If you’re looking for a list of Black-owned bars, restaurants, and coffee shops in New Orleans, look no further. Westley Bayas III, a New Orleans native and local foodie put together an incredible interactive map.

Supporting Black-owned businesses not only help to close the racial wealth gap, which can be traced back to Jim Crow-era practices such as job discrimination and redlining, it also helps to strengthen our local economy and foster job creation. Studies have shown that it is small businesses with fewer than 500 employees, not larger corporations that are the job creators.

According to the Civic Economics Study in Grand Rapids, $68 of every $100 spent at a small business stays in the local economy. By comparison, when you shop at a larger business, only $43 of every $100 stays local.

Unfortunately, although Black-owned businesses represent 40 percent of the small businesses in New Orleans, they account for only two percent of the total sales. We can change this by supporting these businesses whenever we go out to eat, drink, or for a cup of coffee.

Jenn Bentley is a freelance journalist and editor who publishes Wander N.O. More, a digital publication focused on the small businesses, events, people and projects that are the backbone of New Orleans. Her work has also been featured in publications such as The High Tech Society, FansShare, Yahoo News, Examiner.com, and others. Follow her on Twitter: @JennBentley_