Local black-owned businesses celebrate growth during Black History Month

LANSING, Mich. (WILX) – Black-owned businesses in mid-Michigan are using Black History Month to celebrate their growth and the community support that helped them succeed.

Candice Pizzo has owned Oracle’s Apothecary in Lansing since 2018. The business specializes in natural skin care products made with essential oils and clean ingredients, without preservatives.

“We specialize in doing really natural skincare that has essential oils, really clean ingredients, no preservatives, and also believe in bringing herbs to people so they can use it for however they decide to use it,” Pizzo said.

Pizzo said community support has helped her business grow over the past five years.

“We started carrying maybe 5 or 6 herbs when we first opened, and now we have over 160,” Pizzo said.

In East Lansing, Robert Wilkie recently expanded his restaurant, RJ’s Burgers and Ice Cream because of community support. The original location in Jackson has been in business since 2021.

“We just opened this one on December 9th, which was our son’s birthday that passed away, and that’s how we started this RJs is for Robert Junior,” Wilkie said.

For Wilkie, Black History Month provides an opportunity to lead by example.

“Black history month is very special to us, and of course, we’re minorities ourselves, and we just want to be great examples of what great people can be doing,” Wilkie said.

Pizzo said the month allows her to celebrate her family and business while also providing representation in the community.

“There aren’t a lot of black-owned apothecaries in general in this area. So that is really important that at least there is representation because it does matter,” Pizzo said.

Pizzo, who grew up in Lansing, said the community continues to support her business five years after it opened.

Michigan State University is also marking Black History Month with lectures, book talks and guest speakers. Events begin at 5:30 p.m. today with a talk by Dean Jelani Cobb, an author and documentary producer, at the Multicultural Center in East Lansing.

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