Publisher Seko Varner is making connecting with Black-owned businesses in the Hampton Roads area easier than ever.
Varner, a multifaceted leader who serves as president and financial consultant for the entertainment and consulting company Positive Vibes Inc., has introduced The Hampton Roads Greenbook, a directory that spotlights and supports Black-owned businesses in the region.
The Hampton Roads Greenbook was inspired by Victor Hugo Green’s Negro Travelers’ Green Book. Green, a postal carrier in Harlem, originally created the guide to help Black travelers navigate safely during segregation. Green’s original guide served as a crucial resource for Black travelers during the Jim Crow era, listing businesses, restaurants, gas stations, and lodging where individuals could safely stop without facing discrimination, the National Park Service reports.
It remained widely used until the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which outlawed “discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex or national origin,” according to the U.S. Department of Labor.
“The problems resulting from generations of legal discrimination must be addressed and rectified by the community and its descendants who suffered discrimination. A lot of the healing is up to us,” Varner told Wavy.com.
The Hampton Roads Greenbook is now taking a modern-day approach and championing Black-owned business owners as well as other diverse groups such as Latinx, veterans, women, and minority organizations. Its directory features an extensive range of at least 392 categories, including accessories, accounting and tax services, Airbnb, anime, bakeries, barbershops, candles, arts and entertainment, commercial real estate, elder care, live streaming, political services, tutoring, and more.
The Hampton Roads Greenbook’s mission also includes circulating the Black dollar. A study released by the Selig Center for Economic Growth says money within the Black community circulates once, compared to six times in the Latino community and nine times in the Asian community.
“After years of contemplation and technical support from the late Bruce Williams and members of the Hampton Roads Committee of 200+ Men, we are excited to address the problem of resource circulation through this platform,” Varner said.
For those seeking access to the directory, it can be found on its website and in app stores for iOS and Android devices. It can be accessed for free, and an upgrade is available to unlock features such as paid listings and placing advertisements.
