The Ones to Know: BHM Small Business Guide

This year, The Ones To Know celebrated Black Futures Month in partnership with The Get Together, D1A's Black & African Descent Employee Resource Group. Together, they shine a light on some their favorite Black-owned businesses and Black creators who are pushing the culture and the future forward in their communities and through their work. We encourage you to support each of these businesses and creators—as many don’t get the recognition they deserve—and to continue learning about and uplifting the Black community year round. First up, meet eight of our favorite Black-owned businesses.

Black Girls CODE - for young girls interested in tech.

Founded by electrical engineer Kimberly Bryant, this non-profit tech organization is devoted to showing the world that Black girls can code, lead, innovate and engineer their own futures.

BrownMill Company - for all your streetwear needs.

This custom streetwear brand based out of New Jersey handcrafts clothes made entirely from recycled textile materials—specifically collared shirts, embroidered jackets, graphic t-shirts and single-cut pants.

Reparations Club - for books galore (online and IRL).

Founded by Jazzi McGilbert in 2019, Reparations Club is a queer, woman-owned concept bookstore & creative space in sunny Los Angeles. Since the shop’s opening, they’ve partnered with the likes of Virgil Abloh x Nike, Well Read Black Girl and Noname Book Club.

Aunts et Uncles - for next-level Caribbean food.

Owned by married couple Nicole and Michael Nicholas, this plant-based cafe, bar & concept shop in Flatbush, Brooklyn serves a range of delicious vegan & Caribbean-inspired dishes.

Abbey Creek Winery - for wine enthusiasts.

Abbey Creek Winery is Portland’s first and only hip-hop inspired winery owned by Bertony Faustin, the first recorded Black winemaker in Oregon.

Coffee, Hip-Hop & Mental Health Cafe - for tasty bites with a purpose.

Located in Chicago’s Lakeview East neighborhood, Coffee, Hip-Hop & Mental Health is a cafe & non-profit organization whose mission is to bring awareness to the importance of mental health in the Black community.

Poppy + Rose - for your next brunch spot.

Founded by husband-wife duo Chef Michael Reed and Kwini Reed, Poppy + Rose is a California-inspired American brunch restaurant in Downtown Los Angeles’ Flower District. If you’re in the area, be sure to stop by for breakfast, brunch or lunch.

Spudz - for your new favorite fries.

Spudz is known as NYC’s only loaded potato concept restaurant and serves a range of loaded fries, loaded mash potato bowls and sliders. Definitely one for the bookmarks.

Now, let’s meet four of our favorite Black creators.

Fatou B. Barry

Fatou is the founder of PR Girl Manifesto, a non-profit aimed at supporting aspiring Comm professionals, including those from non-traditional backgrounds, by bridging knowledge and resource gaps. She’s an inspiring leader making a lasting mark in the PR & Communications world.

Blu Boy

Blu is a designer, visual artist and CEO of WNTD Apparel, a lifestyle clothing brand for creatives. If you’re into the arts/a creative, you’ll be sure to love his unique designs and pieces.

Olamide Ayomikun Olowe

Olamide is the CEO and founder of popular skincare brand TOPICALS. She is the youngest Black woman to raise over $10M in funding, and is also a UCLA alum. If you love all things beauty and wellness, she’s definitely the one to follow.

Dr. Joy Harden Bradford

Dr. Joy Harden Bradford is a Licensed Psychologist and the host of the wildly popular mental health podcast, Therapy for Black Girls. Her work focuses on making mental health topics more relevant and accessible for Black women and she delights in using pop culture to illustrate psychological concepts.