they put like some dissolved screws in it because I
didn't have health insurance.
Speaker 4 (03:07):
So they were like, hey, can we experiment on you
on me? Oh yeah, I gotta mone to take you
anyway go for it.
Speaker 5 (03:13):
Was that and then when they told me that part,
I was like, okay, well let me see how I
can get into running.
Speaker 4 (03:19):
So I started getting into running.
Speaker 5 (03:20):
I moved to Atlanta and the run community was one
of those communities that you can just go out.
Speaker 4 (03:24):
And meet people.
Speaker 5 (03:25):
And then I discovered that people were running half marathons
and marathons in every state, and I was like, okay,
well I want to do that as well. I was
working at a nonprofit. I was very bored at this nonprofit.
So I was like, okay, well I'll run to keep
myself entertained. And also it'll be a great way for
me and my son to see the country because the
certain states I would never ever think about going to,
(03:45):
but now I'll travel there to do a half marathon.
We can make a whole weekend about it. So this
one particular weekend, I was headed to Florida. It's always Florida, right,
I was headed to Florida. I missed my flight and
I was very upset that I missed my flight. So
in order to make myself feel better, I went shopping
because that's what we did. So I'm at this shopping
event and I'm the only black woman at the shopping event.
(04:07):
There were no black women vendors, there were no black
people in attendance. It was very odd to me, and
I know black women who are doing things that are
similar to these vendors. How can I help? You know, like,
let me do something again. I was bored at work,
so you always look for a side project when you're
bored at work, right, So buy from a Black Woman
came to me where I was like, what do I
want people to do? Well, I want to buy from
black women. Okay, well let's call it buy from a
(04:28):
black woman. And I was just blogging. I would just
buy something from a black woman once a week and
I would blog about it and tell people what I bought. Then,
you know, express about the thing, then ask the question,
well did you buy from a black woman this week?
And the community just was like yes, Like can you
feature my business? You have a directory or the educational resources,
all these things. And I started thinking like, okay, well
(04:50):
I do know how to do these things. I can
do that because I collected a lot of experiences and
a lot of degrees when I was bored in my life,
Like maybe I'm supposed to be doing all this.
Speaker 4 (05:00):
I started doing that.
Speaker 5 (05:01):
I'm learning about nonprofit, learning about all the things. And
I was approached by my employer. I had recruited one
of my coworkers to help because she too was bored,
so I'm like, hey.
Speaker 4 (05:13):
Girl, you know you want to be part of this.
It's like going, yeah, let's do this.
Speaker 1 (05:15):
Right.
Speaker 5 (05:16):
So we had our photos on the website, and this
is part of the reason why I don't have about
section on the website.
Speaker 4 (05:22):
But I guess I could do that now, right.
Speaker 5 (05:24):
But we had our photos on the website, and they
called her into a room with printouts a buy from
a Black woman and our photos. It was like, are
you doing this? Like this is a conflict of interest.
We have to let you go. So they let her go.
Then they came to me and told me the same thing.
They're like, you got to stop doing this, or we
have to let you go. So I said, well, I
guess you're going to have to let me go because
(05:45):
I'm not going to stop doing this because here is
this white man who has been a nonprofit his whole
career telling me I have to stop doing something. And
it's like, well, you must see something I don't, because
why is this such a threat. Why do you feel
like in order to continue to doing this work and
I'm doing it. It has nothing to do with buy from
a black woman? I need to stop that you see
(06:08):
something I don't see yet. So I'm gonna keep doing
that and I won't work here anymore. And that's really
how it got started.
Speaker 3 (06:15):
I love that.
Speaker 2 (06:16):
I also love that you say when you're bored, you
do a side business. I think that's just you and
your ADHD being successful. I want to say that with
love because me, I'm a fall asleep.
Speaker 3 (06:26):
I'm like a lot halftime.
Speaker 2 (06:27):
I've been taking nap. So good on you, Nikki, you
are amazing. I love that that's how you focus. But yeah,
you're You're special. I want to give you that shout
out that you are extra extra in this level of
like making sure not only are you accomplished, but other
people are accomplished with you. So don't don't those be
like side project. No, ma'am, that was you and you're from.
Speaker 4 (06:51):
As it really was.
Speaker 5 (06:52):
I could not if you would have told me in
twenty sixteen that it would be this thing.
Speaker 4 (06:56):
I wouldn't believe you. I was like, how you know,
I can't. I don't know how to do that. I
don't know those people. I don't you know. It has
just been all these I don't knows, but yeah, so.
Speaker 2 (07:07):
Well, this is one of the reasons we talk about
activists like you and advocates like yous because it's literally
because it wasn't there, and you're like, well, I'm gonna
do it. I'm gonna do this and watch me and
it was so needed and it is so needed. Like
your timing is perfect with the fact that for the
longest time people ignored the issue that black women, black creators.
(07:29):
They have been the forefront of every movement, but they've
been left behind when it comes to any kind of
uh recognition. So finally being able to say, okay, let's
do this organized in a way that you have done
it is amazing because you have made it from one
small thing, the blog, into a whole organization and that's
a beautiful coming together. It really is like a movie.
(07:52):
You just watched this organism organizing coming about. And with
that again, you're so passionate. You have so many titles
under your belt, can you because I need to know,
I need to look into your ring, as you said,
side project. With these many hats, how do you keep
yourself organized? I need information here.
Speaker 5 (08:10):
Well, shout out to my team because they're amazing, you know,
and so they do it. But then also counter the
reminders I have PTSD. So my therapist has taught me
a lot of different ways to do things, and sometimes
in full transparency, I don't do nothing. I'm like, you
know what the White lowis is on is a new season.
