By Denise Sunta, AADM Contributing Writer

“Buying Black” is often brought up as a way that folks can promote equity and diversity in their own communities. But we can also look at entrepreneurship in African-American culture as a means of freedom and independence. While Black-owned businesses in the United States originated well before slavery’s end, the most rapid growth came around the Jim Crow era of the early 20th century. Black neighborhoods resulting from racial segregation provided a consistent consumer base for Black businesses to flourish. In Athens, the Hot Corner at the intersection of Washington and Hull Streets saw the emergence of many successful businesses, including insurance companies, pool halls, restaurants, barber and beauty shops, a bakery, and the Morton Theatre, one of the oldest surviving vaudeville theaters in the country. 

During the Jim Crow era when Black people were excluded from the White-only businesses uptown, Hot Corner became the essential location for the Black community to gather. It developed into a flourishing space not only for commerce but also as a welcoming setting to socialize. While segregation was the social norm across the South, Hot Corner provided a unique cultural and economic opportunity for building up social networks, businesses and beginning careers. 

The culture cultivated on Hot Corner also contributed to social change in Athens. During the Summer of 1961, young Black high school students marched all over Athens, demanding the right to frequent whatever store or restaurant that they choose. As these students fought against segregation, the Hot Corner supported their efforts. Wilson’s Soul Food and the Manhattan Cafe served free lunches to protestors in between their shifts and the Hot Corner became a place for the students to eat, strategize, and socialize. Thus, Hot Corner also provided a haven for activism and (quite literally) fueled the Civil Rights movement in Athens.

So yes, the call to “buy Black” is about putting money into the community and advocating for equity with our dollars, but it’s also about preserving a culture and history of innovation, persistence, prosperity, and joy. Let’s work together to keep the spirit of Black entrepreneurship alive! Check out my list of ways to support Black business in Athens:

5 Ways to Support Black Business in Athens

1. Check out this map of Black-owned businesses in the Athens area created by Enlightened Media Productions and the UGA Department of Geography Community Mapping Lab.
2. Attend a marketplace event. It’s easier to have businesses in the same place and you’ll be introduced to businesses that don’t have brick and mortar spaces!
   1. I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention the Athens MLK Day Parade & Music Festival is hosted annually on Martin Luther King Jr. Day by the AADM in collaboration with United Group of Artists Entertainment. This event includes live performances, vendors, a fun kids zone, and more. Local schools, businesses, nonprofits, churches, dance teams, mobile vehicles, and various organizations are welcome to participate in this event. For more information on our next MLK Day Parade & Music Festival on January 15, 2024, please visit https://tinyurl.com/8th-mlk-parade
   2. The Hot Corner Festival in June is hosted by Homer Wilson, owner of Wilson’s Styling Shop on the Hot Corner. With a block party-like vibe, several of Athens’ Black-owned businesses, restaurants, and musicians come together to celebrate the history of the Hot Corner. 
   3. Athens Black Market is hosted three times a year in downtown Athens by the AADM. These events provide Black and Minority businesses the opportunity to promote their services and sell their products in a space that experiences a lot of traffic. Imagine a pop-up style marketplace that has live music, food, and fun for the whole family.
3. Support Black entertainment! Music is a staple of African-American culture and supporting local Black musicians, singers, rappers, and artists is a fun and memorable way to support Black-owned business. Athens also has several Black-owned entertainment and event production companies as well:
   1. Athens Hip Hop Awards was founded by Knowa and Mokah-Jasmine Johnson to celebrate hip-hop music, entrepreneurship, and black culture in Athens, Ga is back! With a solid track record of building community spirit and culture over the years, the Athens Hip Hop Awards is the perfect opportunity for aspiring artists, producers, DJs, media personalities to reach a diverse and engaged audience.
   2. AthFactor-Liberty Entertainment was founded by Chief Rocka and Montu Williams. “Established in 2006, ALE has earned a reputation of being trailblazers in the Athens music community by producing spectacular shows and booking top-tier talent. Secretly (not so secretly to many), this entity has been the driving force behind some of the best events and top artists coming out of Athens for the past 15 years”.
4. Interact with Black businesses online. Share information about them on your social media platforms, leave a positive review, and help educate others in your network about them. 
5. Invest your time, money, and skills into local organizations that work to advance the work and amplify the voices of the Black community. These organizations do the daily work needed to turn the wheels of change and are always welcoming of volunteers to assist with events, campaigns, and fundraising:
   1. Economic Justice Coalition (EJC): Educates, advocates, and organizes for quality jobs with living wages and benefits through voter registration and civic engagement, addressing workplace grievances, promoting cooperatively-owned businesses, and collective action to support organizing workers
   2. Athens Anti-Discrimination Movement (AADM): AADM strives to break the cycle of systemic discrimination in schools, the criminal justice system, or the business environment with a focus on racial and social issues. To achieve this mission, AADM develops sustainable programs, provides resources, and runs workshops and trainings that foster positive social change. 

Sources:

“Cornering History: A Look at the Hot Corner of Athens.” Cornering History, 22 Jan. 2018, https://www.georgiapoliticalreview.com/cornering-history/

Miller, A. (2023, January 20). The history of “black owned” in America. Black Excellence. https://www.blackexcellence.com/black-owned/ 

Stephens, A (Host). (2014, July 11). Interview with Bennie McKinley (No. 2). [Audio podcast episode]. In Athens Oral History Project. Richard B. Russell Library for Political Research and Studies. http://ohms.libs.uga.edu/viewer.php?cachefile=russell/RBRL361AOHP-002.xml

Stephens, A (Host). (2014, July 25). Interview with Homer Wilson (No. 1). [Audio podcast episode]. In Athens Oral History Project. Richard B. Russell Library for Political Research and Studies. http://ohms.libs.uga.edu/viewer.php?cachefile=russell/RBRL361AOHP-002.xml