Food is such an important part of African-American history and culture. Black families gather for meals on Sundays, holidays and to celebrate monumental moments in life through generations. Black restaurant owners serve up traditional foods such as fried chicken, biscuits and collard greens to empower their communities and provide a tasty escape.

There are iconic restaurants around the U.S. which served as safe havens during the Civil Rights Era and beyond, here are 9 that we must continue to support, especially during this financially hard time for many businesses.

Ben’s Chili Bowl – Washington, D.C.

Ben’s Chili Bowl has been a landmark restaurant in the DC area since 1958 when it opened. This spot is so iconic that Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Barack Obama approved.

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To best serve our community during this difficult time, in accordance with the safety directives from our Mayor, Ben’s will be taking call-in orders which you can now pick up curbside at the restaurant. For delivery, order through GrubHub, Uber Eats, or Caviar. Be safe, family! #benschilibowl #benschili #chili #halfsmoke #dceats #delivery #grubhub #ubereats #caviar #staysafe #stayhealthy #covid_19

A post shared by The Original Ben’s Chili Bowl (@benseverything) on Mar 17, 2020 at 6:03am PDT

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The restaurant remained open during the 1968 race riots and the Black Lives Matter movement this year.

When dining at Ben’s Chili Bowl, you have to get the half-smoke, a pork and beef sausage with chopped onions, yellow mustard and chili.

The Busy Bee Cafe – Atlanta, Georgia

Located in Atlanta, this historic restaurant has been open since 1947. During the Civil Rights Movement, activists would gather and dine at The Busy Bee Cafe during their strategy sessions.

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A Gem in Our Community Since 1947 and One of the FEW Places to Eat During Segregation. Our Love, Prayers and Support Go Out to the Non-Violent Protesters, Leaders and the People of Our Community. We Must Stand TOGETHER and Bring Change! #BlackLivesMatter #SupportBlackBusiness . . . . . . #ATL #Atlanta #SoulFood #AtlantaRestaurant #AtlantaEats #Foodie #ATLEats #AtlantaFood #AtlantaLife #AtlantaFoodie #FriedChicken #ATLFoodie #ATLFood #TheBusyBee #ATLNights #AtlantaRestaurants #FoodPorn #Foodstagram #FoodGasm #InstaFood #FriedChicken #FriedChickenWings #SoulFoodToGo #SoulFoodCatering #SoulFoodie #SoulFoodKitchen #BusyBee #BusyBeeATL #BestFriedChicken

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You can feast on Southern dishes and their iconic fried chicken which is marinated for 12 hours before being fried.

Melba’s – New York City, New York

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Dear Frontline Workers,⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ We give you this food as a small token of appreciation for your hard work, commitment and dedication to our friends and families. You selflessly put your lives on the line daily to protect us and that sacrifice is priceless. We pray for your well being and that God puts an armour of protection around you and your loved ones. Forever Grateful – AMEN⁣⁣ 🙏🏾 to @furmanfoto for the beautiful 📸’s ⁣⁣ #frontline #workers #heros #doctors #nurses #food #appreciation #hardwork #committment #dedication #melbasharlem #meals #northerncomfort #support #feeding #coronavirus #covid19 #virus #medicine #NYC #Harlem #global #pandemic #socialdistancing #physicaldistancing #positivity

A post shared by Melba Wilson Melbas Restaurant (@melbasharlem) on May 13, 2020 at 2:58am PDT

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Head to Harlem for this iconic NYC restaurant serving up comfort food such as fried catfish, mac and cheese, collard greens candied yams and more.

Roscoe’s Chicken & Waffles – Los Angeles, California

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Weekend Right 👀 . . . #friedchicken #chicken #collardgreens #macncheese #roscoeschickenandwaffles #foodie #foodpic #food #vscofood #foodoftheday #closeup #instafood #foodporn #forkyeah #getinmybelly #yelpeats #yelpeatsla #yelpla #lafood #goodeats #yummy #delicious #noms #delivery #losangeles #inglewood #anaheim #longbeach #hollywood

A post shared by Roscoe’s Chicken & Waffles™️ (@roscoesofficial) on Sep 19, 2020 at 9:42am PDT

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When in LA, you have to hit up Roscoe’s. Not only is the fried chicken and waffles amazingly delicious, but there are also generous helpings of biscuits, omelet and mac and cheese.