We watch all these episodes today so we can just
(08:31):
get out the way, like a moving of my life,
because if I watched one episode, I'm gonna be thinking
about what I'm gonna watch next one, and nothing's really
long get done. So let's just watch all of them
today so we can just move on. So it's a
balance of doing everything and doing nothing.
Speaker 4 (08:47):
For the most part.
Speaker 2 (08:48):
I gotta get a team, that's what you're telling me.
I gotta get good people. And he's part of my team.
To be honest, she does keep me organized because I
am also like I'm just gonna sit here and he's like, no, no, no,
we have these things to do. And I'm like, oh, yeah,
my bad.
Speaker 3 (09:00):
You just push though therapists. Is that what I heard?
Speaker 2 (09:03):
Because we love some therapy in this shows off to that.
Speaker 3 (09:07):
I love that well.
Speaker 1 (09:09):
Another thing we talked about a lot on the show
is about how to be a conscientious consumer. Can you
give us some advice on doing so in a way
that's ethical and supportive.
Speaker 5 (09:23):
Yes, I say, in order to be a conscious consumer,
you must be a community consumer. So if you are
not shopping in your community, or if you're not shopping
with businesses that support your community, that give back to
your community, that help your community, you're not being a
conscious consumer. So I always say, of course by from
a black woman, but also by local, by small. And
there are a lot of businesses that you can actually
(09:45):
go to that are in your neighborhood, that are owned
by people who live in that neighborhood, opposed going to
some big box stores. There's a lot of coffee shops.
You don't have to go to Starbucks or dunk It right.
There are a lot of libraries, so you don't have
the vials books online because the library is right there
in your commun and they need your support to as well.
And then also saving your money. You don't need this
stuff at this point in life. You don't need anything.
(10:07):
But let's keep it honest, right, Like you got a
whole bunch of junk, you keep buy the whole bunch
of junk thinking that you need a junk, but you.
Speaker 4 (10:13):
Don't need it.
Speaker 5 (10:13):
It's just stopped to help you feel better. So do
like swaps with your friends and family. There's a lot
of groups that promote like buy nothing, give nothing situation
where you can give stuff away that you're not using.
Speaker 4 (10:26):
But also if you're.
Speaker 5 (10:27):
A collector of stuff, you can go get stuff from
those people too who are just putting all together. So
doing it locally, doing it small, doing businesses that go
into your community.
Speaker 4 (10:37):
Those are the top three things that you just can do.
Speaker 2 (10:40):
Yeah, I think it's a lot to undo that mindset,
that consumerism mindset, because I will say, when it came
to the pandemic and the shutdown, I started really.
Speaker 3 (10:53):
Enjoying that delivery.
Speaker 2 (10:54):
And we know that that's really kind of on a
toxicity that's hard to let go of. I think it's
gotten easier as we've started talking more and more about
how capitalism is not helping us right now and how
the government has leaned towards big corporations instead of the
individual people's. So that's a big mindset that changed to
(11:17):
And with that we're gonna jump into.
Speaker 3 (11:20):
The boycott activism conversation. Are you ready, Nikki? Are you ready?
Speaker 5 (11:25):
And I set off air to those listen, they picked
a great week, they have me.
Speaker 3 (11:31):
We did it feel like we did the perfect timing.
Speaker 2 (11:33):
It may not feel like it, and I'm sure you're like,
why is this happening right now? But for us, we're like, yes, yeah,
don't you hate that though, You're like, you have all
these things and now they put more on your plate
and you're like, but why. I was just trying to help, y'all.
Help y'all. Okay, So with that, we talked before. You
(11:54):
are featured in the Conversation on the effects of economic blackouts,
whether they are effective, and then whether or not it
will be effective and how it can be effective on
the long term.
Speaker 3 (12:06):
So can you talk to us and tell us what you've.
Speaker 2 (12:08):
Seen being done correctly when it comes to things like
boycotting and the economic blackout, and then also what you've
seen being done incorrectly.
Speaker 4 (12:18):
Yeah.
Speaker 5 (12:19):
So, I because I'm pretty sure somebody's attorney is listening
to this, because they all watching everything I do now,
So I just want to make sure that it's clear.
I have never ever told anyone to stop shopping anywhere.
I always say, buy from a black woman, buy local,
buy small, buy in your community. I've never said stop
shopping at fill in the blank here. That's not something
(12:39):
I do. But if you're going shop here, make sure
you're buying black, make sure you're supporting small. Also note
where your products are going to. There is one company
that's being you know, boycotted, and I have shared that
there's a lot of stuff that's in there that you
think is owned by black businesses, by black people.
Speaker 4 (12:57):
However it's not.
Speaker 5 (12:59):
It's kind of, I don't want to say, is white facing,
but it's black facing because it'll put like black names
on it. Are making a T shirt that looks like
it's care to a minority group, but it's actually that
company who is doing that. So you have to be
very very careful doing your research. If you see something
that's made by a company. We all have computers in
our hands, in our pockets and our purpose. Just look
(13:20):
it up real quick if you have any doubt about that.
If you really are truly trying to be a conscious consumer,
make sure you're doing your research. Also again, act yourself,
do I really need this? Is this something I really
need to have? Do I have to go to this
store to buy this thing that I think I need
to have for this new event or this new recipe or.
Speaker 4 (13:40):
Any of that stuff.
Speaker 5 (13:41):
So doing it that way, there are a lot of
people who have decided to stop shopping a lot of
places because those people in those places are no longer
supporting other people in places. And for that, I say kudos.
I know that I support businesses that support me. I
support businesses that support my community. That's my first question.
How is this company, corporation, business supporting black women, black people,
(14:04):
small communities and they're not doing of that. It's not
it's not a hard decision for me. They won't get
my money right, I've worked very hard for my money.
