Lansing protesters requested support for Black-owned businesses. Many say it's happened.

Among calls put out by the speakers at a Black Lives Matter protest at the Capitol in June was a request for people to spend money at Black-owned businesses.

Nearly five months later, several Black business owners in Greater Lansing report they've seen more customers. Others would like to see more support.

“It’s got to be a conscious decision,” said Adrian Joseph, owner of Goodfellas Bagel and Deli in Lansing. “It’s not the norm. Not a lot of people or minorities own businesses. It should be something that you’re more focused on.”

Joseph is biracial. He has a white mother and a Black father. He noted an influx of customers at his Michigan Avenue restaurant prior to the protests, then kept seeing more people come in who said they were trying to support “more businesses like this.”

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Atalie Buycks, who owns the REO Town thrift store Thriftique, has not calculated sales numbers but said she's seen people actively seeking women-owned businesses. She is biracial with Latina and Black heritage.

She admitted not purposely contacting other Black business owners, but has learned of Black-owned retailers where she can buy her groceries, hair supplies and other items by being more aware of how she spends her money.

"I think knowledge is power, and, if you’re not looking at that or looking for that, it’s easy to get into a rut," Buycks said. "It has led me to be more aware of where I spend my money and who I am supporting."

Fountain of Wisdom and Hope owner and licensed professional counselor Antoinette Mallett said people contacted her office in July and August hoping to connect with a Black therapist. The requests noted the unrest in the country and feelings of helplessness. 

Dominique Kowalk of Holt brought her youngest son, Mylz, to Mallett's office for a behavioral session on Friday with counselor Tymathie Douglas. Kowalk said her son Omri has experienced bullying because he is biracial and she also sought professional help for him.

Seeing Black therapists gives her biracial kids another person to talk to, as their Black father is not in the picture. Kowalk is white.

"I like that there is someone in that position who can answer their questions," she continued. 

Mallett believes stigmas about therapy are lessening within the Black community and believes everyone should be open about their experiences with therapy to encourage friends to seek help.

Some businesses have not received more support since the protests.

Nadia Sellers founded National Career Group, an Okemos staffing agency that connects companies to qualified candidates and also conducts diversity and inclusion training. 

"We thought companies would contact us to do the training and they have not," Sellers said. "They put out statements to appease the masses, but they have not done that. They are talking the talk, but not walking the walk."

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 A few companies have contacted Sellers for assistance to "hire a Black man" she said. But she added that changes in businesses and their culture will not happen if the lack of diversity among executives remains status quo. 

Artist Melik Brown started his company, Lansing Made, more than five years ago to showcase through social media and video promotions Lansing's cultures, the Capitol, neighborhoods and all things he describes as "the great Lansing that I see."

He believes small businesses should be supported wherever possible. 

Brown shops small by finding hole-in-the-wall stores and great small restaurants and informing others about his finds so those businesses gain recognition and more customers.

"There’s nothing wrong with highlighting somebody’s something," he added. "If I want an enchilada, I want to know that person knows an enchilada. If I want fried chicken, I want somebody to know. (Collard) greens, I want someone to know."

Other forms of support to a Black-, women- or minority-owned business include offering constructive criticism on the services and applying to work there if help is needed, said Reginald Robinson, who owns Capital City Soul Food. His south Lansing restaurant has had trouble finding workers since the pandemic hit.

The Lansing Black Business Alliance released a list online in June of Black-owned businesses in the Greater Lansing Region.

Dr. Alane Laws-Barker, of Melanin in Medicine, said both the coalition and directory were established to increase visibility for those businesses beyond the Black community and stabilize employment opportunities. Laws Barker, an OB-GYN surgeon, created the alliance. 

"The directory was to increase visibility," she added. "The bigger reason is to keep the businesses alive and thriving. Many times, these businesses are in the Black community and provide opportunities people in that community would not get if those businesses closed down."

Facebook has become another way to spread the word about businesses. Najeema Iman, administrator of Black People Lansing Michigan, shares weekly updates about local Black-owned businesses.

"By supporting a Black business, you are stimulating the economy," she said.

Contact Krystal Nurse at (517) 290-3044 or knurse@lsj.com. Follow her on Twitter @KrystalRNurse.