In a year of racial-reckoning, 2020 has emphasized supporting black-owned businesses, but for Ernisha and Tracey Hall, the founders of The Virginia Black Business Directory (VABBD), along with the Board of Directors, their mission to bring visibility and revenue to black-owned businesses in the DMV area started before the rest of the world committed to the movement.

In 2019, after a year of planning, Ernisha and Tracey decided it was time to launch their dream of hosting a directory of Black owned businesses. Ernisha shared the driving force behind their movement, “the dollar recycles itself in other cultures, but this is lacking in the Black community.” The Founders of the Virginia Black Business Directory and its Board of Directors (Michelle Riddick, Nyesha Williams, Marlon Williams, Tortcia Anderson and Vernon Green), believe that a main reason for the lack of buying Black is due to Black-owned businesses not being easily distinguishable for consumers. The VABBD actively aims to solve that problem with their directory, which can be found online at www.vablackbusinessdirectory.com, which highlights Black businesses through its directory, social media posts and email blasts. For each Black business that is a member of the directory, it potentially exposes them to thousands of people throughout the DC, MD and VA areas. In addition to being online, the directory is available as a mobile app on Google Play and Apple, making usage super easy and convenient.  

The VABBD knew this year would involve more online shopping due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which included various in-person restrictions on physical retail locations.  Thus, Ernisha and Tracey wanted to assist consumers  to still shop Black-owned businesses and services, even if it meant from the comfort of their own home. To accomplish this, they created a Holiday Gift Guide which is a 35-page digital magazine featuring their various members with products and services including candles, sweets, and even adult beverages.

Ernisha’s message to the community is, “Together we are stronger. We need to continue to support one another, work together with each other, and see each other as allies rather than competition. We will continue to rise”.

Learn more about the Virginia Black Business Directory at the links below:

Virginia Black Business Directory

https://www.instagram.com/vablackbusinessdirectory/

https://www.facebook.com/vablackbusinessdirectory/

https://www.linkedin.com/company/va-black-business-directory/