WATCH: ‘GMA’ Visits DC Bookstore for Black Business Month
August is National Black Business Month, and while Black businesses are often a vital part of their communities, the challenges they face often go unnoticed.
According to Federal Reserve DataBlack business owners are denied loans at twice the rate of white business owners and during the pandemic, Black business owners were 30 times less likely to get government assistance.
“For us, Black Business Month is about leveling the playing field, forging our own path, and creating our own access in spaces where it has previously been denied,” said Taysha Pye and Brittney Benson, owners of VIBEZ Training in Bed-Stuy Brooklyn. “Hello America.” “We have created a path to true ownership and hope to inspire others to do the same for themselves.”
“GMA” is highlighting various Black-owned businesses across the country to mark National Black Business Month and you can learn more about them below.
Vibez training
Vibez training believes that everyone should be able to go to a gym and feel comfortable. Customers can expect to benefit from excellent, effective workouts no matter where they are in their fitness journey. Owners, Taysha Pye and Brittney Benson, aim to provide positive energy, quality information and an amazing “Vibez” to everyone who walks through these doors. Vibez Training opened in 2020, at the height of the pandemic, and is now looking to expand and open its second location.
Brave + Kind Bookstore
Kathleen Kelly Brave + Kind Bookstore is a carefully curated neighborhood children’s book (and website) store that offers an intentionally diverse and inclusive selection of books for children and young adults – plus a few adult books to help us all do better as Human being.
Related Stories
At Terri Hamm Related Stories is a bookstore in Houston’s Third Ward committed to amplifying the voices of Black authors and artisans.
Pure Noire Wines
Pur Noire Urban Wineries is a husband and wife owned brand founded by Kenneth and Carissa Stephens. During a visit to Italy, the couple were inspired and decided to produce wines. They are currently making 10 wines, some of which have received gold medals and scored over 90 points. Their tasting room is located in the heart of downtown Houston.
LAMIK Beauty
Kim Roxie LAMIK Beauty is a clean-colored tech cosmetics brand focused on global inclusivity and convenience, with a vegan makeup line made with natural and organic ingredients for women of all skin tones.
Semicolon bookstore and gallery
That of Danielle Mullen Semicolon bookstore and gallery is committed to increasing literacy rates in marginalized communities and using books as a catalyst to create permanent change from its location in Chicago.
MahoganyBooks
MahoganyBooks is an independent bookstore based in Washington, DC, led by owners and founders Derrick A. Young, Mahogany Young and Ramunda Lark Young. They believe in social entrepreneurship and play a leadership role in the African American community by promoting reading, writing, and cultural awareness as tools to improve self-esteem, self-love, and ultimately ultimately, our communities to enrich the lives of motivated individuals.
Here’s the scoop
Karin Sellers opened Here is the DC Scoop in 2019, fulfilling a long-held dream of operating a family-owned ice cream and dessert store. Here’s the Scoop DC is located on the lower Georgia Avenue corridor across from Howard University, serving as a one-stop shop for ice cream, desserts, snacks and more.
Uncle Bobbie’s Coffee and Books
Uncle Bobbie’s Coffee and Books is a coffee shop and bookstore located in the Germantown neighborhood of Philadelphia and was founded by Marc Lamont Hill in 2017. Uncle Bobbie’s was created to provide underserved communities with access to books and a space where everyone feels valued, offering a specially curated selection of books. and high-quality coffee alongside children’s food, clothing and games, as well as free author talks, workshops and other events, including weekly story time for children and back-to-school campaigns.
Ruby Jean juice
After Ruby Jean juice Owner and CEO Chris Goode was introduced to fruit juice, which led him to discover a passion for a healthy lifestyle and try a juice cleanse himself. Afterward, he felt better than ever and immediately thought of his late grandmother, Ruby Jean, who he wished would know and understand the benefits of healthy eating and drinking. Today, Ruby Jeans Juicery strives to create healthy drinks and snacks for people in the Kansas City area.
