Black History & Black Futures Month

17 Black business owners I follow and why

At one point Teejay asked me if I'd ever been to Africa.  I told him once, to Morocco.  He said Morocco didn't count.  Hmmm...

I learned of his strong point of view also—coming from someone who didn’t count Morocco as part of Africa—that anyone not African African… is white. 

From his perspective, not even Black Americans are Black.

While he had a strong position, in reflection I believe he helped communicate a potent global truth—that of the reality of a global north and a global south. 

I believe globally we have to recognize that the persecution of others trends from light to dark. (That is, whatever shade of imperialism as much as shade of skin tone.) 

And we too internalize these perspectives, because we have internalized supremacy through centuries of oppression.

If you don’t believe in systemic oppression or racism that has been institutionalized, simply look at life expectancy rates by country. 

The last time I looked, Nigeria ranked 200 out of 200.  And 41 nations of the bottom ranking 150-200 are African nations.

The statistics on Black lives worldwide are out there and have been out there for a long time. Whether we choose to act based on those statistics, is another question altogether.

While it’s Black History & Black Futures Month every month, because it’s the 🌕full moon of February, today I will highlight 17 Black business owners I follow and why.

While most of the following names are people I've met in real life in and around upstate NY, you'll also find exceptions and authors/influencers.

1. Via of Via's Cookies—Now here is someone who wants empire, and not the cookie, to crumble. A percentage of all earnings goes to BIPOC & LGBTQ+ college students.
   https://www.viascookies.com/ 
   https://www.instagram.com/viascookies/
2. Ariel Herrera of Meraki Skin Co.—Otherworldly relaxation doesn't begin to describe the facials and reiki in her spa promoting inclusive wellness, beauty and holistic skincare. https://www.instagram.com/arielpopspimples/
   https://canvasrebel.com/meet-ariel-herrera-molina
3. Carol of Just Chill Custom Gifting By Carol—The Madam Hatter of tea parties, gatherings, and wonderful gift-giving entrepreneurship alongside being a career nurse.
   https://www.instagram.com/justchillha1/
   https://www.justchillcustomgifting.com/ 
4. Viv Williams—meditation guide, former shiatsu colleague, and a YouTube channel of 30K subscribers.  Unafraid to explore “Reinvention Over 50” and slow travel & belonging abroad.
   https://www.youtube.com/@YogaBlissDance
   https://www.instagram.com/viv_blissednblessed/ 
5. Viviani Tillet—I still haven't gotten a massage since my last visit to her practice almost two years ago now! A native of Belize, Vivi was believe it or not the first to introduce me to the music of Celia Cruz 😜https://vivianimassage.com (I have to use a VPN to access this site outside the US)
   https://www.instagram.com/vivianimassage/
6. Adrina Dietra—My custom-made lingerie piece from her luxe lifestyle brand is one of my favorites. Her ethically crafted, body-positive work using natural ingredients also brings essential body care products and toiletries to those in need.
   https://linktr.ee/adrinadietra 
   
7. Dr. Nia Nunn—The summer yoga flows taught by this artist, educator and local legend at Southside Community Center were such a treat.
   https://www.instagram.com/purposeyogacollective/
8. Willow Brown—I always recommend his/their massage (up there with Vivi’s) for folks in and around upstate NY. Non-binary artist, licensed massage therapist, drag performer and co-host of the Trials & Transformations podcast.
   www.massagebook.com/biz/WillowsIntegrativeTouch (use a VPN for this site if outside the US)
9. Sol Alexandria—Liberatory artist and holistic healer with beautiful words and a heart for community-centered action. Organizes the Indigo Rising Collective of Trans BIPOC artists, healers & earth workers.
   https://www.earthsolfood.com/
   https://www.patreon.com/lettersoflove2thesun
10. G-Quan Booker—An educator, dancer, entertainer and mastermind behind the Global Creative Family promoting physical wellbeing and healing through hip-hop culture.
    https://www.instagram.com/gquan/ 
    https://www.youtube.com/BBoyFlash100
    
11. Catara Lane—Unlike many on this list whom I met in person in and around upstate NY, I met Catara online through networking. Here is the only YouTube strategist and videographer you’ll ever need.
    https://clxcontent.com/links 
    https://youtube.com/@Cataralane
12. Sonya Renee Taylor—The Body Is Not An Apology changed my life and attitude toward dismantling a latter to climb 🪜
13. Adrienne Maree Brown—meme witch and author of Emergent Strategy as well as Pleasure Activism. I love her solidarity with Palestinian sovereignty.
14. Caroline J. Sumlin—An author and speaker on dismantling white supremacy. Also a transparent human being.
    
15. Toi Smith—Truly one of my fave anticapitalist voices.  She shares her work through a liberation + decolonization-focused lens. Has a lovely newsletter that you can subscribe to here. A Black single mother who supports other Black single mothers. I am alluding to her term ‘Black History / Black Futures Month.'
    
16. Trisha Hershey—Bishop of The Nap Ministry and originator of the Rest as Resistance framework. “You are exhausted physically and spiritually because the pace created by this system is for machines and not a magical and divine human being,” she writes. “You are enough. Rest.”
    
17. Angela Davis—Author of Freedom Is A Constant Struggle and liberatory icon whose work, among many things, points out the interconnectedness of oppressive systems (such as linking Palestine to the Prison-Industrial Complex). She gave recent talks in upstate NY, and some business owner friends on this list attended!
    

Who would you add to this list and why?

Happy February!