How We Got Started
Our Story
In November 2018, Bantucola was established. Bantucola has quickly become the gateway for business information in the Black community of North West Florida. In addition to being the largest Black Business Directory on the Gulf Coast, it is also one of the only Black-Owned media outlets from Pensacola to Tallahassee. Bantucola.com provides support for Black Businesses and news the Black community can trust.
Chris Hendricks, the founder of Bantucola.com, is building a robust Black Business Ecosystem using the 1Kx20 model. Chris says, “We pair small Black-Owned businesses with events that promote group economics at scale. We aim to gather 1000 people to spend $20 at a local Black-Owned business. The Black Business Weekend is all about us being practitioners of what we preach, which is supporting the Black community and building its economic capacity.”
Passing of the Batton
I
n 2023, Chris needed to step back from Bantucola for a while to maintain other interests that were much more pressing. However, he left Bantucola in the caring hands of Katrice Johnson, who has been in business for over 25 years, and has a real love for the black community and seeing the economic development of black businesses.
Her goal has been to maintain the integrity of Bantucola while adding new features that will enhance the community as the organization continues to develop and grow. Streamlining how Bantucola has been a voice for black-owned small businesses for the past 6 years, Katrice is now transitioning Bantucola into a new generation of opportunity.
In the past two and half years Bantucola has gone through several changes and with the lead and direction of Katrice as the Executor, Bantucola is now ready to service the community more effectively. Bantucola is now ready to offer a more opportunity to the black community in more ways than one. Those opportunities include:
- Health Education
- Business Development Workshops
- Podcast for Business
- Branding and Marketing Opportunities
- Special Events
What Is Bantucola?
The name Bantucola is relative to who African Americans are as a people. The word “Bantu” simply means people. When you look up the word Bantu however, it also states that it is the root language to most of the African languages and tribes on the Continent of Africa. Therefore, we chose the name Bantucola because it connects African Americans as a people. Our motto is Many Tribes, 1 Nation. Thus the name of Bantucola.
Why Bantucola?
Being the large directory on the Gulf Coast for the black community BantuCola reaches this community through our website, online streaming, social media outlets, and our events. We provide the voice that our community needs to be seen and heard. We want to be the bridge that connects business to the black community through group economics, education, and corporate responses. We focus on 7 areas.
- • Tribal Unity
• Business Development & Economic Growth
• Healthcare
• Education
• Faith
• Self Defense
• Pursuit of Native Languages
Board Members
Rashun D. Faust, President
The Navigator Firm
Kelle Daniels, Vice President
The Strategic Connection
Tranise Bright, Community Liaison
Owner of B & B Enterprises
Myeisha Pope, Secretary
The Black Gazelle
Dierre Johnson, Treasurer
Patrick J. Austin, Committee Member
PJA Ministries
Dr. Finis Massey, Committee Member
Owners of Definitive Cyber Solutions
Deborah Massey, Committee Member
Owners of DA Stressless Travel
Fresh Off The Gram
Can you spot a Black Business below? Check out our Instagram page and don’t forget to Follow (Please & Thank You!) Find a logo or story of a black business and leave a comment!
Our Mission
We want to be the bridge that connects business to the black community through group economics, education and corporate responses. We focus on these 7 areas. Bantucola.com is a platform dedicated to the future of a prosperous Black Gulf Coast from Birmingham to Panama City by the year 2100.
Our Goal
Our goal and mission is to enrich the community with information, and local sustainability that will help them regroup in the areas that we hold dear. We will be the driving force to help the black community make informed decisions and encourage them to think of supporting the black community. This is our driving force in order to rebuild, revive, and recondition it stronger through our influence to propagate black wealth and restructure of the black community.
Group Economics
“A race that is solely dependent upon another for its economic existence sooner or later dies.” ~ Marcus Garvey, Founder Universal Negro Improvement Association and African Communities League
Our Stories
“Its better to get smart than to get mad. I try not to get so insulted that I will not take advantage of an opportunity to persuade people to change their minds.” ~ John Johnson, Founder Johnson Publishing
Loving Us
“I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” ~ Maya Angelou, Author
Pillars To Stand On
BantuCola is an ideological anchor that allows for the accelerated growth of the African Diaspora in NW Florida. Built around knowledge pillars and core principles to provide wisdom and economic freedom for our children generations into the future.
Principles To Build On
- Mt1N – Many tribes One Nation.
- We are made in the Image of God.
- We practice self love.
- We practice group economics.
- We pursue learning an African Language.
- We pursue higher education & experimentation.
- We are ready to defend by any means necessary.
Community to Depend On
BantuCola is designed to help rebuild the community with black businesses and entrepreneurs. By building black businesses within our own community those businesses will in turn support the black community. But the black community must be able to support our black businesses as well.