And the QC is full of ways to celebrate. Here are just a few:

NOTE: All events are subject to change as a result of COVID-19 protocols. We will keep our list as updated as possible, however, be sure to check each event/business website for the most up-to-date information.

Festivals

N.C. Black Heritage Festival. Saturday, Feb. 19. Cabarrus Arena & Events Center: 4751 North Carolina 49, Gold Hall, Concord.

The festival’s theme is “Past, Present, & Future” and will feature 40 Black-owned companies. Attendees will experience crafts, culture, art, games, performances, COVID-19 vaccines, and kids’ activities like pie-eating contests and laser tag. There will be several performances from acts including the Praise & Motion Dance Team, the Diamond Dolls of the QC. Learn more here.

African American Heritage Festival. 11 a.m. Feb. 26. The Charlotte Museum of History. 3500 Shamrock Drive.

Join CMH for the sixth annual African American Heritage Festival, honoring and celebrating Charlotte’s Black history and culture. This year’s festival will include live music and dance performances, author talks, and free admission to the Museum’s latest exhibit, “A Better Life for Their Children: Julius Rosenwald, Booker T. Washington, and the 4,978 Schools that Changed America,” an exhibit of photographs and stories by Andrew Feiler.

This event is free and open to the public. The Museum will continue to implement safety precautions including requiring masks for all visitors ages 5 and up and spacing activities across the Museum’s campus. Register here.

Classic Black Cinema Series

Buck and the Preacher. 2 p.m. Sunday Feb. 13, Harvey B. Gantt Center for African-American Arts + Culture at Levine Center for the Arts. 551 South Tryon St.

This month, the Gantt Center’s Classic Black Cinema Series is honoring the life and legacy of Academy Award® winner Sidney Poitier. In 1972, Poitier made his directorial debut and co-starred with friends Harry Belafonte and Ruby Dee in the western drama, Buck and the Preacher. Following the end of the Civil War, soldier-turned-trail-guide Buck (Poitier) makes a living by helping former slaves find settlements in the West. Along the way, a con artist, the Preacher (Harry Belafonte), joins the group, and constantly clashes with Buck. When a gang of bounty hunters, led by the fiendish Deshay (Cameron Mitchell), attempts to round up the freed slaves to bring them back to Louisiana, the two put aside their differences to fight a common enemy. The viewing is free for members or comes with the cost of museum admission for guests.

Sip & Paint

Bobbee O’s BBQ. 401 Statesville Road. R&B-themed “Brush & BBQ.” From 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. every Thursday and Friday in February, get your creative juices flowing while you snack on some delicious bbq at this family-owned restaurant. Tickets are $15 and include everything you need to create one of 20 masterpieces with the help of a professional art instructor. Buy tickets and learn more here.

Speakers/Discussion Sessions

“Hiding in Plain Sight: Black Women, the Law, and the Making of a White Argentine Republic,” 7 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 8.
In this free virtual event, UNC-Charlotte Department of History faculty member Erika Denise Edwards will speak about topics covered in her book “Hiding in Plain Sight,” which examines the lives of Black women and the construction of race in Argentina.

The book won the 2021 Western Association of Women Historians’ Barbara “Penny” Kanner Award and the 2020 Association of Black Women Historians’ Letitia Woods-Brown Memorial Book Prize. It was a 2021 Finalist for the Lapidus Center for the Historical Analysis of Transatlantic Slavery’s Harriet Tubman Book Prize and also named one of the best books of Black History in 2020 by the African American Intellectual History Society. Edwards’ research advocates for a re-learning of Argentina’s black past and the origins of anti-blackness. She has been quoted and/or consulted by The New York Times, National Geographic, the World Bank, The New York Review of Books, The Guardian, and La Voz del Interior. She currently serves on the Board of Directors for Latin Americans Working for Achievement, a nonprofit organization that grants scholarships to Latinx youth from the Charlotte Region.

This event is part of the “Personally Speaking” series hosted by the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences, with The Dubois Center at UNC Charlotte Center City and J. Murrey Atkins Library. Register here.

Black in National Parks. 10 a.m. Saturday Feb. 5, Stevens Creek Nature Center. Did you know that Black people make up less than 2% of visitors to National Parks? Kick off Black History Month as we dive into the history of African-Americans within the National Park System and their major contributions to those outdoor spaces. Hosted by Mecklenburg County Parks and Recreation, this lively discussion-style presentation is best suited for ages 10 and up.

Virtual programs from the Library

The Charlotte Mecklenburg Library system has a variety of virtual programs to help people of all ages learn more about Black history from the comfort of their homes. Programs include:

Harlem Unbound, 5:30 p.m. Wednesday Feb. 9 and Wednesday Feb. 23. This role-playing gaming event intended for teens age 14 to 18 will feature the game “Call of Cthulhu,” set in early 20th-Century Harlem, NY. The players will put themselves in the shoes of Harlemites navigating day-to-day issues including racism, community, politics, nightlife, and Cosmic Horror. Participants will learn about issues of race and community in Harlem in the early 20th century while enhancing problem solving skills, and reflecting on issues of race and community in modern day.

