Google and Wyclef Jean team up to help Black-owned businesses

Photo: YouTube

Wyclef Jean and Google are joining forces to help struggling Black-owned businesses survive the holiday sales season, which is expected to be a rough one for small business owners throughout the country.

Google recently tapped the Grammy-winning musician to score a series of animated commercials promoting its #BlackOwnedFriday campaign, encouraging shoppers to "buy Black" on Black Friday this week and beyond.

"This is going to be a day to galvanize people to support Black businesses," Jean told CNN Business. "When you look at where we're at economically with the small businesses, I felt like this campaign is really vital."

The campaign aims to redefine the Friday after Thanksgiving — an unofficial starting gun for the holiday shopping season, marked by steep discounts and large crowds flooding big-name retailers like Walmart (WMT) and Best Buy (BBY).

The hysteria around Black Friday has faded in recent years, and philanthropic groups and companies use the day to shine a light on anti-consumerist and environmental causes.

Google (GOOG) has been spotlighting Black-owned businesses through its social media channels every Friday since October 16.

The company is working with the US Black Chamber of Commerce to develop additional ways to support Black entrepreneurs who have been disproportionately hurt by the Covid-19 pandemic.

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