This post was originally published on Afro
By Megan Sayles
When New York native Mark Alston realized that African-American shoppers and sellers needed a central place to connect with one another, he knew he needed to do something. Not satisfied with just talking or complaining he took action and started the Buy Black Networking group on social media. The Facebook group provides a forum for Black entrepreneurs to engage with consumers and each other in an effort to advance their businesses.
The first Buy Black Networking group was created in 2016 in Harlem, N.Y., Alston’s hometown, but the concept quickly spread to Baltimore. In 2018, the Buy Black Networking Baltimore was born.
Today, the Facebook group has over 66,000 members. Entrepreneurs can promote their businesses and services, while consumers can request referrals for Black businesses to patronize.