Shades of Afrika — Attraction in Long Beach

I just had to write a review on this store and I gave it 1 star because it has all the products I need and then some..I like shades of Africa. It has all the products I need but it's expensive. I would think that since its black owned they would be less pricy for the community ( black) but this how black owned business owners operate. They want black ppl to buy " black" but they have high prices along with bad attitudes, I guess it'll never change. The owner.. I guess she's the owner, I really don't knw how to read her... Sometimes she's okay, other times she is rude and dosent speak when ppl walk in, the prices are damn high here, it's crazy! She's always trying to lecture about spending ur black $$ wth B.O.B but black owned businesses are to pricy and her business is too! And this is why I don't spend "black" cause it's robbery! Plus this lady charges to use your credit/debit card on the machine. She's doing the exact same thing as the Chinese ppl in the nail shops, they charge a fee to use ur credit/ debit card, a fee they are suppose to pay, not the customers! But ppl don't knw this.,,The xtra fee she charges her " black ppl" is the fee she suppose to pay her self! But ppl either don't knw this or don't care, but she knows better but does this anyway, and always trying lecture people when she not right within herself! Lady if you are reading, and I'm sure you are.. Please change your attitude and the way you treat your customers! Remember we are the ones that put $$ in your pocket to keep going, I know many ppl that "USE TO" shop in ur store, and that includes my daughter, these ppl don't shop in your store any more because of your attitude it stinks badd! You runining your own ppl away wth your badd ways., is this what you want?.. Do you even care?! And some ppl knowing you are kinda crazy with that badd attitude still shop in your store anyways., how can u run a black business and treat black ppl wrong, then try to lecture black ppl on anything about black history, or anything else?! Some times I wonder if you are sincere about teaching black ppl about their blackness or are you being fake just for sales... idk.. But ms store owner there's also a few reviews about you on Yelp.. Some good some not so good.. Go read!...wake...

So as I’m in line to purchase my usual incense and other items, frequent shopper here, I hear the woman telling the man in front of me “she doesn’t support rainbow groups, she is family friendly and gays are not real families and that is not what her business is about. Come on we can do better than this as black people in a very predominantly gay neighborhood. I will never support your homophobic business again, I left without making a purchase-shame on you!!

Edit: Saying you have a gay mom is the equivalent of saying you have a black friend to justify problematic behavior. I spoke to both the man and woman you were speaking to for clarity on the situation and you said what you said. Your response is indicative of your true character. Your words, which you chose, are a choice. Saying things like “sexual preference” and who we “choose” to love negates the fact that we are who we are-I’m gay. There were at least 4 other people in the store and I hope they post too. No need for hearsay (reviews) when your own words tell on you. You absolutely have the right to stay in your lane, but when you publicly spout homophonic nonsense, it becomes my lane and I can call you on it-My review stands, shame on you!

Edit 2: Furthermore, it is not the conversations about race and sexuality that divide us, it is the lack of conversation that does that. Without knowledge and understanding, ignorance thrives. Shades of Afrika is referencing the many shades of the African Diaspora, so that is in fact a conversation about race is it not? I belong to both the black race and the lgbtq community, and it is harmful and hurtful when two of the intersections in my life are continually at odds. You could choose to be an ally and advance the conversation, because while you are not part of the lgbt community, your nieces and nephews are according to your own words😬 yikes I’m glad you are not my aunt and I feel sorry for your kinfolk. To feel separated from any struggle because you don’t directly belong, is also part of the problem. I personally don’t belong to many groups that I advocate for, but I’m a human being and...

Hello! So I’ve seen a few comments of the owner of the establishment correcting some negative reviews. It seems that there was a miscommunication and those comments believed that this was the location where the owner parked in a handicapped spot and then blew off the girl telling him he had to move. Now if the person responding to these comments was nicer about it, that would be one thing. A quick “I absolutely understand what you mean, but just to let you know that isn’t our location that would be the one in Corona, Ca.” Quick easy and sends those people where they want to go, and doesn’t connect you to that video. However the person replying hasn’t been replying in that way. They have been cruel, calling people names and basically throwing a tantrum about being associated. I understand where they’re coming from but they need to be a little more polite when responding to commenters, especially those flocking from a negative video. Those people don’t care if they’ve been to your store they have a point to make. Don’t stoop to their level and act like a child, if you’re the owner then act like it. Other then that I think this location has been given to much negativity for something they had no part in. The location you all are looking for is the one in Corona, California....