Supporting African American-owned businesses in middle Tennessee
As Nashvillians look for ways to support the African American community during this tumultuous time, many are calling to protect black-owned businesses (WZTV)
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WZTV) — As Nashvillians look for ways to support the African American community during this tumultuous time, many are calling to protect black-owned businesses.
Between COVID-19, tornadoes, and developers pushing these places out, it’s going to take a lot of support to survive. Joshua Mundy owns Music City Cleaners, a spot that served the Germantown community for years until the March 3 tornado ripped through the building.
“My whole building where I have my businesses in, it was destroyed March the third and then right after that was COVID,” Mundy said.
He also owns Pivot Technology School, a school that focuses on data analytics and web development, a field that doesn’t have many minorities in it. All are welcome, but they try to target minority communities to get them access to that line of work.
“It’s just really about having access to opportunity,” Mundy said.
It’s that kind of opportunity he wants to protect.
“Black-owned businesses are a part of the whole ecosystem of Nashville and I think if you take that out of the equation you’re missing a whole piece of culture and vibrancy,” Mundy said.
He says for years, developers have come in and tried to push out black-owned businesses in places like North Nashville and Antioch, and now, more than ever, he says we need to support these places.
“We’re at a moment where we have to have the tough conversation and we have to build on that conversation and not be so reactionary when it comes to things of this nature and we have to be more proactive,” Mundy said.
Proactive by intentionally spending money at African American owned businesses and pointing out when the system fails.
“The access to capitol is needed. You know, we’re not able to get bank loans to grow our businesses. We can have all of our paperwork together. We can have everything lined up and we’re still not able to get the PPE funding or the SBA funding,” Mundy explained.
He says it’s a system that needs to change and one he thinks can with support and open dialog about the issues.