Co-op Black History

Black History is made every day, everywhere. We are all connected to the new life, stories, power, and beauty budding into the world all around us through our communities. We love dedicating this month each year to celebrating our community members of color and creating conversation around Black History.

This year, we wanted to focus on Co-op Black History by putting our most tenured Black staff members in the spotlight and sharing their reflections on the history they create here at the Co-op and in the world.

We invite you to keep reading our full conversation with Destiny, Phanessa, Mark, Jackpott, and Steph, and to find more ways of celebrating Black life and Black History this month.

Destiny

How long have you lived in Durham?
My whole life.

How long have you worked here and how did you learn of the Co-op?
Seven Years. My childhood friend D, was the former front end manger.

What do you look forward to coming into the co-op?
The customer.    

Favorite Co-op moment, memory, or activity?
Whenever we did events outside. Especially summer staff pics, anything we did outside.

Favorite Co-op product?
Seattle Apple Cake

Something you were introduced to at the Co-op or learned on the job?
The “healthy food life.” I wasn’t familiar with a lot of things people ate here.

Something you wish for the Co-op?
Success!

A fun or favorite Black history fact?
Durham was once a “Black Wall St,” a term coined to describe affluent upwardly mobile Black communities in the United States. Before the freeway was built through it.

How do you wish the Co-op and community celebrated this month?
Learning more local Black peoples and more representation of the people doing things in our community

How do you make history here?
By showing up!

Phanessa

How long have you lived in Durham?
7 years

How long have you worked here?
Since Nov. 4th 2017

What do you look forward to coming into the Co-op?
The customers.

Favorite Co-op moment, memory, or activity?
$3 dinners, because mingling, meeting new people and families. Plus, it was an affordable dinner.

Favorite Co-op product?
We used to sell the Blue Sky Cherry Vanilla Cola, but now it’s Issac’s Cheesecake.

Something you were introduced to at the Co-op or learned on the job?
How to be open-minded.

Something you wish for the Co-op?
To bring back “Meatless Mondays” and other old traditions. I also wish we have a more unified and active leadership, amongst the board, workers, and owners.

A fun or favorite Black history fact?
Durham has a black queer activist icon, Pauli Murri.

How do you wish the Co-op and community celebrated this month?
Acknowledge it more.

How do you make history here?
By bringing, sharing my personality and trying to help others feel the love [that I have] that I want to give.

Mark

How long have you lived in Durham?
Twelve Years this Feb.

How long have you worked here and how did you learn of the co-op?
[My friend Frank] told me about it and I’ll have worked here seven years this March.

What do you look forward to coming into the Co-op?
The changes, for the entire store, every day is different.

Favorite Co-op moment, memory, or activity?
When I first started, I had to leave for 6 months, and I was hired when I came back.

Favorite Co-op product?
The chocolate candies. It used to be our free samples.

Something you were introduced to at the Co-op or learned on the job?
How the vegetables grow and their nutritional benefits.

Something you wish for the Co-op?
More money.

How do you wish the Co-op and community celebrated this month?
Educate themselves on the purpose [of Black History Month].

How do you make history here?
Just being myself.

Jackpott

How long have you lived in Durham?
Born and raised (left for 13 years, but came back).

How long have you worked here and how did you learn of the Co-op?
Since 2015. My wife found the job and wanted me to leave my former profession. I was formerly a boxer.

What do you look forward to coming into the Co-op?
The people and free stuff.      

Favorite Co-op moment, memory, or activity?
The [staff] Christmas parties and watching people outside in their elements, enjoying themselves.

Favorite Co-op Product?
Our bananas.

Something you were introduced to at the Co-op or learned on the job?
Don’t rehash, no arguments. Say what you said. Things get solved faster.

Something you wish for the Co-op?
Plenty of success, because with our success I get success.

How do you wish the Co-op and community celebrated this month?
A cookout!

Steph

How long have you lived in Durham?
15 years

How long have you worked here and how did you learn of the Co-op?
8 years. I was hired before the opening of the store. There was a job fair at the local unemployment office. I was working for UPS, but the distance was too far.

What do you look forward to coming into the Co-op?
A friendly environment, employees willing and ready to help in any way they can.  

Favorite Co-op moment, memory, or activity?
There are so many of them. Whether it’s the live music that plays during the warmer months of the year or the events held throughout. There are always memorable moments.

Favorite Co-op product?
An oil-based body soap. Dr. Bronner’s Pure Castile Soap

Something you were introduced to at the Co-op / Learned on the job?
A broader perspective of life. A more understanding personality.

Something you wish for the Co-op?
Continued growth

How do you wish the Co-op and community celebrated this month?
A month means nothing when lives were lost on every day of the year. While ideas, patterns, life was stolen.

How do you make history here?
A Neighborday

More on Black History

Co-ops & Civil Rights

Black Owned Businesses at the Co-op