Black Consumers Weigh Boycott of Asian-Owned Businesses After Rick Chow Acquittal in Death of Cyrus Carmack-Belton

Chikei Rick Chow walked out of a South Carolina courtroom cleared of murder charges, but the verdict continues to echo far beyond the courthouse.

The acquittal has fueled calls from some Black activists, commentators and clergy members urging consumers to reconsider where they spend their money following the death of 14-year-old Cyrus Carmack-Belton. The teenager was fatally shot outside Chow's convenience store in 2023 after the store owner believed he had taken bottled water.

Sports journalist Jemele Hill pushed the conversation into a wider audience when she asked followers whether a boycott of Asian-owned businesses was warranted. Her video focused on long-standing friction that has periodically surfaced between Black and Asian communities.

Money quickly became the focal point. As reported by Atlanta Black Star, Pastor Jamal Bryant said Black consumers possess significant buying power and argued spending habits can be used as leverage when people feel ignored by institutions or businesses.

Bryant is no stranger to economic campaigns. Earlier efforts tied to Target's rollback of diversity initiatives placed him at the center of another high-profile purchasing boycott that attracted national attention.

Social media added fresh fuel when a video circulated showing an Asian man mocking the possibility of a boycott and dismissing its potential effect. Bryant pointed to the clip as an example of why frustrations continue to grow among some Black consumers.

Cyrus Carmack-Belton's name remains at the center of the anger. Family members and supporters have spent years demanding accountability for the teenager's death, while jurors ultimately determined prosecutors failed to prove Chow committed murder beyond a reasonable doubt.

Economic pressure campaigns have appeared throughout American history, from the Montgomery Bus Boycott to more recent corporate spending protests. Advocates argue dollars can influence behavior when other avenues fail to deliver the outcome they seek.

Not everyone agrees with the boycott proposal. Critics online have questioned whether businesses unrelated to the shooting should face financial consequences for a verdict reached by a jury.

For many people following the case, the courtroom chapter ended with Chow's acquittal. The argument over where consumers spend their money appears to be just beginning.