The fight to dismantle white supremacy comes in many forms. One of these forms can be as simple as supporting a Black owned business during Black History Month, as well as making the practice of supporting these businesses a part of your daily routine. Here are some Black owned businesses to check out.
Beauty
Katrina Kenny, daughter of Gregory Kenny Sr., founder and CEO of Kenny’s Academy of Barbering, Katrina has followed in her fathers footsteps and has been a master barber for over 13 years.
Katrina is an instructor for her fathers barber school, and is the owner of Kenny's Barbershop located at 7425 Shadeland Avenue. You can contact her on instagram @thepinkbarber for hair consultation and booking needs.
Kiss of Silk. Founded in 2017 by Indianapolis native Kristen Johnson, personal experiences are what lead her to find her brand.
“When I was growing up, I got bullied for being a little different and having a forehead full of acne didn’t make it better,” Johnson said.
Other commercial brands for hair and skin care didn’t help negate the acne either, so she decided to make her own skincare products.
“Little by little my skin started to clear,” she continued. “After my skin got better, I wanted to help others with skin challenges and wanted to boost skin health with natural and organic ingredients.”
To support Kiss of Silk, reach out to Johnson on her website kissofsilk.com, on Instagram @kos.silk, or on Facebook KoS: Kiss of Silk.
Food
Cleo’s Bodega Grocery and Cafe. Located at 2432 Dr Martin Luther King Street, Cleo’s was a part of the Flanner House initiative to provide a grocery store in the city’s largest food desert.
Whether you are in the mood for a fresh smoothie, hot coffee, a quick lunch, or need to pick up some groceries, Cleo’s Bodega and Grocery has got you covered.
Bar-B-Q Heaven. Looking for the best rib tips in town? Well look no further. Bar-B-Q Heaven has been a staple Black owned business in Indianapolis for nearly 70 years. Located at 2515 Dr Martin Luther King Jr Street, Bar-B-Q Heaven has shown no signs of slowing down.
Barbecue is standard when it comes to African American cuisine and Bar-B-Q Heaven will always hit the spot. Make sure you have time to take a nap afterwards because the itis will sneak up on you.
Fashion
Legendary Rootz. For those who like to make a political statement with their clothing, Legendary Rootz is the brand for you. Raven Nichole, owner of Legendary Rootz, created this brand due to the need for representation and a safe space for the Black community.
“Our purpose is to reclaim our history through powerful apparel and accessories,” Nichole said on the brands website. Go online to legendaryrootz.com to support.
Stitched by Shawna. Owned by Da’Shawna Curlin, this brand is nearly a year old and Curlin has the pandemic to thank for her brand's growth and success.
“I’ve always wanted my own business,” she said. “Once the pandemic started and we were on lockdown, I simply thought why not now? I had so much free time to get everything in motion,” she continued.
Stitched by Shawna has been growing locally around Indy on various social media pages in the months that it has been in existence, and can only go up from here.
Follow @stitched_by_shawna on Instagram, and check out her website stitchedbyshawna.com for more details.
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