As all Americans know at this point , America and all of it’s citizens have been affected by the struggling economy. It has affected all people whether they are very wealthy who have lost millions in the stock market or the man that was just getting by and lost their job when the auto plant closed nearby . There is however, one particular area of business that seems to be carrying on as business as usual . It is a little subgroup that specializes in catering to small niches of people. 2 examples of these businesses are an Atlanta real estate company that is owned by African Americans and attracts many African Americans in that area that only choose to frequent businesses owned by other African Americans if they can. Another example is the greatly supportive gay Atlanta community that often is discriminated each day and like to frequent businesses that are welcoming to other gay citizens in their community without being discriminated against . These 2 groups are justtwo examples of people that are willing to make the extra effort to use a business that is supportive or owned by someone similar them.
Our country has progressed over time in accepting a variety of minority groups in our society based on their race, religion, sex or sexual orientation. Some geographical areas seem to be more accepting than other communities particularly larger metropolitan areas.
Recently in the newspaper in Cincinnati there was an article written about one couple was conducting their own experiment where they were trying to only use businesses, stores and other services that were owned by African Americans. This was for two reasons and the first was to bring attention to the fact that African Americans own a very little percentage of companies in America . The second was to simply support and promote those that do run their own companies and that going out of their way to drive to a smaller grocery store was worth the time and energy to support another person within their specific race .
Companies that are promoting their particular minority niche are increasing their business because of this. A few non minorities are saying that this is a form of reverse discrimination but it is not claiming only the minority can frequent their business they are just simply letting those minorities know they are welcome to do business there without discrimination.
For more than 2 decades the rainbow flag has been a symbol of the gay community . It has always been understood that shops that wished to support this minority group and to let them know they would not be discriminated against would put a small rainbow flag sticker in the front window of their business simply claiming it was either owned by someone that was gay or more times than not, they don’t discriminate against members of the gay community and welcome them to conduct business in their store . With technology, several businesses are now having their support of these minority groups be known on the internet and not by only having a sticker in the window.
