Racine Black business owners are leading by example.

According to Wall Street's 24/7 study released in June 2023, which compares median incomes, unemployment rates, and homeownership rates for whites and blacks, Racine ranks as the 2nd worst city for blacks in the United States. Ranked No.

The median black household income is $25,751, which is only 36.5% of the white median household income of $70,589. Black Racine residents are also more than four times more likely to live below the poverty line than white residents.

With these statistics in mind, The Journal Times interviewed several Black business owners to learn about their businesses and get their thoughts on leading by example in Racine.

Lorna Revere opened Lornacopia, a women's clothing boutique, at 310 Sixth St. 14 years ago.

Lornacopia sells a combination of new and used clothing.

While some people come to the store to shop from the shelves, Revere also styles customers who need to dress up for a special event or simply need help adding items to their wardrobe. Masu.

But for Libya, community is more important than clothes.

Revere is originally from Ohio, but her career as a flight attendant has led her to call many cities around the world home.

When asked about Racine being the second worst city for black people in the United States, Revere said she was disappointed to learn how segregated the city is.

“When I moved to Racine, I didn't know if I could stay there. I said to my sister, 'Oh my God, it's so isolated.' I just wasn’t used to it,” Revere said. “I couldn't understand the number of unemployed black Americans. I asked my sister (who lives in Racine), 'Why aren't so many black Americans working? And why are so many black Americans unemployed?' Are young black Americans not attending school?”

In addition to discrimination within the community, Revere said it pains him to see so many black men incarcerated who want to change their lives but don't have the means to do so.

“They've been in prison for years for that crime, and we keep them in prison when they could have gotten out,” she said. “They want to go out. They can get a job. They're educated, highly educated, and even people who don't want to go out and take care of their families. They want to be productive members of society, even if they don't have families. They've paid their dues. Do we have to keep so many black men incarcerated? The system has to change.”

One of the most striking things Revere noticed about Racine was the lack of hope from young minorities.

“We try to talk to people and get to know them and ask them about their day and what they're doing. And if they're young, what do they like to do, what do they do? I ask them if they want to be,” she said. “Fourteen years later, I'm still doing the same thing. I interact with people, but one of the factors that still remains in my heart is the lack of hope.” lacks hope for minorities.”

Revere said that she often hears from young people saying, “I want to be a nurse'' or “I want to own a home,'' but because they have no hope, they always return to saying “I can't do it.''

Revere believes it’s important for people to support Black-owned businesses.

“These companies need to stay open to give hope to other minorities,” she said. “We have to instill hope in our communities that “you can do it too.'' I feel. You got there — help someone else get there.”

Emerson Holliday opened Dragon Pit BBQ during the pandemic in the summer of 2020.

Dragon Pit BBQ, located at 1501 Washington Ave., is known for its smoked meats and comfort foods like biscuits and gravy.

Almost everything is homemade, including the barbecue rubs and sauces.

During the summer, Holliday travels and hosts pop-ups with his food truck at festivals, farmers markets, and other events.

Holliday hosts a shadowing program through the Racine Unified School District for high school students interested in careers in the restaurant industry.

He talks to them about entrepreneurship and the resources available to start your own restaurant.

Holliday said while it's important to support black-owned businesses, it's even more important for minorities to look to themselves and other black business owners as role models so they can imagine themselves as business owners. That's what he said.

“When you see a business succeeding, you want to do it too. As a Black business owner, if I'm doing well, everyone else is doing well,” he said. . “I'm doing good things for the community. I'm helping kids find better ventures and become entrepreneurs.”

Deontrae Mayfield operates The Main Project & Café at 1014 State St.

The Main Project officially became a nonprofit in December 2020, but Mayfield has been leading community efforts since 2013.

His activities include food drives, reading programs, coat drives, Christmas presents, and Thanksgiving baskets.

Mayfield wants to help young people build good families.

“We work with a lot of kids, and the problem we were facing is a lot of the kids we're dealing with, their parents are in and out of prison. There are,” he said. “So we can raise our kids eight hours a day and work with them, but if they have to go back to broken homes, that's counterproductive.”

To repair these homes and keep people out of prison, Mayfield started a diversion program called Project Restoration.

This six-month program is designed to help people improve their lives and the lives of their families.

The program is tailored to each individual and achieves what participants want to achieve.

Mayfield said the 19-year-old is working towards getting his GED and is participating in an apprenticeship program to get a job in the industry.

“My point to this program is, 'Don't wait until you get out of the program to try to rebuild your life.'” If I had a chance to fix my life without going to prison, I would I want to be,” Mayfield said.

Mayfield can empathize with the program's participants. He spent his 13 years in prison for selling drugs.

Upon his release, he helped out in the community under a program also known as “Project Restoration,” restoring furniture and selling it at “goodwill prices,” raising his children, and doing lawn care and other household chores throughout the year. provided.

Yolanda Coleman founded the Be Plush Collective at 300 Main Street to help women start their own businesses.

Be Plush Collective is for entrepreneurs who don't necessarily have the capital to start a business from scratch, but need a foundation.

Coleman is one of five executives in the group.

She shares space with Tracey Riley from Honey Bee's Bling Hive. Joyce Cook of JC's Boutique. Janella Smith of Sheabrojae's Natural Expression. and Michelle Harris of Dela Mar Chris Bakery.

The women in the collective have all faced challenges, but have built their businesses despite the obstacles.

Coleman, Cook, Harris and Smith are cancer survivors, and Riley is a disabled veteran who has overcome domestic violence and homelessness.

Coleman opened Be Plush Collective two years ago, but she also owns Plush Clothing at 409 Main St., which “caters to women of all body shapes,” with sizes from 0x to 6x. did.

Plush Clothing opened on May 1, 2019, and Coleman closed in August 2023.

At Collective, Coleman sells Be Plush in XS-XL and Plush Clothing in 0x-6x.

In April, Coleman will be adding four new spots for people who want to join the crowd and start a business.

“What I learned is that Racine can be very vocal and picky when it comes to black businesses, even downtown,” she said. “It's a little disheartening sometimes, but it's also cool when people actually see that you're here and you're a Black business and you're like, 'Oh my gosh.' I didn't know that.”