Equity Impact Circle, 1 p.m. every Wednesday in February. This five-week discussion series hosted by the Community Building Initiative will feature guided discussions around the topics of equity and inclusion. The CBI hopes to broaden the community of individuals who are utilizing an equity lens in exploring community identity and issues; build relationships among community members through an exploration of equity and support individuals to build a more connected community where everyone wakes up to discrimination and injustice, interrupts inequitable systems and structures and steps up to champion equal rights, access and opportunity. EICs are intended to be experienced as a series of five 90-minute virtual sessions. The CBI asks that participants commit to being present for each of the five weeks.

I Can Read Black Stories, 11 a.m. every Saturday in February. Enjoy stories, songs, and movement activities that support empathy and understanding of issues affecting Black children and families. This story time features books that center characters who are Black or people of color, offers strategies to foster conversations about equity and inclusivity, and encourages early literacy skill development and a love of books and reading in your child.

Black History Month Talking Circle. 6 p.m. Thursday Feb. 17. Join other teens in our community to engage in discussions on topics such as racism, racial equity, and racial justice. During our time together we will learn more about racism, racial equity, and racial justice while working together to identify barriers and workable solutions to create an inclusive community. This program will be provided by Plaza Midwood library staff, and is recommended for pre-teens/teens ages 10 to 18.

National African American Read-In. 6 p.m. Tuesday Feb. 22. This event is the library’s second annual celebration for the National African American Read-In. Join us for a Read-In with local authors, and teens to celebrate this annual celebration, and to discuss the disparities in representation in children’s literature. This event will be live-streamed on the library’s YouTube & Facebook pages. Children will enjoy the first half that features a read aloud of local authors’ books, and bring your teens for the second-half panel that will feature local authors and teens. 

STEAM Career Showcase, 10 a.m. Feb. 26. Hear from a diverse panel of professionals within Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics (STEAM) related fields. The event will include a facilitated discussion around their individual career paths, highlights of their current (and previous roles), and their lessons learned while navigating professionally as a person of color. This event is being sponsored in partnership with the Black Lives Matter Initiative of the Charlotte Mecklenburg Library and Queen City Bytes. Attendees will also be given an opportunity to ask specific questions during an open Q&A period.

Patronize Black-Owned Businesses Year-Round

The pandemic created a struggle for small businesses. Every day brings news of a different shop or restaurant closing down for good. And Black-owned businesses have been hit disproportionately hard, on top of already experiencing challenges their white-owned counterparts might not.

“A few challenges black business owners face are usually related to a lack of resources, funding, and support. Black business owners just don’t have the same access as others when it comes to capital,” said Ashley Creft and Maddy Holly-Carothers, co-founders of CLT Black Owned. “Banks lend an extremely small percentage of business loans to Black applicants, making access to money much harder. Some people think ‘oh well they just need to sell more,’ but that’s another obstacle in itself. Black businesses — unless you’ve got a community of support like the one we have with Charlotte Black Owned — don’t always have the visibility and access to audiences to sell to in order to make the money they need to grow.”

Creft and Holly-Carothers said CLT Black Owned is a social good company whose mission is to support and stabilize Black-owned businesses and link creatives and service providers to larger brands. They hope by making these connections, the Black-owned business community can overcome obstacles and flourish. One way you can help: patronize Black-owned businesses whenever you can.

“Small businesses are the heartbeat of the community. Every meal you eat, every item you buy, you’re investing back into the community,” says Cathay Dawkins, founder and executive director of Black Business Owners Corporation (BBOC). “It might seem like a small choice — deciding where to eat — but it makes a huge impact.”

Dawkins realized the need for an organization to support Black business owners after his successful lawn care service tanked during the 2008 recession.

“Within two weeks I went from having almost six figures to having negative dollars in my bank account. I realized I didn’t have a support system and I knew that story wasn’t just mine. It’s prevalent in the black community where we don’t have the resources to recover from hits like a recession or losing your job,” Dawkins says. “I wanted to create an organization that would be like a trampoline or a safety net for Black businesses.”

BBOC started in 2014 as a Facebook marketplace group that evolved into an organization that throws multiple events a year to bring foot traffic to member businesses.

One such event is Charlotte Black Restaurant Week in October.

“Everybody is welcome,” Dawkins says. “And it’s beyond soul food — yes we have soul food, but we have seafood, American style, creole, a plethora of different restaurants. It’s also a chance to support bars, lounges and food trucks.” 

