Every business out there has its own origin story, many of which are centered on the idea of independence and impact. I am a proud participant in The Great Resignation. At the close of 2021, I left the position at Brown University that brought me to the Creative Capital from the Windy City to pursue my passion full time: The Black Leaf Tea & Culture Shop, an online loose leaf tea company that also creates spaces to engage the community and celebrate Black culture.
Maneuvering through the entrepreneurial world as a new Black business owner is no walk in the park. Historically, access to funding and capital has been incredibly limited. According to SCORE, a resource partner with the US Small Business Administration, in 2020 41.3 percent of Black-owned businesses applied for an SBA loan, but only 8.4 percent received the full amount. Compare that to the 19.5 percent of white-owned businesses who applied for an SBA, and the 33 percent that received the full amount. Across the board, whether it was applying for new loans, the Paycheck Protection Program, or extension of credit lines, Black-owned business approval rates are drastically lower than our white counterparts. Even in crowdfunding, Black businesses received less community support than white businesses.
While the notion of the side hustle may be recent, hustling as a common money-making venture in Black communities is nothing new. Being from the South Side of Chicago, I grew up with a candy lady on the block, who provided our neighborhood with penny candy, snow cones, nachos, and hotdogs every spring and summer. “The hustle man” could be found at intersections and on the train selling everything from CDs and DVDs, to incense, oils, wash clothes, clothes… whatever you needed. These pillars of the Black community inspire young people to make money in a safe way. We all knew a kid in school that would sell chips and candy out of their backpacks, friends that did hair out of their homes, or community elders who would provide unofficial daycare services for families. While these goods and services are essential to Black communities, they aren’t legally structured businesses, and knowledge of how to establish such entities isn’t always widely available.
Of course there have always been Black craftspeople and business owners, even during chattel slavery. The Emancipation allowed those individuals to pursue their endeavors legally, but they were often met with tremendous backlash, costing some everything they had, including their lives. Yet, many persevered to successful careers and long-standing legacies. I think of Madam C.J. Walker, who was not only the first female self-made millionaire in the US, but created an enterprise that allowed other Black women to become entrepreneurs as well. Another is Daymond John, the CEO of FUBU and one of the big fish of ABC’s Shark Tank. John not only invests in startup businesses, but also in the growth of the business owners. There’s Janice Bryant Howroyd, founder and CEO of Act1, the first Black woman-owned business to cross the billion-dollar threshold.
Individuals like these have not only persevered but fostered a reality of increased representation and success for many Black people that didn’t think such success was attainable.
Starting a business requires a great amount of support from many structures. Juggling life, a business, and sometimes a full-time job is truly a balancing act. A sustainable ecosystem of support between government, Black business owners, and community is attainable with a genuine effort. I recently chatted about all of this – over tea, of course – with friends and colleagues.
For many, the Black entrepreneurship experience is an act of love for ourselves and our community; it simply isn’t the smoothest path. And that’s what Black History Month is all about. It’s not just a reflection of our history and perseverance, but a celebration of our love for our culture and our people. In a society where so many barriers have systemically been placed to keep us in a corner, Black joy is an essential and radical form of resistance.
I’ll kick things off by saying I find joy as a Black business owner in so many ways. I have the privilege of providing a space that young Black professionals know was made for them and I also get to amplify Black voices with my Tea Talks. Every time someone tells me the products I’ve designed by hand are their favorite, I do an internal happy dance.
Meet Julia Broome: The owner of Kin Southern Table + Bar. Located in the heart of downtown Providence, Kin serves up delicious Southern cuisine and Southern hospitality. Broome explains that she opened Kin because she understands the importance of ownership and creating opportunities for yourself.
Meet Pearl Farquharson: The premier event designer and owner of Designed by Delsie. Her company emphasizes hospitality, innovation, and logistical precision to orchestrate unforgettable events. After looking for opportunities in the event and hospitality realm and constantly being told “no,” she made it happen for herself. Starting her business has also allowed her to make an impact as a Black woman in the luxury event space, support other minority- and women-owned businesses, and instill a value of ability over experience.
Meet Toyin Omisore: The owner and “Wanderer in Chief” of nationally acclaimed activewear and athleisure apparel brand Roam Loud. Roam Loud encourages moving through the world on one’s own terms and to feel good doing it. For Omisore, starting a business allowed her the freedom of personal expression and making decisions.
Meet Juan Wilson: The owner of JJUANtheBRAND and founder of The Muse Foundation of Rhode Island, an organization that focuses on trust-based philanthropy to empower communities of color. He started as a graphic designer out of high school, and initially started a business for the love of his art, then converted it to a paid creative service.
“I light up when I see people enjoying my food and singing ‘90s R&B at the top of their lungs because they’ve found a home in my space,” says Broome.
“For me it’s the autonomy and independence to push the envelope,” says Wilson.
“I am proud that I was able to invest $1 million in funds from clients into other minority- and women-owned businesses,” says Farquharson.
“Seeing other Black people win is my greatest joy,” says Omisore.
“Black businesses need to be spotlighted all year and not just during Black History Month, and that we need space to advocate for our own needs,” says Broome.
“Black businesses shouldn’t be a standing item on the list of priorities for the state because it’s trendy – and it should be promoted all year,” says Wilson.
“Black businesses need to be taken seriously. Too often, Black businesses are seen with the presumption that the products or services are subpar. This is simply not true,” says Farquharson.
Because of this notion that Black-owned products are low quality, I go out of my way to ensure that I have the highest quality ingredients for my teas and provide the best customer service that I can. The majority of us don’t have employees, have limited access to capital and resources, and still consistently provide premium quality products and services – not only for our own reputation, but because we as a collective genuinely care about the products we provide, our customer’s experiences, and how Black businesses are perceived.
Not only do we need the state to provide more financial resources but also make those resources accessible by reducing the stipulations. Often, small businesses become fatigued by the long list of requirements for grants. Remove the mile-high barriers and make the resources easier to obtain. Be invested in the sustainability of small and expanding Black-owned businesses. Not every grant needs to come with coaching. Many times we know what we need; we just need the funds to make it happen.
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