Rev. Norman Copeland

Op-Ed: Black-Owned Businesses Deserve Support

For the past several decades, I have been an active pastor in the African Methodist Episcopal Church, serving fourteen congregations across Los Angeles County. It is impossible to overstate the importance of Black-owned businesses in these communities. They are the lifeblood of local commerce, but more than that, they are a means to local organization and empowerment. I have seen firsthand the struggles of these business owners to succeed—to meet their payrolls, to support their families, to always be there for their customers. It’s not always easy, especially in the wake of a year-long pandemic, and every dollar matters. That’s