The monthly Black Owned Bos. market recently transformed a seaport park into a vibrant showcase for local Black-owned businesses, with vendors offering everything from handcrafted candles to gourmet hot sauces. This lively scene, enhanced by a DJ spinning rhythmic R&B and hip-hop, contrasts sharply with the increasing worries among many Black entrepreneurs regarding their long-term viability in a shifting economic landscape.

Since the tragic murder of George Floyd in May 2020, there has been a notable surge in consumer interest in supporting Black-owned enterprises as part of a broader movement against systemic racism. However, many business owners are now reporting a troubling decline in sales and investments, which are critical to addressing the Boston area’s persistent racial wealth gap.

Rose Staram, who launched her Dorchester-based event production company, Rosemark Productions, in June 2019, experienced significant support in 2021 and 2022, particularly from larger corporations reassessing their vendor relationships for racial equity. However, Staram noted a marked drop in this support in 2023, coinciding with the Supreme Court’s recent ruling on affirmative action, which has led companies to reconsider their diversity-focused purchasing strategies. “It’s just been kind of dropped by the wayside, which is a little bit of a scary thing,” she commented.

Teresa Maynard, owner of Sweet Teez Bakery in Boston, echoed similar sentiments. While her sales consistently peak during significant observances such as Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Juneteenth, and Black History Month, she expressed concern about sustaining this interest throughout the year. “That’s amazing, but after that month, we still want to be on the vendor list,” she said.

Data reveals a steep decline in consumer interest as well, with Google searches for “Black-owned” surging in mid-2020 and subsequently dwindling, showing only brief spikes around notable dates. Kamaal Jarrett, founder of Hillside Harvest, a Caribbean condiment company based in Boston, reflected on this trend: “If you ask most Black-owned businesses, we kind of figured that was going to happen,” he noted, suggesting that many were prepared for fluctuations in consumer support.

Jarrett’s business initially thrived post-Floyd’s death, witnessing a remarkable 17 percent increase in revenue from 2020 to 2021. Yet, by 2022, annual revenue plummeted by 27 percent, with online shopping sessions down by 57 percent. “I can’t tell you when the last email I got like that was,” he lamented, referring to the once-frequent corporate outreach aimed at diversifying supplier relationships.

Similarly, Quontay Turner, who established Emerald City Plant Shop in Norwood in 2021, reported a steady decline in monthly sales—from an average of $18,500 in 2021 to around $13,000 in 2023. She attributes this downturn to both waning consumer support and broader economic pressures, including inflation. “Regardless of what the market is doing,” Turner asserted, “we always have to support Black and brown businesses because we’re historically at a disadvantage.”

In response to these challenges, Jae’da Turner founded Black Owned Bos. in 2019 as an Instagram page to promote Black businesses. The organization gained rapid traction after Floyd’s death, leading to the establishment of markets and an online directory that initially boosted sales for many. However, Turner noted that following the irregular support of 2020 and 2021, some entrepreneurs have returned to their previous jobs, and some businesses have unfortunately closed.

Nicole Obi, executive director of the Black Economic Council of Massachusetts, highlighted the importance of Black entrepreneurship in addressing economic disparities. According to a 2022 analysis, Black residents in Boston possess a net worth of just $11,000, compared to $215,000 for their white counterparts. “If nobody’s buying from them, it’s not going to make a difference,” she emphasized, stressing the role consumers play in sustaining these businesses.

As the market day unfolded, some patrons actively sought out Black-owned vendors, while others stumbled upon the event serendipitously. This blend of intentional support and chance encounters underscores the ongoing need for community engagement. Kai Grant, founder of Black Market Nubian, encapsulated the significance of community in her mission to empower Black entrepreneurs, stating, “We have created this idea that there could be a pathway towards ownership.”