nile intro 5e112

Khadijah Robinson’s ‘The Nile List’ Is the Easiest Way to Discover and Support Black-Owned Brands

by BUST Magazine

During last year’s BLM uprising, Google Trends Data showed a 300 percent increase in the search “How to find a Black-owned business in my area?” Khadijah Robinson, a lawyer based in D.C., makes this #BuyBlack lifestyle easy with The Nile List (thenilelist.com), a site she launched in March 2020 that invites users to “discover dope Black-owned brands.” Simply search for any item you need, from necessities like coffee or laundry detergent to fun stuff like lipstick or bath salts, and up pops a list of direct shopping links. You can even specify options with women-, LGBTQ-, or immigrant-owned filters. The Nile List also features discounts, a newsletter, and a community space where shoppers and business owners can connect and chat. 

Headshot from CultureCon 4b6b2Khadijah Robinson

Robinson, who graduated from Spelman College and later Harvard Law, says that last summer’s protests sparked a much-needed change. “This is the first time I really remember seeing any widespread support for the concept of supporting Black-owned businesses outside of the Black community,” Robinson says. “Entrepreneurship and wealth building and the community building that comes along with that is so critical. It is one of the most traditional means in America to create more security for oneself and one’s family.” 

Supporting Black entrepreneurship has been embedded in Robinson’s values since childhood. While every other family used Aunt Jemima’s syrup (whose racist branding is finally being redesigned), Robinson’s used Michele’s Syrup, a Black-owned brand. “My mom always bought this syrup and I would ask her, ‘Why can’t we have normal syrup?’ But I’m really thankful my mom continued to normalize these things created by Black folks,” Robinson says. “It taught me to appreciate that, no, this syrup is not something other than normal, and we are not something other than normal.” And though shopping at Black-owned businesses can seem like a relatively small action, Robinson—who highlights a few of her faves here—says it’s more important than ever: “There will always be folks who do what they can, and sometimes that is just supporting a Black entrepreneur.” –Madeleine Janz 

20201217 151802 1 8471e

Naja Tea
“Naja Tea crafts over 30 blends of loose-leaf teas along with unique tea accessories. I absolutely love these teas—especially the Lemonade flavor. The smell of them alone helps me relax.”

round neck tee mockup of a girl with braids in a photo studio 24090 5 87de9

Black Girl Spoken
“This empowerment-through-fashion platform sells chic T-shirts and accessories. I first fell in love with their shirts, and have since come to love both the brand and the visionary founder, Nitra Love.” 

1EAEB2AF BC9B 47FA B29A F51CC91BB0CB 8e043

In My Heals
“I love how luxurious these all-natural bath, body, and feminine care products are, and the packaging is everything. Plus, they’re handmade in New York City!”

20201117 120759 c8892

Elements of Aliel
“This plant-based beauty brand focuses on simple-yet-effective skincare basics. My skin is always up to no good so a brand that is healthy and helpful is a winner!”

effies paper Too Glam Notecards 25b90

Effie’s Papers Paper
“I love that Effie’s Paper—a lifestyle brand with cool accessories for work, travel, and daily life—is about female empowerment, advocacy, and promoting equity for women of color.”

Photo: CultureCon (Khadijah Robinson)

This article originally appeared in the Spring 2021 print edition of BUST Magazine. Subscribe today!

More from BUST

Nina Parker Becomes The First Black Woman To Launch A Plus Size Clothing Line With Retail Giant Macy’s

New Year New Stuff! Bankroll On These 8 Marvelous Black-Owned Brands To Stay Fly In 2021

Entrepreneur Tennille Teague Gives Us A Lesson On Carving Your Own Path (While Saving The Animals) 

You may also like

Get the print magazine.

The best of BUST in your inbox!

Subscribe to Our Weekly Newsletter

About Us

Founded in 1993, BUST is the inclusive feminist lifestyle trailblazer offering a unique mix of humor, female-focused entertainment, uncensored personal stories, and candid reporting that tells the truth about women’s lives.

©2023 Street Media LLC.  All Right Reserved.