Six years into launching A Tour of Possibilities, a guided exploration of African-American history in Memphis, Tennessee, Carolyn Michael-Banks was forced to consider shuttering entirely as the pandemic hit. “Then I realized ‘possibilities’ is literally in my company name,” she says. “I couldn’t not see that as a sign.” Instead, Michael-Banks pivoted to a 2.5-hour Caravan Tour. She leads the tour from her Possibilities van using Zoom audio. $45,atopmemphis.com With a desire to feed her nieces cleaner snacks with pronounceable ingredients, Chauniqua Major-Louis launched Major’s Project Pop, a brand of popcorn that “puts people and purpose over profit,” using organic kernels popped in preservative-free small batches. The company’s Black History Month 2-Pack People Over Profit Popcorn gives a portion of its proceeds to Black-led charities that advocate for quality education and against hunger in marginalized communities. $32, eatprojectpop.com The first Black-owned distillery in America, Du Nord Craft Spirits was at the center of the Minneapolis civil uprising following the death of George Floyd this past summer; their warehouse, located near the Third Precinct, was set on fire. But founder Chris Montana and his wife, Shanelle, turned a desperate situation into a community effort, with the goal of raising nearly $1 million through GoFundMe for recovery efforts. To date, they’ve distributed nearly $500,000 to 76 small businesses in the area for emergency rebuilding. dunordcraftspirits.com Cymone Wilder, a lettering artist, rose to prominence as one of the designers of a merchandise line for Elizabeth Warren’s presidential campaign and with work for MassMutual, Cosmopolitan, Harvard and more. Her online shop, Simon & Moose, carries prints, buttons and stickers of crowd-favorite designs and inspirational messages. simonandmoose.com Elevate your bar cart with a set of Estelle Colored Wine Stemware by this female-owned small business named for founder Stephanie Summerson Hall’s grandmother. $175 for a set of six, estellecoloredglass.com Deborah Day worked in education and as a bookseller in Oakland, California, for more than 20 years before starting her online bookstore, Ashay by the Bay. Created to empower and educate children in her Black community through literature, the store offers a wide selection of books for kids, teens and adults. ashaybythebay.com This Portland, Oregon–based brand of canine wonders stocks the perfect gift for the dog and dog owner in your life, including the B-Boo Leash, which features a stylish bamboo handle and vegetable-tanned leather leash. $85, housedogge.com Mother-daughter duo Juana Williams and Blair Paysinger created online marketplace Post 21 to celebrate Black creatives and serve as “a place we had always wanted to shop,” says Paysinger. Head to their site for African-inspired dishware, luxe home decor, tufted patterned rugs and this Conquer Fear Silk Scarf. $155, post21shop.com
Built out of adoration for women and Black culture, Buffalo, New York–based Lelia+Mae specializes in delicate gold-filled and personalized jewelry. And while their best-selling Paper Clip Necklace is a timeless choice, stay tuned for a summer release by founder Nicole Cummings with “pieces that bring up nostalgia from growing up in New York.” From $43, leliamae.com For hand-dyed yarn inspired by urban landscapes, check out Karida Collins’ Neighborhood Fiber Co., a studio and store for yarns, fibers and DIY sets like the Studio Worsted Mini Sets, which offer plenty of possibilities for knitters and crocheters. From $68, neighborhoodfiberco.com Courtney LeMarco launched his vegan-, paraben-, sulfate- and cruelty-free skin-care line, Motsi Skincare, amid the pandemic. “As a Black-owned business, Motsi is needed in today’s marketplace to show that the sustainable, luxury lifestyle sector is becoming more diverse,” he says. “Our customers love our products because they’re high quality and support a community that has for the most part been underrepresented in the industry.” Try the Detoxifying Charcoal Mask. $45, motsicouture.com Self-care shouldn’t be a January-only deal; My Little Magic Shop owner Shereen Campbell wants everyone to focus on wellness 365 days of the year. This New York–based small business sells a variety of crystals, kits and monthly subscription boxes, like the popular A Little Zen Box. $39 per month, mylittlemagicshop.com A modern plant boutique whose tagline is “combining the art of interior design with the science of plants,” Oglewood Avenue sells and rents a range of greenery for interior styling. oglewoodavenue.com
New Stories by Black Authors
The story of Chicago engineer Ruth and her family reveals both the commonalities and the drastic inequalities among Black and white Americans in times of economic insecurity in The Kindest Lie (William Morrow) by Nancy Johnson. Michelle Duster has created a vibrant portrait of her pioneering and Pulitzer Prize–winning grandmother in Ida B. the Queen: The Extraordinary Life and Legacy of Ida B. Wells (Atria/One Signal). How the One-Armed Sister Sweeps Her House (Little, Brown and Company) by Cherie Jones welcomes you to Barbados, where wealth, class, love, crime and the lives of four characters merge in this seemingly picture-perfect paradise. Pick up The Prophets (G.P. Putnam’s Sons) by Robert Jones Jr. for the exceptional writing. Stay for the tale of a forbidden love between two enslaved young men on a Mississippi plantation and the betrayal that threatens their existence.
