PHOTOS: Wake Tech Barber School honors Black History Month

WAKE COUNTY, N.C. (WTVD) -- In honor of Black History Month, The Black Friday Market collaborated with Wake Tech's Barber School to bring student barbers to an exciting retail space downtown.

Students gave basic haircuts and trims while customers browsed products from Black entrepreneurs.

For many small communities and especially in African American communities, the barbershop serves as an information and community center. It's a main street business that gives communities a sense of place. During the COVID-19 pandemic, many businesses suffered closures or lost revenue while many people missed being able to go to their favorite stylist.

The Wake Tech Barber School graduates 20 to 40 students a year. This first field experience helps students accumulate more than 1,500 practice hours required by the NC Barber Board.