$1.7 trillion. Yes, with a T!

That is the spending power of Black America.

That number makes us a significant part of the American economic engine. Our ability to consume and purchase products and services makes our buying power greater than entire countries in the global economy. That is why the conversation around how and where we spend our money is so important. As we see the Trump administration eliminating programs around Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, we also see many companies following suit. They are choosing to use this political moment to undermine programs and “commitments” made in the aftermath of the murder of George Floyd. Programs that were meant to strike a dent in the intentional denial of access and opportunity to Black people and other historically marginalized groups.

It’s also being done to take the spotlight off of their failings from the last 60 years. For the readers under the age of 60, now is time for a brief history lesson.

In 1964 the US Congress passed the 1964 Civil Rights Act. This act provided federal protections against discrimination in public and private accommodations. Prior to this, many places in America, both in the North and the South, were operating under Jim Crow or apartheid style laws that prohibited access for Black people to schools, parks, pools, beaches, restaurants and other businesses.

Even with constitutional amendments and Supreme Court cases, a lot of America chose to openly practice racial, ethnic, gender and ableist forms of discrimination. This translated to qualified and overqualified people being denied jobs and opportunities purely based on race. So-called DEI initiatives were initiated, not just to diversify workplaces that until 1964 were almost exclusively white, but moreover, to protect individuals from being terminated because of their race. Other things that DEI brought about were “crazy” things like elevators, escalators, bathroom equity and kosher, halal and vegetarian/vegan food options. (But folks aren’t ready for that conversation.)

I’d like to believe most reasonable minded people would see this as a good thing, however, I’ve heard Black folks and others saying that DEI is “forcing” companies to do something and somehow equating that as a bad thing. Companies were actively ignoring people’s qualifications based solely on race, so yes, forcing them to consider a greater pool of applicants was necessary then and I would argue necessary still. This brings us back to this moment.

Black people have fought too hard to bring this country forward, to let this administration or any other administration or company, turn back the clock today. So how we spend and where we spend our money matters. It is important for us to go where we’re celebrated and not just where we’re tolerated! Remember that boycotts have been a necessary tool in bringing about change in America and the world. Invest in those companies that are invested in you, and like any toxic relationship, be ready to cut off those that don’t mean you any good.

Dwight M. Bullard is a former Florida state senator and the senior political advisor of Florida Rising.