I'm not just going to give it away to people
who have no value in me as a person are
my community. So there's that the ones who are doing
it incorrectly. Oh how to say this? So I don't
(14:24):
get it, but clear because if you sue me, I
would tell people you suing me? So yes, just like
that's just I don't get that, Like, oh, guess who
said they're gonna sue me? Y'all? But the people who
(14:45):
are doing incorrectly are that's example bullying. If you are
trying to bully people to do something because you see
that what they're doing is working, that's doing it incorrectly
instead of trying to change their minds. Why don't you
change your Why don't you say, well, what's the problem.
Why are you deciding that we're not a business that
you are support anymore? How can we fix that and
(15:07):
make sure it's not performative but it's actually something long
term to ensure. You cannot care to everybody, You can't
make everybody happy. I get that, But also you cannot
blow with the wind. If this is the trend and
you're like, Okay, we're gonna jump on this trend. Oh
that's not the trend anymore. We're no longer doing that.
That's very performative acting. So ask yourself, like where your values,
your morals, your integrity really stand and make sure that
(15:29):
you're abiding writers right.
Speaker 2 (15:31):
I think that the big key is like the integrity
and morals, and you will if you want to pretend
that you have to have them, you better stick on them.
And that's that true conversation like don't just back down
because someone threatens because they say it's inclusive is too much,
which is hilarious because in that conversation, like what is
so bad about giving more options? Inclusivity is wonderful. I
(15:53):
have more options to things. Question mark, like why why
is this such a threat? We know why, but you
know that's a plain ignorant question. Yeah, in that interview
(16:14):
where we discovered and like we had to have you
on the show or talk about you on the show.
On the Salon article, you actually say at the very beginning,
if if people return to their usual spending patterns the
next day, the momentum can be lost. Additionally, without clear
demands or follow up actions, corporations may not feel compelled
to change. And I think that's such a big impactful
statement because a lot of times me, especially like I
(16:37):
want to do something, but then I don't realize, Wait,
did that actually help? What is the follow up? What
are we asking for? Can you kind of elaborate on
that quote.
Speaker 5 (16:47):
Yeah, so again, a lot of these corporations are really
weighing us out. They know we have short attention spans.
They know as a matter of time before we stop.
Because everybody loves convenience, everybody loves to be able just
to do it right. You know, when you were talking
about the pandemic, that shopping thing, it was we were
having nothing to look forward to.
Speaker 4 (17:05):
So now I ordered something.
Speaker 5 (17:07):
Now I'm looking forward to a package being delivered because
we're stuck in a house, so it was like a
mental thing. We didn't need that stuff. We just had
nothing to look forward to. Now I have a package
to look forward to in my house, right, But you
don't have to feel like you have to look forward
to shopping at these places.
Speaker 4 (17:23):
That are not supporting your community.
Speaker 5 (17:24):
And if you are saying, hey, I'm going to stop
shopping here for thirty days, and you realize you can
do that for thirty days, you can do another thirty
days and another thirty days after that, so there's no
need for you to actually go back. Especially when they're
counting on you to come back. They think, okay, so
you said you'll do this for thirty days. After thirty days,
you're going to go back shopping there, So no jo,
(17:45):
just wait you out and they won't have to change anything.
So if you're really truly trying to be a conscious consumer,
and you can do it for a week, a day,
a month, you can do it for the rest of
your life or until they change your practices and just
keep your minding yourself. Well, I really didn't need that
a month ago. Why do I have to go there
to that?
Speaker 4 (18:01):
Oh and see how much money you saved in.
Speaker 5 (18:03):
That month because I don't know about you all, but
not shopping is great for my account, my big account,
you know, Like it's like, girl, I don't need that.
And also it's helping my community relationships, Like I'm discovering
my neighbors more because of those neighborhood activities as far
as like book swap and clothing swaps and like even
recipe swaps. Right, I'm talking to my girlfriends more because
(18:24):
I needed something to wear, Like I need this to wear.
I don't own anything in that color. You got something, Yeah,
but I saw that dress she was wearing. Can I
borrow that? So now we're going back to that, right,
And we're creating more stronger friendships with that because now
we're sharing intimate things like our clothes and our style.
So it's like all these things that really can be
beneficial of it if you really decide that you want
(18:44):
to change, but you don't have to go back, you.
Speaker 2 (18:47):
Don't, right, Right, And I think that's an interesting conversation
of like having the swaps and creating community that really
does bring about a whole different perspective when you go
to the bigger picture of like bring in people and
collaborating together and how oftentimes that has been missing when
it comes to the individual consumerism. So although that means
(19:09):
I have to socialize and I'm an introvert, Nikki, what
do I do something?
Speaker 5 (19:13):
Just think that we're introverts, but we're really not right.
We're we're all awkward and we're just nervous to be
awkward in front of each other.
Speaker 4 (19:22):
But guess what, they're awkward too.
Speaker 5 (19:24):
Like everybody is really just like, oh my gosh, well
you know, but nobody's thinking about you because they're thinking
about their own awkwardness and believe or not, your awkwardness
is probably cool to somebody else. They're like, oh my goodness,
Samantha just laughs all the time. I wish I could
laugh at everything, you know what I mean.
Speaker 4 (19:39):
So you're like, oh my goodness, I laugh all the time.
People won't take me serious what another.
Speaker 5 (19:43):
Person's just like, I wish I had that much joy
where I can find laughter and everything. So like, nobody
is thinking about your awkwardness because they're too busy worrying
about there. So I say, get out there and be
who you are. And also why are you care what
other people think?
Speaker 4 (19:55):
Like it's twenty twenty five. We have a phone as
a president. Why do you can't when people think about you?
Speaker 2 (20:01):
It's true, Amen, let me have your numbers so I
can text you and be like the purses that I'm
off work, I'm good on.
