Black History Month Hair

In honor of Black History Month, our Quentin Smith takes a look at the role these businesses play in the African-American community.

It's a special place in african american communities: barber shops and beauty salons.

Patrons usually leave feeling good--inside and out.

In honor of black history month, our quentin smith takes a look at the role these businesses play in the african american community.

He joins us live in the studio with more.

Aundrea.

For generations, barber and beauty shops have been a centerpiece of african american culture.

At one time.... they were one of the few places african americans could gather and discuss what's going on in the community.

And the people i spoke with say they don't see that changing... nat there's a lot of cutting up going on at jordan's barber and style shop in columbus.

But not with just the clippers... nat also... with laughter and conversation... nat if you ask the owner, bobby jordan...this is just another day at the shop.

" they used to call this the black man's country club.

We come in we try and get our haircut and get a good style, but it's also an opportunity for us to talk to each other.

It's an opportunity to tell a young man about what's right, which way he should go, a chance to talk about politics, a chance to just express ourselves that we might not could say otherwise."

This shop has been a staple in columbus for 50 years... but when it comes to barbershops in general....they've been a staple in the community for centuries.

" in the black community this is a spot everybody can come to and it's one of the centers of the black community."

At one time, the barbershop was one of the few businesses african americans owned.

" one of the only things that a black person could do on his own was cut their hair, and that's the number one thing.

We used to cut the other people hair, but the only thing we might have to do is borrow your sheep shears to do it, but it's something we could do on our own."

And the same can be said for hair salons.

"i can go as far back as into slavery days, and there were slaves that had to administer hair services to their slave owners.

By them using the tonics to do our hair they became entrepreneurs once they became free.

This is something they had already started when they were in slavery, and after slavery they just went on and took it to the next level."

For frances stephenson, the salon plays a big part in her life.

"this is my way to connect with the community."

She's the owner of martha's kut and kurl, a beauty shop she inherited from her mother.

" every since i was a little girl watching my mother do hair, it was always about love and that family bond."

Both the hair salon and barbershop have a lot in common, including being cultural and economic drivers in the african american community.

By way of his clippers, brandon white has held a job in the barbershop for more than two decades.

Now, he uses the shop not only as stability for himself, but to give others a chance at employment.

" the shop i come from, we used to check the kids' report cards, and if they're doing good and they want to work, then we would provide them a job after school."

" for the economy, yes it has always been a great moneymaker."

" it means a lot to me.

It's a tradition, my father worked hard and he got it started and got it established, so i'm going to try and do what i can to keep it going.

My son is now in the business, he standing down here working so hopefully we can keep it going."

See, the shops serve as a place of business and fellowship all under one roof, and they take pride in giving back to the community.... from a crisp line up....to a nice hair flip...strangers become friends...and clients become family.

Both establishments are centerpieces in the african american community, and many believe it will continue to remain that way.

"the way we show love man, the energy we give just the way we interact with people.

We are always trying to do something with the people and the community."

" as long as we love ourselves, we're going to take care of ourselves and we're going to make sure that we look good, so no, i don't think we will ever go out of business."

"i wish the people in the community would recognize what it is and try and help us keep this going.

We as a people are losing too many things that we started out with.

We've been around this long, so it's a good example also to show people what's possible."

Fun fact, the first african american woman to become a successful entrepreneur in the hair business is madame cj walker..

Who was also considered to be the wealthiest woman in the world during the time of her death..

In 1933 henry morgan opened the first barber school for african americans called tyler barber college... in tyler