Black American culture has tremendously impacted many industries, influencing everything from high-end couture and sports to entertainment trends. Its contributions have redefined standards and pushed for greater inclusivity, representation, and innovation in beauty. The emergence of black products by black entrepreneurs has redefined standards by challenging, reshaping, innovating, and representing these norms by introducing a broader definition of identity and shifting the dominance of beauty industries from niche demographics to broader ones.
The impact of this has been noticeable in recent years as Black American beauty entrepreneurs and influencers have leveraged their knowledge and understanding of consumer insights and perspectives to build brands that cater to the underrepresented. The knowledge acquired has had a knock-on effect by tilting the scales and reshaping beauty industry practices and away from euro-centric ideals to a broader range of beauty.
Filling the Gap
The beauty industry has often neglected black consumers when it comes to things such as skin tones, diverse body types, hair types, and product development leaning more to Eurocentric ideals. Many mainstream brands were slow in incorporating products that met the needs of black women or even, at times, inclusive marketing. Black American beauty entrepreneurs, predominantly female, saw the gap in the industry and started to create inclusive products and target their demographic, shifting the beauty industry from one-size-fits-all to one that includes inclusivity.
Therefore, products and marketing created by entrepreneurs felt more connected to real people and authentic experiences, which leads to greater consumer loyalty and brand trust.
Black American entrepreneurs have reshaped industries by providing fresh, innovative approaches and new perspectives that build direct consumer relationships, creating communities centered on identity, authenticity, and empowerment. Ultimately, this will have a ripple effect on the industry because as brands grow, they attract a lot of investment, challenge the status quo, and alter the economic dynamics of an industry because they challenge outdated standards. I see this across the board in many sectors, not necessarily just in the beauty industry but in Michelin restaurants, where creative flair is evident in food presentation and the environment's ambience.
The Cost
An article written by Forbes advised that the earnings of black entrepreneurs have risen from 129 billion in 2017 to 183 billion in 2021. Obviously, that is set to rise year on year. I think that irrespective of the industry in which black entrepreneurs work, we will see a steady increase in creatives and revenue across all industries.
Now you're probably thinking, why are we talking about the Black culture, and what does this have to do with self-care? Well, the key word here is resilience. With any endeavor in whatever industry you are in, it takes a lot of willpower and determination to keep going, even when the road ahead seems challenging, and the wheels seemingly fall off. The road to entrepreneurship is a challenging one. When we see successful individuals, we often see the result of their hard work, not realizing the late nights, early mornings, and effort they have put in to get their work off the ground. This is why it is important to journal your thoughts and ideas so that you are indeed able to reach your goal.
Journaling is quite a powerful tool that enriches the individual with the pen. It allows you to relay your thoughts and goals in order to achieve them. It also gives you mental clarity on the steps that you should take. Journaling does not necessarily have to be about goals but a mental self-care note of your thoughts. Whatever the case maybe, journaling is a form of innovation and empowerment. It helps you connect with your identity, reflect on your journey, and define success on your terms.