Speaker 3 (20:09):
Tell them I'm a joy. Please you are.
Speaker 5 (20:13):
It's just it's one of those stories, those false narratives
that we tell ourselves that we can't do something, or
we are uncapable to make a change, or I can
only do this temporarily. And the crazy part is like
you can literally your body can trick your mind into
doing things, Like you can be very sad and depressed,
but you can say, you know what, I'm a smile
and the next thing you know, your mind is it
(20:34):
has changed.
Speaker 4 (20:35):
Right, you can control all these things. Everything is a choice.
I know. I'm telling it like it's very easy. It's not.
This is years and years and years of therapy and practice, y'all.
So I didn't wake up with this revelation.
Speaker 5 (20:47):
These are things I've actually had to work towards and
with knowing who I am and what I've come from
and what I've dealt with. And I really just want
you all to know, like if I can do all
these things and say all these things and be all
these things. Me there is so much more hope for
you all because everything that came in my life told
me that I'm not supposed to be where I'm at today.
Speaker 4 (21:07):
I should have been.
Speaker 5 (21:08):
Dead, kidnapped, a baby, mama of twenty five different men,
with twelve kids, all these things. But I'm not those things.
And if I can do it, I could live this life.
I'm pretty sure it will be a lot easier for you.
Speaker 3 (21:21):
Hel You just gave me some daily affirmations here.
Speaker 1 (21:23):
Yeah, I feel like that was a wonderful pep talk.
Thank you.
Speaker 3 (21:27):
I'm ready, I'm ready, let's go.
Speaker 1 (21:30):
Well you've kind of spoken to this already, but could
you talk a bit more about some companies or organizations
that we could look at as good examples of ethical consumership?
Speaker 4 (21:46):
Yeah, buye from a black woman. We are a great example.
Speaker 3 (21:49):
Yes, yeah, that's a good one besides yours.
Speaker 2 (21:53):
Some but yes, that's a huge one.
Speaker 5 (21:56):
But as far as like big corporations, and I again
I've feel so embarrassed to say this. If they're not
in your community, if they're not a local business, why
are you shopping from them? Like the thing that we
have to remember is those people are already billionaires. And
if you're complaining about capitalism, you're complaining about there being billionaires,
(22:17):
Why do you want to continue to make them billionaires?
What you love that your neighbor who owns the local
coffee shop down the street that you can have, you know,
theme game night at become a billionaire. The only way
we'll get more billionaires than millionaires if we start supporting
new businesses so that they too can be billionaires and millionaires.
Speaker 2 (22:35):
Right.
Speaker 4 (22:36):
It's really just that easy.
Speaker 5 (22:37):
So I cannot say a big corporation name that is
doing it right when I'm telling everybody to buy from
a black hoe and buy local, buy small, buy from
a community. Those businesses who decide that your community was
worthy enough that they wanted to start a coffee shop,
whatever restaurant, they're like, you know what, this is where
I want my dreams to live. This is where I
want to serve these people who live here. Those are
(22:59):
the ones who are doing it right because.
Speaker 4 (23:00):
They actually thought about you when they decided to start
their business.
Speaker 2 (23:04):
Right right, Oh, okay, speaking of being being in controversy
right now, you recently spoke out about performative DEI from corporations,
and it's such an important conversation we need to have
in relation to ethical consumerism advocacy all of the works,
(23:27):
and especially in today's political climate. Can you break down
what you have seen and how corporations have been using
black women and black women owned businesses for profit or
just exploiting them for publicity.
Speaker 4 (23:40):
Yeah.
Speaker 5 (23:40):
So we did a research paper last year about the
defunding of DEI and the social justice impact it had
on black owned business owners. And during that research, we
found out a lot of businesses who got a lot
of the good support during the beginning of social justice uprising,
and when all of these companies and stuff started, they
got to support the beginning, and then it dwindled, like
(24:01):
these people who are working at these corporations no longer
work there, there's no more money, the classes that offered,
all the mentorships no longer exists. And it did a
real harm to a lot of these businesses because they
were getting the media, they were getting the support, people
were buying from them, and then everybody just stopped, like
they're unsubscribing from emails, they're no longer followed them for
(24:22):
social media. So if I had such a breakout year
in twenty twenty one. I'm going to project for that
for my next sale. So now I'm buying more things
so I don't run out. I'm doing more with my
AD dollars. I'm doing all these things because the last
two years have been great. But now you're three, nobody's
buying those things because they're no longer have to in
(24:43):
their mind.
Speaker 4 (24:44):
Right now they're back outside.
Speaker 5 (24:45):
They were able to forget the troubles of what happened
to black people, black bodies because they're no longer in
their face. So now they don't feel like they have
to support black businesses. But this poor black business is
now all this overstock stuff, all of this money they
wasted trying to make sure that you continue to be
a consumer. So like that's a big headache and a
(25:05):
big thing, because now what do you do with our product?
When we see the defunding of the DEI stuff the
same thing you thought this big corporation was going to
be there because they told you that they believed in
you and your business and your dreams and they want
to guide you. But now it's like, oh, well, let's
think about that.
Speaker 4 (25:23):
We're going to have to figure that out. We don't
have the money for that.
Speaker 5 (25:27):
But if you had the money two years ago for
this program, where is that money going this year? If
you dont longer can do that program, like what happened
between we were able to fund this there and now
you can no longer fund it, where does that money go?
And also how much did you make off of the
backs of black women to do these programs? Because you
and I know, especially as women. If I see a.
Speaker 4 (25:50):
Woman over there and I'm like, oh man, they're over.
