A Black Woman Research Study
Understanding The Impact of The Social Justice Uprising and The Defunding of DEI on Black Women Entrepreneurs
In 2024, Buy From A Black Woman partnered with the Center For Black Entrepreneurship for A Black Woman Research Study, a research initiative to study the impact of the social justice uprising and the defunding of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) programs on Black Women-Owned Businesses.
Why We Did This Study
We conducted this study to:
-
Address the gap in understanding the compounded challenges faced by Black Women Entrepreneurs in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic and the social justice uprising of 2020.
-
Highlight impact of DEI rollbacks, which have left many Black Women-Owned Businesses vulnerable to inequities that threaten their long-term sustainability.
-
Amplify the voices of Black Women Entrepreneurs and use our findings to inform policies and programs that make the entrepreneurial landscape more equitable.
Round table discussion with Black Women Business Owners in Nashville, Tennessee
Who Participated
-
123 Black Women Entrepreneurs participated via survey, roundtable discussions and in-depth interviews.
-
Business Phases: Most businesses were in the growth stage (50.5%).
-
Top Challenges: Lack of funding, systemic biases and reduced community and corporate support.
What We Found
Key Insights at a Glance
-
81.5% of the business owners surveyed did not receive any support or funding from the corporate DEI programs launched in 2020.
-
34.8% said the uprising did help their business, but only temporarily.
-
64.2% said they aren’t seeing the same level of support for their business as they had during the social justice uprising.
-
75% of the business owners were concerned about being unable to pay bills, including paying for their basic personal needs, basic business needs, wages and paying suppliers.
Explore the research
We’ve broken down our findings to make them easy to understand and share. Dive into our resources:
1. Research Summary
Get a quick overview of our study’s most important findings and recommendations.
2. Full Report
Access our Full Research Study (April 2025)
Explore the detailed research, including data, analysis, and recommendations for policymakers, corporations, communities, and allies.
3. Beyond Statistics
Explore our research findings through the voices of Black Women Entrepreneurs. Our Documentary, Listen To Black Women, brings the data to life through the lived experiences of Black Women Entrepreneurs. Black Women deserve to be heard, and now more than ever, it is vital that we amplify their voices.
Listen To Black Woman
Filmed in 2024 in Macon, GA, this video features an open conversation led by Nikki Porcher with business owners from the Buy From A Black Woman Directory. It also highlights stories from Black Women business owners across the country, sharing their experiences, challenges, and resilience. This visual representation brings to life the voices that shaped A Black Woman Research Study, shedding light on the realities of entrepreneurship and the need for sustained support.
Thank you
We extend our heartfelt thanks to everyone who contributed to this project, from the participants who bravely shared their stories to the team and partners who helped make this initiative possible. Your support is instrumental in amplifying the voices of Black Women Entrepreneurs.
We would also like to acknowledge Black Girl PR for their invaluable support in the research and development of Listen To Black Women. Their expertise played a crucial role in amplifying the voices and stories of the Black Women Entrepreneurs featured in this documentary.
For questions or media inquiries, please contact media@buyfromablackwoman.org.
This research study was supported by Bloomberg Philanthropies and the Black Economic Alliance Foundation.