But it does more than just throw events. BBOC also helps member businesses apply for loans and grants, and partners with national brands like NASDAQ, Microsoft and Stripe for programs that can help Black-owned businesses thrive. The organization also recently opened new chapters in Atlanta and Columbia, SC.

“Events drive people into the businesses, but we want to sustain that even after the event is over,” Dawkins says.

Although events and celebrations are great for bringing visibility to businesses, several Black business owners told us it’s critical for people to keep supporting Black businesses all year long.

“It is extremely important to seek out Black-owned businesses when deciding where to spend your money. The challenges of acquiring business funding as a minority business have been well documented, yet little has been done to change the narrative,” says Courtney Doctor, co-owner of CBD/holistic health company Naked Nectar with her husband John. “We ask that you do not wait until Juneteenth or Black Business Month to seek out and recognize these companies, as we could use the additional support all year long. Support can be more than monetary — recommend a friend, share their social media posts, show up to their community events. We should be recognized for being a good business — without having to add any adjectives.” 

“We should be recognized for being a good business — without having to add any adjectives.”

Courtney Doctor, co-owner of Naked Nectar

Also, supporting the Black business community is about more than just shopping and dining.

“It’s imperative for folks to also consider supporting Black businesses that offer professional services such as real estate, insurance, financial advisors and so forth,” says Realtor Nelvia Bullock. “The reason why this is so important is due to the deep wealth gap as a result of so many years of systematic racism and cultural biases. Representation matters across all industries.

Dawkins feels optimistic about the future as it’s becoming more common for people to seek out Black-owned businesses when deciding where to spend their money. But he says there’s more work to do.

“Some business owners have felt like there was a stigma about describing their business as being ‘Black-owned,” he says.

In fact, several business owners we talked to for this piece told us they felt nervous to include photos of themselves on their business sites and social media for that very reason.

“But that small percentage who wouldn’t support if you’re Black-owned — you wouldn’t want them as a client anyway,” Dawkins says. “Now people are investing in black-owned businesses and we want to keep that conversation going.”

EAT

What the Fries CLT. 10707 Park Rd. Suite F, as well as a mobile food truck. Chefs and owners Jamie Barnes and Gregory “Greg Williams made it to the final rounds of auditions for Food Network’s “The Great Food Truck Race” in 2014 with their hand-cut gourmet loaded fries. Although they didn’t make it onto the show, these former Johnson & Wales roommates and classmates brought their vision to life with a FedEx truck-turned-food truck and, this year, a brick-and-mortar restaurant in South Charlotte.

Their fries are topped with everything from steak hibachi to lobster mac & cheese, and they also offer mouthwatering sandwiches like the truffle mushroom philly. Read the menu here and follow the food truck here.

Lulu’s Maryland Style Chicken & Seafood. 2400 Tuckaseegee Road. Even a national crabmeat shortage can’t keep owners Jay David and Miketa Proctor from dishing out the most delicious Maryland-style seafood meals in the Queen City. If crab isn’t available, check out the cajun salmon platter or sweet and savory chicken and waffles.

FIND BALANCE

She E.O. Are you a woman entrepreneur looking for more work/life balance? She E.O. is the community for you. Founders Kristen Riley and Tamara Johnson believe that as corporate women, we can be great in our areas of expertise but also still have and maintain healthy homes and families. Their services include career guidance, group mentoring, public speaking and even a podcast.

HOST

Popup Datez. Ready to take your birthday party, girls’ night or date night to the next level? Enter Popup Datez, the luxury geo tent and event company that can help you create your next memorable moment.

Led by CEO Ashley Blackmon and Vice President Arnett Banks, Popup Datez can bring everything you need for a unique party with friends. The temperature-controlled tents hold up to 12 people and can be customized for date night, poker night, movie night, a Galentine’s Day event and everything in between.

Blackmon came up with the idea for the company when trying to find an insect-free way to enjoy the outdoors with her friends and family — bugs are not her thing.

She said helping clients come up with the perfect tent decor for baby showers, proposals, birthday parties and more has given her a much-needed chance to flex her creative muscles, something she’s not often able to do in her accounting job.

There are several locations around the QC where you can have your tent set up — including on top of the Metropolitan — or Ashley and her team can bring the tent to you. Looking for a live DJ or a string quartet? Popup Datez can help with that too. View their Instagram here.

SHOP

Mae Nicole Candles. Shawntel Carter founded her luxury small candle company in 2019 with the goal of creating a relaxing environment with toxin-free coconut apricot creme wax candles.

Scents include Black Sea, featuring dark musk, cardamom, plum and sea salt, hints of citrus and traces of amber.

The “Love” candle, which features exhilarating aromas of plumeria flowers, gardenias and green leaves mixed with hints of guava and soft powder, was created in honor of Carter’s mother, who died of cancer. In her honor, 10 percent of proceeds from each sale will be donated to cancer research at the American Cancer Society.