Speaker 5 (25:52):
There shopping and supporting women, supporting black women, I'm gonna
go ahead and give them my money because I see
that they're doing something in the community. I can relate
to a community that I identify with. And they're not
even giving them a portion of their sales are the
total revenue, So that's that's harming them as well. I
hope I answer your question. I forgot what the original
question was. I'm just rambling because I'm on my soapbox.
Speaker 3 (26:13):
We love soapboxes over here, so I keep going.
Speaker 2 (26:15):
No, I think you are, because it really we were
talking about the level of exploitation that has been especially
when it comes to like Black Lives Matter movements. They
took that and they didn't see that as an actual
movement but more of a profit margin.
Speaker 3 (26:29):
And like as we've noticed the louder has become and
it has they have made a profit. We know this,
we know they've made a profit off of this.
Speaker 2 (26:37):
Now that people are saying we're going to take away
things if you support DEI, which has become a trigger
word for something that is just about equity. Like it's
just an absurd, like politicized moment of like what is happening?
But we're seeing the corporations giving in because they are
just all about the dollar size. And so my question
(26:57):
really it's like exactly what you're talking about, how they've
exploited its specifically black women. And unfortunately it's not just corporations.
Speaker 5 (27:06):
It's yeah, it's the country. I mean, like, if we're
gonna go to the ocean, let's get deep. The country
is built off the back of black women's right. When
we talk about the enslaved people and those women who
were taking care of their person I'm not gonna use
the word slave master, but other person who owned the
property that they were living on, children Like I'm good
(27:28):
enough to take care of your child, I'm good enough
to even breastfeed your child. But I'm not good enough
to walk on the same side of the road as you.
I'm not good enough to eat in the same restaurants
as you. But you want me to raise your children,
You want me to educate your children. You want me
to do all of these things for your children. But
I can't even sit at a lunch calendar because I'm sitting.
Speaker 4 (27:44):
Next to you.
Speaker 5 (27:44):
It's like stuff like that, And it has been a
tell old as time the new administration.
Speaker 4 (27:49):
I'm gonna say, if you listen to your administration, holler
at me.
Speaker 5 (27:52):
But y'all raised this, y'all doing all these things because
for whatever reason, you don't want other minority groups to
get ahead, not just black women.
Speaker 4 (28:01):
Right when we talk about de I d I was
started for white women, right, it really was.
Speaker 5 (28:05):
It was there to benefit white women. And it's just
it's tough try is because it's like you started something
and now you're using it to attack a whole different
demo that it wasn't even created for. Right now you
can use it to say, Okay, well, I just got
(28:25):
a text from my man friend about this group who
was unable to perform and the band because it was
helping black.
Speaker 4 (28:33):
Students who were playing instruments.
Speaker 3 (28:35):
So it was just like, like, how was that?
Speaker 5 (28:37):
DEI Like, how is that going to actually do a harm?
There is another article because I'm a vet, so I
get all that stuff. When there are scrubbing an all
time is the big cemetery for military people, They're scrubbing
black names, black women names, They're scrubbing that from their website.
Speaker 3 (28:55):
How is that?
Speaker 5 (28:55):
DEI Like, what is so bad about people knowing their history?
But they're rewriting the country's history. They're rewriting the narrative
because for whatever reason, these white men are intimidated and
I don't know why, because you're a white man, Like,
you're a white man, Like, how can.
Speaker 4 (29:10):
We intimidate you?
Speaker 5 (29:12):
You're a white man, like I know if you're a
white day listen to this, donate to buy from a
black woman?
Speaker 3 (29:20):
Can we be friends place? Can we out? Oh my god,
this is amazing.
Speaker 2 (29:26):
But yes, there's so much to be said into this,
like the fact that this is not about DEI.
Speaker 3 (29:32):
We know this, We know this is racism.
Speaker 2 (29:34):
This is the usage of Christianity for racism, the usage
of power in every way for white supremacy.
Speaker 3 (29:43):
We know, we've seen it.
Speaker 2 (29:44):
And what has threatened them is that there was not
even like any growth in power for marginalized people black women,
black men in general, but just that they were starting
to become seen, not even really seen, but become a
part of the conversation. And somehow that has become a threat.
And we know they don't like anything because they started
(30:06):
to realize they actually were the focal point and it
wasn't marginalized people against marginalized people as much anymore, and
they were getting directed towards white supremacy.
Speaker 3 (30:14):
And that is a threat in.
Speaker 2 (30:16):
Itself, and the easiest way to make the structure crumble
from what was it could be equality or equity is
going after black women.
Speaker 5 (30:26):
Yeah, and going after pockets like the money is the
only conversation.
Speaker 4 (30:30):
And to your point, Samantha.
Speaker 5 (30:32):
I believe that's part of the reason why these programs
that started as a result of such as Auroizing are
being the fund they are now rolling back because too
many black women, black businesses, we're getting the attention, we're
getting the money, We're becoming the new millionaires. And it's
like whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa whoa. We just wanted you
to have ten thousand dollars. We didn't know that you
can make ten a million dollar of ten thousand.
Speaker 4 (30:54):
We had no idea you were that resourceful. So we
got to stopped this before.
Speaker 5 (30:58):
You know, we don't need all these black people come
a millionaire, because how can we control a narrative? They
say that black people have one point seven trillion spending
power in this country, but however, we are only fifteen
percent of this country. So like that math is amazing, right, right,
So like wait, man, too many of you are are
getting some of that spending power back. We need all
that money, and we need to make sure that you
are just suffering and giving us the money because if
(31:21):
there's another if I'm a black woman who's a millionaire
and I'm supporting black women, I'm going to continue to
give to other black women, and that becomes a wilfall,
and they just have to cut that off at.
Speaker 3 (31:30):
The ease, right, And they are.
