YORK, Pa. — Throughout February, FOX43 News shined the spotlight on Black-owned businesses in Central Pennsylvania.
Showing uniqueness, individuality, culture and the arts, FOX43 visited several businesses and learned what it means to be Black-owned, as well as listened to what challenges the owners had to overcome to get to where they are today.
In the U.S., Black-owned businesses originated in the days of slavery before 1865, according to Wikipedia. The site states that the most rapid growth came in the early 20th century, as the increasingly rigid Jim Crow system of segregation moved urban Black people into a community large enough to support a business establishment. Sixty years later since the abolishment of Jim Crow laws, Black-owned businesses are still thriving.
“Just to be standing here, it’s beyond my wildest imagination, and for young people who are looking to embark on their journey, I would just say surround yourself with people who are supportive of you, but also believe in yourself,” said Ashana Taylor, owner of Fire Life Yoga.
Taylor has taught all over Central Pennsylvania and has been a yoga instructor for over 10 years. Her first experience with yoga was before then, when she was a public school teacher going through her struggles. Taylor said she wanted to give the West York community something they needed as well as offer inclusivity.
“I encountered some great studios in my journey,” said Taylor. "None of them really represented the inclusivity that I was looking for being a Black woman, and so it was important to me to open a space that was not only for everyone, but in particular for the BIPOC population, and so I think that, you know, we’ve been able to do that pretty well here."
Conroy Smith, also known as Jay, is the owner of Jay Skinz Tattoo Shop and is originally from St. Maria, Jamaica. He started the business in 2020. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Smith had to keep the shop closed for three months before he could officially open to customers.
“What does it mean to me to be Black-owned? It means everything to me because, with the color of our skin, we don’t get too many opportunities,” said Smith. “To really picture something in your mind and create it--it takes a lot of hard work and effort, and it’s amazing to be Black-owned and have this.”
Charles Jackson, co-owner of CJay’s Drip, said that being a Black business owner comes with adversity, which is an obstacle on its own, but he encourages those Black business owners to stay dedicated and persevere.
“If you’re staying stagnant, that’s a bad thing, so something every day apply to your life and try to pass it onto the next person, I would say,” said Jackson.
To be Black-owned to Shacarla Brown and Sri Kunarasingan, owners of Pastorante, means letting people know that there are opportunities for everyone to rise to the occasion and achieve a goal. The owners offered some advice to other people of color who are striving to be Black-owned.
“It’s never too early to start, even if you’re in school or college, to get your foot in the door and learn something because that sets you up for success,” said Kunarasingan.
“To achieve something that I haven’t been able to achieve before and to have the support makes me proud, so just got for it,” said Brown.