America is the land of the free, but as Blacks exercise their freedom, there seems to be repercussions. Two Black men have lost their lives at the hands of police in one week. The deaths of Alton Sterling and Philando Castile have stirred unrest about the narrative of police brutality and racism. #Black Lives Matter protests have intensified all over the U.S.

This was a sad week for America, with two men losing their lives and five policemen losing their lives during a protest in Dallas, Texas. Black lives are at risk, hence the hashtag BlackLivesMatter. The lives of the police officers that were taken were unjustifiable because their lives mattered also. People are frustrated and tensions are high, so these organized protests are needed in order to help us survive, but that’s not all we should be doing. Before we get to the Trumps and Hillarys, we need to focus on our local assemblymen and women that we vote into office. We also need to be unified and invest in Black-owned businesses because our capital is important and where and how we spend it is very significant. So, as we continue to shut down highways and make our voices heard, here are some Black-owned businesses we can invest in.

COSMETICS

1. Sacha Cosmetics

2. Mocca Cosmetics

3. Vera Moore Cosmetics

4. Amby Rose Cosmetics

5. AJ Crimson

APPAREL/SHOES/COSMETICS

1. Bella Simone

2. Flat Out of Heels

3. Abdul Jillil (Women High End Shoes)

4. Brooklyn Circus Menswear

5. Double Clutched Clutches & Handbags

RESTAURANTS AND BARS IN NEW YORK CITY

1. AMARACHI LOUNGE IN DOWNTOWN BROOKLYN
189 Bridge St, Brooklyn, NY 11201- http://www.amarachi325.com/

2. BED-VYNE COCKTAIL IN BEDFORD STUYVESANT
305 Halsey Street, Brooklyn, NY 11216- http://bedvyne.wpengine.com/

3. BILLIE’S BLACK IN HARLEM
271 W 119th St, New York, NY 10026- http://www.billiesblack.com/

4. NEGRIL VILLAGE IN GREENWICH VILLAGE
70 W 3rd St, New York, NY 10012- http://negrilvillage.com/

5. TSION CAFE & BAKERY IN HARLEM
763 Saint Nicholas Ave, New York, NY 10031- https://tsioncafe.com/

BLACK-OWNED BANK

Here's an interactive bank- http://blackoutcoalition.org/black-u-s-banks/

Here's a few other site options to find Black-owned businesses:

Official Black Wall Street

Black-Owned Business Directory

25 Black-Owned Beauty Supply Stores

100 Black-Owned Businesses

55 Black-Owned Restaurants and Bars in New York City