'Who better to support us than us?' North Carolina residents rally to strengthen Black-owned businesses

FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. — In recent years, there has been a wave of support in the Black community for Black-owned businesses.  

"We recognize these Black-owned businesses as safe spaces for consumers, not just Black consumers but all consumers," said Tyechia Paul, assistant chair of the Department of Management, Marketing, Entrepreneurship, and Fire & Emergency Service Administration at Fayetteville State University. "Black people supporting Black businesses make those interactions void of the racism that so deeply and painfully permeates nearly every aspect of American society."