What does Black History Month mean to you?

Bankable FEC
February 25, 2022

In honor of Black History Month, we asked a few recipients of our Indiana Black-Owned Business Loan Fund to answer the question:

What does Black History Month mean to you?”

Here's how they responded:


8393 Creative Solutions

Von Watts, CEO/ Founder —

“To understand yourself, you must understand how you got here. Black History Month, although limited, gives us the opportunity to learn so much about where we come from and those that have paved the way for us today. Our history is not just about the bad times we went through; it’s about determination, integrity, and standing up for yourself and others. This month, we celebrate us with the world, but we carry the celebration with us each and every day.”


Sip & Share Wines

Nicole Kearney, Founder —

“I see Black History Month as a time to highlight Black culture in the past and now, and the contributions made to the development of this country. It also shows the in-equity when we see so many firsts still happening. I celebrate Black History Now and Black Future 365.”


MJ’s Backyard BBQ

Matthew Thompson, Owner —

“It means a lot that our history means something.”
“There are resources that we are being given now that weren’t given to us or knowledge that wasn’t given to us in the past, and I believe companies like Bankable are giving us a chance to say… we can run a business successfully as long as we have the same resources.”
“If you look at Black businesses, a lot of them are in the culinary field... and that comes from our ancestors, that comes from our Black history. It’s in our blood, that’s what we do, that’s what we fall back on. That’s a way of clinging to our family.”
“I just believe Black History Month is a month to show each other, hey, we can be successful, we need to work together, and we need to encourage each other.”


Vibes Barber Beauty Spa

Marcus Anderson, Owner —

“​​It means we still have a lot to do when it comes to understanding the history. Most Black history was destroyed and whitewashed. If we allow ignorance to oversee our opinions we fail to discover the truth ourselves. Study the history; don't accept his-story.”