The contribution of our African-American community to the history and fabric of Athens cannot be understated. And National Black Business Month is the perfect time to get acquainted with some of our local entrepreneurs. Here are 5 Black-owned businesses that contribute to our bustling local economy:
Artistic Tresses
For girls who want their edges on point, Artistic Tresses is a wig styling business founded by OU student Delasia Perkins. It’s no secret POC are underserved in the cosmetics industry. We all know how hard it is to find a professional who can style the life out of a wig until it’s imperceptible, and now we have one right here in town! Check out their Instagram to take a look at some of her previous clients.
Bam & Bros Barbershop
Speaking of underrepresented communities in haircare… Opened just after COVID and owned by renowned barber Razor West, Bam & Bros is the quintessential Black barbershop with super-modern, big-city vibes. These guys understand how to work with all types of hair – the fades are flawless, the lines are sharp. They’ve certainly answered an important local demand, especially with how important masculine head and facial hairstyles have become across all ethnicities.
Motion Man Enterprises
A lifestyle clothing brand started on campus, OU student Leon founded the brand to make rough times better. They offer streetwear hoodies, t-shirts, crop tops, and more. Check out their Insta, where you can follow the story of how it started vs how it’s going.
A-Roc Entertainment
This DJ service offers state-of-the-art, tailored DJ and entertainment services for all types of events in the region. Aaron “DJ A-Roc” is an OU alumnus and nationally-renowned DJ with over 5000 hours of on-air radio experience, including on Iheart radio and Carnival cruises. A-Roc Entertainment offers comprehensive services to make any party absolutely epic, including photo booths, dynamic light shows, and more.
Mauvette’s
It should be illegal to compile this list without including Mauvette’s, a catering service/pop-up restauranteur/personal chef/soon-to-be restaurant owner. Mauvette moved to Athens from Jamaica. She is a classically-trained chef with a lifetime of cooking Caribbean food with and for her family. Her food is ridiculously good – a fusion of indigenous Caribbean dishes. We can’t wait for her brick and mortar location to finally open.
Another way to dive into the heritage of the Black community in our town is just a block away from Court Street! Get involved with the Mount Zion Black Cultural Center at 32 W Carpenter; a community restoration of a Baptist church which served as a cultural hub for the African-American community for most of the 20th century. We’ll probably get into that more in a Black History Month article for February – keep an eye out!