A friend referred me to Sip n' Suds, suggesting that the woman who owns it goes out of her way to make it more then a laundromat by offering community services such as U-Haul, wifi, and snacks. When I went in, I felt my "otherness" among the customers. The male gaze was intense, and comments about my appearance were vocalized as I walked in. The woman's son was working the counter, a really nice young boy. He called me Miss. He didn't know what was in the jar and asked his mother. It was homemade iced tea. Using my $10, I bought oranges, organic cookie bites, and a bottle of water. (I am pretty sure that it was cheaper buying these products here than at the local grocery.)
When I left, I thought about the experience. I thought about how I've never considered the specific ethnicity of business owners, and that if I hadn't been covertly participating in an art project, I wouldn't have patience for not knowing what was in the jar was iced tea. I wouldn't have tolerated being gawked at. As I continue to think about One Large, while it was an uncomfortable experience for me, I feel gratitude for the woman who owns this business. That she has the courage to DIY, to run the laundromat, to include her son in the efforts, and to offer snacks that include fruit. This project has opened my mind to thinking about not only supporting black-owned businesses but also considering what other minority-owned businesses are available to support. How can infrastructure change to enable and empower more minorities to become successful small-business owners?
When I left, I thought about the experience. I thought about how I've never considered the specific ethnicity of business owners, and that if I hadn't been covertly participating in an art project, I wouldn't have patience for not knowing what was in the jar was iced tea. I wouldn't have tolerated being gawked at. As I continue to think about One Large, while it was an uncomfortable experience for me, I feel gratitude for the woman who owns this business. That she has the courage to DIY, to run the laundromat, to include her son in the efforts, and to offer snacks that include fruit. This project has opened my mind to thinking about not only supporting black-owned businesses but also considering what other minority-owned businesses are available to support. How can infrastructure change to enable and empower more minorities to become successful small-business owners?
One Large participant: DB
Name of black-owned business: Sip n' Suds
Location: Hudson, NY
Race/ethnicity of participant: Preferred not to answer