Bertha’s Kitchen – Charleston, South Carolina

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When you do what u do. Ain’t never asked for no accolades, no P.R. company pushing them. Nope nope nope. Just feeding the hood for 30 years doing what they do. I gave her so much hugs earlier. Told her it’s big for our community, fa we culture. Shout out to the ladies of Bertha Kitchen and their #jamesbeard #jamesbeardaward medal for being an American Classic. I respect it because I the same way. I doing it for the love. Do it for the culture. #gullahgeecheenation #geecheeeats #eatlocalchs #chseats #holycityeats #firstbitechs #gullahfood #seaislandcuisine #eaterchs #culturethroughfood #afrocooking #gullahgeecheecuisine #africandiaspora #africanroots #caribbeanroots #gullahgeechee #gullah #geechee #geechie #northcharleston #charlestonsc #explorechs #explorecharleston #chs #chsnews #chsdaily

A post shared by BJ Dennis (@chefbjdennis) on Jul 17, 2017 at 5:52pm PDT

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Bertha’s arguably has the best fried chicken in all of South Carolina. When dining here, you should also try the collard greens and pork chops.

Dooky Chase – New Orleans, Louisiana

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Thursday’s pork chop plate!

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For over 65 years civil rights activist and chef Leah Chase served up Creole comfort food for patrons of Dooky Chase. The restaurant was owned and operated by Leah and her husband since the 1940s. Although Leah passed last year, her legacy lives on through this iconic restaurant.

The Four Way – Memphis, Tennessee

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Happy Friday everyone 🤩🤩🤩 #GreatDayatTheFourWay • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • #soulfood #choose901 #thefourway #friedcatfish #blackeyepeas #candiedyams #cornbread #homecooked #blackbusiness #supportblackbusiness #blackhistorymonth #memphishistory #memphiseats #travelchannel #foodnetwork #soulsvilleusa #soulsville @travelchannel @foodnetwork @choose901 @memphisfoodblog @dailyfoodfeed @memphistravel @memphisflyer @memphishistory @foodys @thisisinsiderfood @taste_of_the901 @tsdmemphis @tristatebank @thenewtristatedefender @tristatehype @buzzfeedfood @memphistravel @foodys @thisisinsiderfood @memphisbestinblue @unapologeticallymemphis

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This iconic Memphis spot was a meeting point during the Civil Rights Movement. Activists like Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. gathered here for its famous fried chicken and turkey & dressing dishes.

Old Fashioned Donuts – Chicago, Illinois

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Mr. Buritt Bulloch has been making donuts at Old Fashion Donuts on the Southside of Chicago for 47yrs. NOTHING but respect to the OG, I hope to still be goin strong at what I’m passionate about 47 years later. 🙏🏾 📸 Jeff Marini

A post shared by Quincy “GQ” McConnell (@gq412) on Jun 5, 2020 at 7:52am PDT

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Located in South Side Chicago, this eatery has been a neighborhood staple for almost 50 years. Every donut made here is hand cut, fried and glazed. If you’re not into donuts, you can try an apple fritter topped with fresh pecans!

Shirley Mae’s Cafe – Louisville, Kentucky

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Shirley Mae’s, a black-owned cafe that will have you coming back daily! Their fried chicken, Mac ‘n cheese, banana pudding and corn bread are items you have to try on the menu! #BlackLivesMatter #TasteLouisville photo- @food.drunk

A post shared by Taste Louisville (@tastelouisville) on Jun 7, 2020 at 5:09pm PDT

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Shirley Mae’s has been in business for over 30 years and is praised by patrons for its smothered pork chops, ham hocks and fried chicken.

Tennessee

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