RIDE

704 Horsemen. Owner and native Charlottean Jamarcus rode his first horse at age 14 and instantly fell in love. Now his hobby has evolved into a business that’s all about bringing that joy to others.

Whether it’s a stable ride, a birthday party, a photoshoot or a parade promotion where riders display your brand while riding horses in a parade, 704 Horsemen has you covered for equine events.

GROW YOUR BUSINESS

Uniquely Qualified. This specialized coaching business is run by three women who met at a Bible study and realized their potential for helping others scale their businesses for sustainable success.

They’ve worked with lots of big-name brands in the QC including the Panthers, Bank of America and multiple media outlets. Got a great idea for a business but can’t figure out the follow-through? There’s no time like the present.

Schedule a one-on-one coaching session for help with business development, strategy, marketing, branding, network/connections and profit sales.

TREAT YOURSELF

Two Scoops Creamery. 1616 Camden Road and 913 Central Ave.

This iconic QC ice cream shop is owned and run by three best friends: a lactose-intolerant ice cream lover named Marques, a managing partner named Jae and a professional golfer named Rich.

All the recipes are family secrets you won’t taste anywhere else besides Two Scoops. In addition to the classics like chocolate, vanilla and rocky road, the shop offers unique flavors like Cookies By the Sea, Chocolate Krazy Kake and Philadelphia Water Ice.

BUY/SELL A HOME

Realtor Nelvia Bullock. One of America’s Top 1% Real Estate Agents in 2020, Bullock is a certified luxury home marketing specialist who offers a concierge level of service to people relocating to or within the Queen City.

“Oddly enough my Real Estate career blossomed as my husband and I relocated to Charlotte as we were building a home. I got really fascinated by the entire process and realized that there were some gaps that I wanted to fill. That desire and passion to ensure that others relocating to the area would have a concierge level of service to make the transition smoother is a huge component of my secret sauce that has led me to where I am today,” Bullock says. “Fast  forward to almost five years later I rank within the top 500 of Charlotte Realtors in a sea of about 17,000 Realtors in our local marketplace.”

Bullock has achieved great success in her career but still vividly remembers being overlooked in favor of people who brought far less to the table.

“It’s something that hurts and stings in a way that’s so specific to Black Americans that unless you have walked in these shoes for a lifetime it is almost impossible to articulate to others how deep this feeling can cut,” she says. “I do practice daily gratitude and I pray. I keep a journal logging all of the amazing things happening personally and professionally so despite any of these things that may occur I keep myself in check and focus on abundance!”

And abundance, she has found. She was one of the top 1,000 in Charlotte’s regional MLS in 2020 and is currently one of the top 500 in Charlotte’s regional MLS so far in 2021. She’s been quoted in Martha Stewart Living and featured as a Charlotte Real Producers rising star.

“My favorite thing about my career is having a platform to help others not only become homeowners but to help individuals leverage real estate to build wealth and fulfill their financial goals,” she says. “I truly feel like I am walking in my purpose and helping others change the narrative for their family and that feeling is so rewarding sometimes I can’t believe that this is how I earn a living.”

Contact her here.

​

SHOP

One Twenty Two Boutique. 224 East Blvd. Ste. C.

Named for founders Yolanda and Tivonna’s shared birthday of Jan. 22, this boutique is all about empowering women through fashion.

You can find everything from high fashion to daily casual outfits at the East Boulevard shop, or browse online here.

CHILL

Naked Nectar. All-natural organic CBD and other products. Owned by husband and wife team John and Courtney Doctor, this company’s motto is “plants over pills.”

“It was born out of our mutual love for holistic healing and wanting to kill the negative stigma that cannabis carries; specifically within the Black community,” Courtney Doctor says. “For so long, cannabis has been looked at as something that people use to solely ‘get high’ or as something illegal. Unfortunately, this often overshadows the innumerable amount of medicinal properties that the plant has to offer.”

She said CBD can help with inflammation, anxiety, mood disorders, ADHD and more. And it comes in a variety of ingestion methods from gummies to muscle salve to smokable pre-rolls.

The Doctors’ advice for beginners?

“Be patient and do your research. Just like pharmaceutical medications, it can take a few tries to find the right product fit for you, but CBD truly is a life-changing alternative with little to no side effects. Speak with a reputable, experienced hemp business owner/farmer and don’t be afraid to ask for product ingredients or lab results.” 

Naked Nectar offers same-day delivery and local pickup services in Charlotte, and ships to all 50 states. Check them out on Facebook here and Instagram here.

Other ways to support

Check out these organizations for more ideas:

• CLT Black Owned
• Charlotte Mecklenburg Black Chamber of Commerce
• Black Business Owners Corp.

Know of an amazing Black-owned business or organization we missed? Please let us know on any of our social media, you’ll find us at @scoopcharlotte wherever you look.