Speaker 2 (31:32):
And it's amazing because the amount of people who are successful,
who are given the rights to be successful, and I'm
saying that very loosely, is still a small percentage, Like
that big number is still a small percentage compared to
and that's such so obnoxious. But it's like this doesn't
even make sense in what way? Like, literally, the five
white men the has the most amount of money in
(31:53):
this country, why are you so worried about us?
Speaker 3 (31:55):
Like it's literally.
Speaker 5 (31:58):
I was about to say so, I'm pretty sure people listening,
so I'm not going to say that.
Speaker 2 (32:03):
To be fair, being on our podcast in itself might
get you.
Speaker 4 (32:07):
Well, i'd bean like that.
Speaker 2 (32:09):
I mean, you're already doing all the work anyway, but
like this is like a double.
Speaker 5 (32:12):
Like and I guess saying the words that we are
saying are hitting you in the way where you're feeling offended.
If you think we are targeting you, if you think
that we're talking about you, then it's not us, it's
you because if you were not doing those things to
feel emotionally attacked, you would not have to feel emotionally
(32:32):
attacked by our words that we're saying. So if you're like, oh,
my goodness, she's talking about me, whoever you are, corporational lawyers, attorney's,
p R.
Speaker 4 (32:41):
People, whatever. If you're like, oh, Nikki got.
Speaker 5 (32:44):
On this podcast and she targeted this person or that
group or this company, then why is your company up
for target nothing?
Speaker 4 (32:51):
I'm saying is lie.
Speaker 5 (32:52):
I'm not telling anybody that you are a bad person.
I'm literally just saying the facts. So if you're if
you have an emotional reson spons what was that that
flight fight flea thing, if you're doing any of those apps,
look at yourself and ask yourself why.
Speaker 3 (33:07):
You are right, Because like I'm a talk right, I'm
talk I love it. This is the big conversation.
Speaker 2 (33:13):
This is something that has to be said, especially right
now as things are being destroyed, like you're talking about
that people are being removed from history from doing the
things that they have done to save individual countries, like
battles all these things, which is a bizarre way of
reacting when it's not even hurting anything. They're not adding something,
they're not taking away from something. They're just literally a
(33:35):
part of history that people didn't want to talk about
to begin with.
Speaker 3 (33:37):
And it doesn't make sense.
Speaker 5 (33:39):
Yes, And the crazy part is like you're a racing
dead people's name would you finally even know?
Speaker 3 (33:45):
Right?
Speaker 5 (33:46):
Like we probably even know they were they were dead
until you made us go, look right, they were dead.
Speaker 3 (33:51):
So and also you're a white man, right, like your
amount of you got to you know what I mean?
You're got bankrupt five times and you're still rich.
Speaker 4 (34:02):
How they'll say that you're a success story.
Speaker 5 (34:04):
Oh my goodness, he bankrupted sixteen times and started his
business again. I depressed Sverance that that man has to
keep going and just to keep going.
Speaker 3 (34:12):
Oh my goodness, his daddy gave him money.
Speaker 2 (34:15):
But yeah, I mean that's the thing is like most
of the people that were talking about weren't discovered until
much later and had to be rediscovered.
Speaker 3 (34:22):
And there's so many more.
Speaker 2 (34:23):
People we have yet to discover because of the white
watching of history in general, and why we have to
fight for those conversations. And it's not even a threat.
It's an amazing story that everybody would be inspired by.
Like it doesn't anyway, Yeah, we might have to put
you on a part two. We're gonna have to be
a part three, part four. I don't know, Nikki that
(34:43):
this is gonna be a long show. So with all
of that, let's take some time to celebrate everything you
are doing, everything your organization is doing. To buy from
(35:05):
a black woman directory dot org has so many great suggestions.
I went there started looking at candles and shops and such.
But what are some of you your favorites to shop at,
or what are some items that you've gotten that you're like, yes,
you must get this.
Speaker 4 (35:19):
Oh my goodness, Now you're gonna put me on the
chopping block because she didn't say my business, so.
Speaker 3 (35:25):
I know, I was like, oh, she's gonna be like
what are you doing?
Speaker 4 (35:27):
Just you know.
Speaker 5 (35:29):
Is that all of directory are my favorite business. I
love shopping with all of them. They're so great and
even the ones who have yet to do in Directory,
I can't wait to discover you so I can call
you my new favorite.
Speaker 2 (35:39):
Yeah, you're not getting me.
Speaker 3 (35:46):
You're not getting me in this show.
Speaker 2 (35:47):
She said, all right, that's fine, I understand. But with that,
you have so much great information. I'm not gonna lie.
As I was trying to go through each one researching
your stuff and any two we were like, okay, there's
all these things because it jumps from you have the blog,
you have, the grants and funding, you have, the directory,
you have how you can support you will have other
(36:11):
businesses to be a part of it. So you've got
a lot. So let's let's break down. Tell us what
is in your sight? Tell us the breakdown of everything
that you want to highlight as every just tell us
everything everything.
Speaker 5 (36:22):
Yeah, so if I know you're referenced earlier, but the
organization is also my ADHD live for as well.
Speaker 4 (36:32):
I'm sorry because of all the different things.
Speaker 5 (36:35):
I did a roadmap of the business of different things
that I want to do, because I do want to
do all the things, especially when it comes to the organization,
things that we can do for our business owners who
are part of it and the people who support them too.
Because there's our education resources are not just for black women,
and there have been women who are not part of it,
even men who have emails and say.
Speaker 4 (36:57):
Hey, well I see this worksheet, I really need it.
Can I use it? Yes, yes you can.
Speaker 5 (37:02):
So with that being said, our education resources we have
tons of worksheets for those who are looking to make
sure that their business is started correctly. Those are free
worksheets as you can download. We also have education courses
on our BFA BW dot TV that are taught by experts.
