Meet Terry & Tasha Swain | Business Owners, Investors & Philanthropists

We had the good fortune of connecting with Terry & Tasha Swain and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Terry & Tasha, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
Entrepreneurship has always been a part of my DNA… what I like to call (Dividend Netting Ability). Entrepreneurship is something that is inherently designed into the fabric of my being. From birth I was exposed to entrepreneurship from family members, who all had their own businesses, including my great grand parents, my parents, uncles and aunts. Entrepreneurship for e was caught more than taught. So there wasn’t really a thought process that went into starting my own businesses. It was more so a destiny that I had already been walking in without even realizing it.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
Shout Out Interview

What is the thought process that went into you beginning your own business?

Entrepreneurship has always been a part of my DNA… what I like to call (Dividend Netting Ability). Entrepreneurship is something that is inherently designed into the fabric of my being. From birth I was exposed to entrepreneurship from family members, who all had their own businesses, including my great grand parents, my parents, uncles and aunts. Entrepreneurship for me was caught more than taught. So there wasn’t really a thought process that went into starting my own businesses. It was more so inherently in me. It is a destiny that I had already been walking in, from a young age, without even realizing it.

So is there a person, group, organization, book, etc that you want to dedicate your shoutout to? Who else deserves a little credit and recognition in your story?

The first person we would like to give a shout out and recognition to is Jesus Christ. The Mist High God is the one who deserves all the credit and glory for everything we do and all we have accomplished. Secondly, our parents and family who believes in us and supports us. Thirdly, all of the numerous unofficial business and financial coaches, authors and mentors who have directly and indirectly imparted knowledge and wisdom to us. Fourthly, every person that has ever purchased anything from Blackhouse or supported us in any way.

Please tell us more about your business. We’d love to hear what sets you apart from others, what you are most proud of or excited about.

Our creativity, purpose and vision is what sets us apart from others. We have a purpose to build our own space and tables for blacks to eat from (i.e. prosper) in the areas of business, economics and generational wealth. We have a call to elevate and empower the black community by promoting and encouraging black people to unify and support our own. Blackhouse has a mission to bring black dollars, brand loyalty, business support and buying power back home.

We are most proud of the fact that every person who purchases, supports or wears Blackhouse is supporting a movement to empower black community, return pride to our race and preserve our culture and creed. Every other ethnicity and race has a unified community that practices group economics and supports its own. We are now re-realizing and walking in that same mindset in our community. All Generations prior understood this but somewhere along the way we lost some of the connection to those old community values of the Black Family and Black Home. We are bringing our creativity, contributions, support, loyalty and black dollars back home where it belongs. This way we are able to go back to our original roots and community principles of unity and togetherness, which all started in the Black House.

How did you get to where you are today business-wise. Was it easy? If not, how did you overcome the challenges?

We made it to where we are by faith, hard work, sacrifice and commitment to the process and vision. It was not easy but every step has been worth it. God has been the guiding force and the light leading us forward. He has been the fire that keeps us burning. We started with a single t-shirt design in 2019, which supported the Black Lives Matter movement in response to all of the killings of black men. The t-shirt was black with white letters and had a quote on the front of it that said “Black Man, your life matters, you are valuable, we love you”. We then created a second t-shirt design in 2020 called “2020 Vision” shirts. They signifies the clear vision needed to see Gods path for our people. After Covid-19 Pandemic hit and all of the increased murders of black people at the hands of Cops and other white men that was exposed more to the public, we pivoted our focus and vision to concentrate more on the work of the Black Lives Matter movement. We wanted to do more to support the social justice movement and the elevation of our people in a real NBC and tangible way. The concept of Blackhouse was birthed out of the height of the Black Lives Matter movement. Our persistent commitment to spiritual, mental and economic liberation helps us to overcome any obstacles that are in our path.

What are the lessons you’ve learned along the way.

There are too many lessons to list. But, I will name a few of the most important and impactful lessons. One of the most important lessons we’ve learned along the way is that we must support, utilize and intentionally seek out black businesses and organizations to work with. We must collectively utilize our people for the resources and services within our very own community. We must bank black, buy black, build black, and support black. This is the only way that we can push our community to the place of promise, healing, restoration and wealth. We cannot do it alone. We must do it together. We have also learned that business is also a ministry. Business, especially for the black community, must be purposeful. It’s not all about just making a dollar, but it is also about making a difference. Black businesses must serve the black community and not just provide a service to the black community. It’s about putting and investing back into our communities. We are responsible for building up our communities through businesses and community organizations that give back to those in need and those coming after us. For this reason Blackhouse Fashion Co gives a percentage of its proceeds to charitable and community organizations that uplift, empower, educate and serve the black community. We’ve also learned that prayer and marching alone doesn’t solve the answer to our struggles and injustices. They are major pieces to the solution, but without financial support and contributions to the movement, we will continue to just pray and march and get little to no progress. We as a people, community and culture will only move the needle significantly and accelerate the pedal towards progress by financial empowerment within our own community.

What do you want the world to know about you or your brand and story?

We want the world to know that we use our brand to create and promote positive and progressive change. We want people to know that we have set in motion a paradigm shift in the mindsets of our people, community and culture. We want to leave an indelible impression and lasting legacy in the earth that helps push and propel our people forward and together simultaneously. We are dedicated to instilling value into our community; while honoring the heritage, contributions, creativity and progress that has come from the Black House (Black People). We must continue to work and stick together, because we always have and we always will need the community of the Black House.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Fin & Feathers Star Lounge
The Battery
Ponce City Skyline
Atlantic Station
Fellaships
Krog Street Market
The Beltline

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
The first person we would like to give a shout out and recognition to us God. He is the one who deserves all the credit and glory for everything we do and all we have accomplished. Secondly, our parents and family who believes in us and supports us. Thirdly, all of the numerous unofficial business and financial coaches, authors and mentors who have directly and indirectly imparted knowledge and wisdom to us.

Website: blackhousefashion.com

Instagram: @blackhousefashionco

Facebook: Facebook.com/blackhousefashionco

Image Credits
Photographer: Marc Bibanga Instagram: @akomiphotos