The two of us are calling our reps, donating money, consuming so much news, researching our primary candidates...and also rethinking where we spend our money and the businesses that warrant our support. We have SO MANY THOUGHTS. Also: We’re giving a free ad spot a week to a Black-owned business. If you’re interested, drop us a line at podcast@claireanderica.com!   The linkage:   The Who? Weekly episode intro that really spoke to us.   Check out the 15 Percent Pledge, which the Brother Vellies designer Aurora James started to urge major retailers to pledge 15% of their shelf space to Black-owned businesses. But it applies to consumers, too!   Some places to find more Black-owned businesses to support: Instagram highlights (1, 2, and 3) from Erica, a spreadsheet compiled by Lingua Franca, restaurant spreadsheets via Helen Rosner’s IG, Julee Wilson’s list of 125 beauty brands, Black-Owned Brooklyn, Shoppe Black, banks (and many other businesses!) from Amira Rasool’s IG.   The Harvard Business School 2014 working paper "The State of Small Business Lending" that we cite a bunch.   For some abysmal venture-funding stats, read the Techcrunch article "US VC Investment in Female Founders Hits All-Time High" and this Forbes piece that breaks down dollars for Black and Latinx women.   This Onion headline (and whole story) about private equity!!!   We’re all about shifting online book purchases to Bookshop.org.   Get in touch! On Instagram at @athingortwohq or via phone at 833-632-5463.   Head to BiblioLifestyle for A+ book recs, and subscribe today to get their summer reading guide. Check out the stunning pottery from Lolly Lolly Ceramics, and get on the email list to be first to hear about restocks. YAY.   Produced by Dear Media