February marks the kickoff of Black History Month—a time not just for reflection, but for celebration. It's a moment to spotlight the brilliance of Black inventors, activists, artists, authors, musicians, and entrepreneurs who helped shape our nation by weaving an eradicable thread into the fabric of our history. In the spirit of celebrating diversity and unity, we’d like to amplify some of our employees' favorite Black artists, authors, thought-leaders and their ideas on creating a more inclusive workplace.
From the iconic Maya Angelou, Malcolm X, and Angela Davis to the contemporary brilliance of Jean-Michel Basquiat, Lorraine Hansberry, Vince Staples, and more, our community embraces a diverse spectrum of artistic influence.
For those seeking to discover impactful voices on social media, our StorQuest® team members closely follow Rachel Cargle, Angela Benton, Barack and Michelle Obama, Kimberlé Crenshaw, and Stacey Abrams. Continue expanding your knowledge on Black history and culture by checking out these top recommended books and podcasts: Vanguard by Martha S. Jones, Small Doses podcast, Milk in My Coffee by Eric Jerome Dickey (a NY Times bestseller), Code Switch podcast, How to Be an Anti-Racist, and It’s Been a Minute podcast.
Black-owned businesses face a disproportionate number of challenges, so anytime you head out to a restaurant or go shopping, consider researching a Black-owned business to support. Online databases such as Official Black Wall Street and The Nile List offer robust directories across industries and geographies. Some of our employee’s favorite Black-owned small businesses include Joe Joe’s Hot Chicken (San Jose, CA), Mz. Jade’s Soul Food (Middletown, OH), Big Chicken by Shaq (Glendale, CA), Blacc Vanilla Cafe (Newburgh, NY), Pee Dee Steak House (Harlem NY), Beauty Galore Essentials and Complete Hair & Beauty Supply.
In celebration of Black History Month, we asked our employees about the Black leaders, businesses, and artists that inspire them. Discover more below as we dive deeper into our awesome employee recommendations.
Kejo Thomas, Senior Team Lead, Call Center
Corporate Office - Santa Monica, CA
Kejo’s favorite performance artists include Jill Scott, Maya Angelou and Prince. She also recommends watching the Steve Harvey Morning Show, and following Rachel Cargle and Angela Benton on Instagram. And when it comes to Black owned restaurants, she's a fan of Roscoe's Chicken and Waffles.
Ray Jackson, Assistant Manager
StorQuest Economy Self Storage
11702 Beechnut St., Houston, TX
Ray enjoys painting, reading, and listening to music by Erykah Badu. Her favorite movie is Hidden Colors which is a documentary about the real and untold history of people of color around the globe. Her favorite Black-owned restaurant in Houston is Cool Runnings Jamaican Bar & Grill. Check it out next time you’re in town!
Jacky Moreno, Store Manager
StorQuest Self Storage
2100 Market St, Lakewood, CA
Jacky is an avid reader, hiker, and mixologist based in Lakewood, CO. She loves Billie Holiday, Nat King Cole, and Ella Fitzgerald among many other greats. Her favorite Black-owned businesses include Bludso’s BBQ, Reparations Clu and Silverback Coffee of Rwanda. If you’re looking for Black leaders to follow on social media, she highly recommends Stacey Abrams, Gary Chambers Jr., Cori Bush, and Derek Green.
Gloria Diaz, Assistant Store Manager
StorQuest Self Storage
10966 Montwood Dr, El Paso, TX
Gloria is a big foodie and loves to dance. Her favorite artists include Etta James, Darius Rucker, and Kevin Hart. For all your hair and beauty needs, she recommends the high quality goods at Complete Hair and Beauty Supply in El Paso. If you’re looking for a great read about African American women’s political lives in America, Vanguard by Martha S. Jones is the book for you!
Matthew Marrero, Payroll Specialist
Corporate Office - Santa Monica, CA
Matthew looks up to Barack Obama and some of his favorite artists include Prince, Jamie Fox and Spike Lee.
Check out this round-up of some amazing charities and nonprofits doing great work in Black communities: NAACP, Black Youth Project, Black Lives Matter, Habitat for Humanity, and Letsbreakthrough.org.
This month and all year long, let's continue supporting Black-owned businesses, engaging in conversations that amplify the richness of Black culture, and taking steps towards a future where diversity and inclusion are not just acknowledged but celebrated every day. Here at StorQuest Self Storage, we are committed to equal pay and equal opportunities for all.