One of our leading one is our Trademark Copyright IP
of course, led by Nicole Gaither, are on retainer ish
(37:25):
trademark IP attorning to make sure that the black women
business owns is part of the community have that then
also we do community outreach, which was a lot of
different live events. We scaled back of those because of
the pandemic, but we're bringing those back up. We had
the online directory where you can find businesses that are
owned and operated by black women, and we vet these businesses.
Speaker 4 (37:46):
We check them out.
Speaker 5 (37:46):
We make sure that they are one hundred percent owned
by black women, So those are one hundred.
Speaker 4 (37:50):
Percent owned black women owned businesses.
Speaker 5 (37:52):
We have that. We have our podcast where I talk
to other black women business owners, and we also have
community conversations where we bring conversations that the community of
talking about behind the scenes to front of the scenes
because as you know, I like to talk about some
things and I'm gonna talk about it all on to
create safe spaces, I'm gonna forget a lot of things.
Speaker 4 (38:09):
So you know, if you go to the website, you
can discover more.
Speaker 2 (38:13):
There's so much And your own personal website has a
lot of information as well. Uh yes, we looked at everything.
Your LinkedIn has a lot of information as well, Like
I would, I will. I looked at it. I'm talking
to you in a business professional way, Nikki.
Speaker 5 (38:29):
Oh no, I don't appreciate I don't take it as
stalking whenever somebody said I'm stalking you, like, no, you're not.
You a ways to inspire yourself through the working examples
that I have done. That's all that is because just
no way you looked at my stuffs of Samantha and
Anny and thought, oh my goodness, oh well that's I
can't do that. You're probably like, oh my goodness, well
this is good. I wonder and the idea came to your.
Speaker 4 (38:51):
Head because of something that you saw on my website.
Are all my socials?
Speaker 3 (38:55):
I am my line I said I need Nicky on
the show. That was That's.
Speaker 2 (39:00):
What went through my head. I needed to break this
down for me so I know where to go. Yes,
I also, you know, it is amazing because again, the
directory has been something that we've been begging for ourselves
as a show, asking our listeners, asking people, because when
it comes to gift times, when it comes to like
(39:22):
buying sincere, thoughtful gifts, and especially like you know, when
I have a racist family and I want to be
like this is where I bought it from.
Speaker 3 (39:28):
You're welcome knowing that at.
Speaker 2 (39:30):
Least I'm doing something good and a little petty, but
not just you know, anyway, I have trauma.
Speaker 3 (39:39):
Nikki have trauma. I do have therapists.
Speaker 1 (39:42):
You know what I'm saying.
Speaker 5 (39:44):
But I think that's what makes us special because could
you imagine being a white man with no trauma.
Speaker 4 (39:49):
Oh my gosh, that's just narcissism.
Speaker 2 (39:54):
But anyway, no, so let's go back to your podcast,
because we, of course as fellow podcasts with you. I did,
we did listen to the episode and I love the
whole double dutch theory.
Speaker 3 (40:06):
Can you talk about that?
Speaker 5 (40:08):
So the double Dutch rule is, as a young girl,
especially in the black community, you had to play double dutch.
You had to in some way. You were either turning
the rope while you were jumping. More than likely you
were doing both. And the crazy part, I'm telling some
secrets now. We would get our ropes from the electric company,
man with he hemes, the neighborhood, those wires that they
were used to wire the houses.
Speaker 4 (40:29):
Stuff. We would we would we would gently.
Speaker 5 (40:32):
Take away for resources in our community because they made
the best ropes. And when you are playing double Dutch,
you are either going to jump right in without even
thinking about it, or somebody's going to tell you to
jump right in and you're just gonna have to just
go ahead and do it. So the double dutch theory
is just to take a deep breath counter three and
(40:55):
just jump right in. And by the time you jump in,
the rhythm's going to catch you. Your feeling's going to
catch you. You're not even going to really have time to
process and think you're actually jumping. You're actually jumping double dutch.
So that's my theory. When it comes to a lot
of things you're doing, just jump into it and it's
going to catch up with you. It's going to figure
it out, and you'll get the rhythm and before you
know it, you're jumping with Buy from a Black Woman
(41:17):
I literally, you know, with that, I was like, Okay,
I want to do this, let me go do it.
I didn't really think about the repercussions. I didn't think
about buying from a Black women. It's such a bold
aggressive name. Until somebody told me it was a bold
aggressive name, right. I just was like, Oh, this is
what I want people to do. I want them buy
from black women. I'm calling it buy from a Black Woman.
I just jumped right into it. And when you jump
right into something, by the time you are scared, you
(41:40):
realize you're doing it, so just jump in.
Speaker 2 (41:45):
I have memories of welts on my legs when I
did this.
Speaker 4 (41:50):
That's a good a good place to men.
Speaker 5 (41:52):
Like we're going to get beat up sometimes, right, Like
people have some markings, but that's how you know you're
actually doing it and you're alive.
Speaker 3 (41:58):
Right, You gotta.
Speaker 1 (41:59):
Practice in practice. Yes. Well, one thing we always like
to ask people when we have them on the show
is you know your work. It sounds like it could
be very emotionally taxing, especially with the United States. How
it is right now, what are some ways that you
(42:23):
recharge and take care of yourself.
Speaker 5 (42:25):
Yeah, it used to be a lot of whiskey, but
I had to stop doing that because I realized I
was drinking too much.
Speaker 3 (42:33):
Uncle, of course, Uncle.
Speaker 5 (42:35):
There is also guidance. Whiskey is another one that's black
one as well. But I spend time with my friends
and my family. I really do make sure I make
time girlfriend time. I get kidnapped by my friends sometimes,
like they literally will pop up at my house and be.
