Curtis Tire Center: After more than 40 years, one of the few remaining black owned businesses ...

Though it was only recently that I learned that my picture-taking is a form of flaneurism when visiting Southern Maryland this past Fathers' Day Weekend I could not help but reflect on one year ago when documenting the 2006 Juneteenth Celebration at Berry Hill Plantation that I spent a great deal of time photographing South Boston Virginia.

While my interest and foci span the gamut I always make it a special project to photograph black owned businesses in the course of my travels. Which, in recent decades and, particularly, with the onset of integration has been on a steady decline.

As a young black boy growing up in Southern Maryland I have many memories of many black owned businesses.

The 'decline' is not only true in Southern Maryland but also along 14th Street in NW WDC as well as in communities and cities throughout the nation. Including Fort Lauderdale where Tanis Hair Design Unlimited remains as the only black owned business in the Wilton Manor area. When I visit Fort lauderdale or Chelsea NYC, black businesses are hard to find.

It was during my 16 June 2007 Saturday Photo Walk along Great Mills Road in Lexington Park MD when remembering that Curtis Tire had been at the same location during my attendance at Great Mills High School, which I graduated from in June 1973, I then reflected on the fact that Curtis Tire represents one of the few remaining black owned businesses in the lower part of St. Mary's County.

Learn more about the history of Curtis Tire visit Southern Maryland Stories at the Southern Maryland Electric Cooperative's Community Newsletter.

View my Curtis Tire & Auto Center photoset or images at Insider Pages.