Friday Five // Black History Month
In celebration of Black History Month, today’s Friday Five is dedicated to several of our favorite Twin Cities-based Black-owned businesses and organizations. From gorgeous artwork and books to incredible performances and community resources, each one of these groups is doing incredible work to raise awareness in the fight against racism and discrimination, and we encourage all of our readers to donate, support, visit, or share their work and missions.
NO. 1 EYENGA BOKAMBA PAINTINGS
A local Minneapolis artist, Eyenga Bokamba is amazingly talented. She makes gorgeous abstract art using an abundance of bright and saturated colors that have me longing for warmer days. And whether you fall for one of her large-scale works and are dreaming of it as a standalone piece, or you want to incorporate a few smaller paintings into a gallery wall mix, you’re sure to find a design that’s a perfect fit.
NO. 2 BROWNBODY
I grew up as a competitive skater, so I am just blown away with the talent and mission of Brownbody. Not only are their performances simply stunning, but their work is inherently political and seeks to create a world where justice and equality are truly felt in all realms - and especially in sports and activities that have not traditionally encouraged diversity or inclusion (figure skating, specifically). If you missed the cancelled winter olympics last year and want more than anything to see some serious skill on ice, head straight to Brownbody’s site - every aspect of their mission and performance will provoke your thoughts and leave you inspired.
NO. 3 BLACK GARNET BOOKS
While Black Garnet Books doesn’t yet have a brick and mortar shop, this is definitely a bookstore you’ll want to support. The owner, Dionne, started the shop in the summer of 2020 and it is currently the only Black-owned bookshop in the Twin Cities. With a focus on books written by BIPOC authors - and primarily Black authors - who have been largely underrepresented in the world of publishing, her goal is to raise up Black culture and voices while supporting the larger community as a whole. You can order books from Black Garnet via Bookshop.org or online/in-person at the curated pop up shops.
NO. 4 ROOTS COMMUNITY BIRTH CENTER
As a momma myself, I am always looking for ways to give support to other moms in need. Having a baby is a life-changing experience, but so many women of color face systemic racism and inequality throughout their entire pregnancy, delivery, and beyond. The risk for complications is disproportionately higher for BIPOC women, and it is simply unacceptable. Roots is an amazing group that seeks to eliminate those disparities by providing access to quality birthing experiences and postpartum care. Such an important organization!
NO. 5 BLACKOUT IMPROV
Of course, if there’s anything we all could use right now, it’s a bit of laughter. And I think you’d be hard-pressed to find a more amazing comedy team than Blackout Improv. Their comedy is the perfect blend of funny and hard-hitting truths, and their work centers on creating an inclusive space for Black performers. Their performances are currently on pause, but we don’t doubt they’ll have some hilarious material in the near future. Be sure to support and follow them for all performance updates.
While we’ve featured five of our favorite Black-owned businesses and organizations this week, there are so many others to support and follow. Restaurants, artists, makers, authors, designers, and more await and it’s so important to support Black businesses whenever we all can (and not just during February - all year long). And as always, if you’re looking to find additional resources or organizations to donate to, the NAACP is also a great place to start.