What it’s like to be a person of color in Montana: Two Great Falls business owners share their stories

Montana’s 43 hate crime incidents from 2021 to 2023 underscore persistent racial challenges.

Two minority business owners in Great Falls, Montana, have shared candid insights into their experiences as people of color in a largely white state. Their perspectives illuminate ongoing struggles with microaggressions and social stigma, highlighting unresolved tensions in race relations.

Candice English, a Native entrepreneur who has lived in Montana for eleven months, and Devon Kamaka, a Black co-owner of a local business, describe the subtle and complex challenges they face. FBI data confirms 43 hate crimes occurred statewide during that period, while Montana’s population is approximately 87 percent white, with Black residents making up about one percent. Both owners emphasize the need for greater understanding, with English noting she often creates her own spaces rather than pushing against exclusion, and Kamaka urging individuals to “just be yourself.” Their stories reflect findings from a 2021 American Journal of Public Health study linking microaggressions to negative mental health outcomes.

Though the article does not specify forthcoming initiatives, these firsthand accounts contribute to a broader conversation about inclusion in Montana’s business community.

For Montana entrepreneurs, these experiences suggest that navigating race relations remains a nuanced challenge; the state’s demographic makeup and cultural attitudes could shape both obstacles and opportunities for minority-owned businesses moving forward.

What it’s like to be a person of color in Montana: Two Great Falls business owners share their stories
By Quentin Shores, KRTV NEWS Great Falls