Houston White. Photograph By Nina Robinson
Houston White opened his barbershop, Houston White Men s Room, in north Minneapolis in late 2008. It became a hub for the Camden neighborhood s Black community, prompting White to create a sister business: Houston White Apparel & Accessories, a fashion line for Black excellence. When the dual shocks of Covid-19 and George Floyd s killing hit Minneapolis, White s business ground to a halt, giving him a chance to reimagine Black-owned business in his city. He emerged with a vision and a plan, which he calls Camdentown. As told to Cameron Albert-Deitch
When you think of Black barbershops, you think of a mom-and-pop hole in the wall.