Speaker 3 (42:50):
Like, let's go, Like you get get out of the house.
Speaker 4 (42:53):
Yeah, Like, come on, girl, you've been inside all day.
Let's go. I go outside.
Speaker 5 (42:57):
I had last year was going through some stuff because
again the work is a lot heavy, a lot taxi,
and I had to remind myself that I can build
something out of nothing.
Speaker 4 (43:07):
So I build my deck.
Speaker 5 (43:08):
I built the closet first, then I built my deck,
and it was like, I need something to remind me
that I am capable of building things. I'm capable of
creating things that are long lasting and useful to people.
And that's where my closet, my deck came in. So
sometimes I take over ambition goals like that to say,
just like how outrageous of a thing can I do?
(43:30):
To remind myself that I can do outrageous things. So
there's that as well. I run, still run, I ride
my bike. I do a lot of different things, and
sometimes I do nothing at all. I'll just watch TV
all day and I'll I'll.
Speaker 1 (43:46):
Do that white loads and building a deck building.
Speaker 2 (43:50):
I love that that was your part time, Like I'll
build a deck, Like that's completely normal. Girl.
Speaker 3 (43:54):
You got not a signe project. What's happening.
Speaker 2 (43:57):
That's for yourself at least, But I'm like that that's
whole that's a whole challenge. It's not who you Yeah, okay.
Speaker 5 (44:04):
Yeah, I reached out to one of my son's old
teachers because he's taught construction as well. So like, hey,
I'm out here, I'm building my deck. You come look
at it and make sure like it's safe.
Speaker 2 (44:14):
You know.
Speaker 5 (44:15):
He's like okay, and he's like, well, my senior's in
your project, so I'm gonna bring them out here to
help you. So it became a senior project, so as me,
like fifteen seniors building a deck together.
Speaker 2 (44:26):
So not only did you do a side project as
your relaxing thing, but you also enlisted and collaborated with
more people.
Speaker 3 (44:32):
I love that. You can't just sometimes you watch TV.
I heard I heard that part, but she also built
a deck. Who is this person? Also? Can you again
be my friend's I can get this task because I
need a deck.
Speaker 4 (44:44):
Now you know I'm not building nobody else's deck.
Speaker 3 (44:49):
Un fair enough, fair enough enough?
Speaker 1 (44:53):
Well, clearly we would love to have you back on if.
I mean, if you're in Atlanta, we should hang out,
and we should hang out so we can go.
Speaker 2 (45:05):
You know, we do happy hours and such, so we
can come together and have I like, yes, we'll come
in and have an episode with you talking about your
deck building projects.
Speaker 3 (45:13):
Or or you're.
Speaker 5 (45:14):
Always down for a happy hour, especially a happy hour trivia.
Speaker 2 (45:18):
Like I.
Speaker 3 (45:22):
Believe you.
Speaker 2 (45:22):
I believe you all this information and knowledge I can. Yeah,
I'm gonna see you on Jeopardy or something.
Speaker 3 (45:28):
I have a feeling.
Speaker 1 (45:31):
Zero down, zero down.
Speaker 4 (45:33):
I don't know, like the smart facts I know, like,
well did you know?
Speaker 3 (45:36):
But Jeopardy is not smart facts. They are just random questions.
Speaker 2 (45:40):
You start thinking like this is just trivia when you
really start looking at the level of like I think
our fellow podcasters how stuff works was a podcast answer
on something a while ago. Oh yeah for Jeopardy, Like
it was like it was a house stuff works question
or stuff you should know, and they were a featured
question on the Jeopardy I'm just saying that that's the
(46:02):
trivia thing. It's like, so that's why I'm like, I'm
sure random trivia.
Speaker 3 (46:06):
I have a feeling you have that officially, maybe.
Speaker 5 (46:08):
That should be a next goal. I want to be
a trivia question on Jeopardy, Like I want my life
to be so impactful that I become a trivia Who
is Nikki Porschet?
Speaker 3 (46:16):
Like that be the question runs fair enough.
Speaker 2 (46:24):
I mean, I'll give you three years, please do please
run the world, just change it.
Speaker 3 (46:28):
Ever now we need we need revamping. The world needs revamping.
We need a reboot, Niki.
Speaker 1 (46:33):
We need to do this, Oh God, absolutely true. Okay, Well,
in the meantime between goals and hanging outs, where can
the good listeners find you?
Speaker 4 (46:49):
Yes, so all roads lead to roam. Buy from a
Black Woman dot org.
Speaker 5 (46:52):
They can go there to learn more, to donate to
the calls and discover more businesses. Also, a black woman's
website is my personal website. And then you just put
and buy from a black woman. They keep poche. You'll
get a lot of links to figure out which direction
you want to come to find me. I'm always open
for conversations and dialogue and all that jazz. So hit
(47:13):
me up.
Speaker 1 (47:15):
Yes, yes, absolutely do that, listeners, And thank you so
much for being here. This was such a delight.
Speaker 4 (47:21):
Thank you all so much for having me. I had
a great time. I appreciate it.
Speaker 1 (47:27):
You can find us. You can email us at Hello
at Stuffnever Told You dot com. You can find us
on Blue Sky at mom Stuff podcast, or iNeST Graham
and TikTok at stuff We Never Told You for us
on YouTube. We have a t popic store and we
have the books you can get wherever you get your books.
Thanks as always to our super producer Christina or executive
ducer my Inner contributor Julia, Thank you, Thanks to you
for listening. Stuff I Never Told You is production by
Heart Radio. For more podcasts from my heart Radio, you
(47:48):
can check out the heart Radio app Apple podcast for
wherever you listen to your favorite show
Stuff Mom Never Told You News
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Anney Reese
Samantha McVey
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