It was business and a time to get one's company noted and to network -- with some humor and music thrown in as well.

In honor of Black History Month, the Barnwell County Museum held a program Feb. 28 to recognize the county's black-owned businesses.

The celebration was the brainchild the museum's manager, Marie Peeples.There are 70 black-owned businesses in the county.

"I was amazed there were so many black-owned businesses in the county," said Teresa Jenkins, the mistress of ceremonies for the event. Jenkins is a museum board member.

The event also included musical performances by Chris Neal, Jhordan Jenkins, Bo Gardner, Otis Brown and Wesley Scott.

After the musical numbers, various business people stood and spoke about their businesses and the business climate in Barnwell County in general.

"We encourage you to support each other," said Anthony Gadsden of Exclusively Gadsden, a Barnwell clothing store.

Gadsden also spoke of keeping commerce within the county's black-owned businesses.

"There's a lot of places that I got an opportunity to lay some bricks and help some young people too," said Shelree Gaines of Gaines Construction.

Many businesses represented at the event have been operating for decades, Charlie Neal with Swat Termite and Pest Control said.

Neal opened the discussion up wider.

"When it comes down to race and issues of race, it's something people don't want to talk about it," Neal said. "The thing that worries me most as a black businessman is not that they aren't doing for us, it's we aren't doing for ourselves. We need to participate to hold up black businesses."

Neal praised the musicians.

"That's the one thing that crosses all racial boundaries over the years is our love of music," he said.

Roger Allen with Allen's Appliance Repair encouraged black business people to network more.