Kampus Kuts: a staple of the Black community

For over 15 years, Kampus Kuts has serviced the people of Carbondale in all of their hair cutting needs. 

The owner of Kampus Kuts, Moshe Anderson, an SIU graduate, aims to support the community that he has called home for so many years. 

As a barber Anderson is able to achieve this by being directly connected to the community. 

“One thing I really love is to actually just watch the students come in as freshman and graduate, and even the residents come in as children and we watch them grow up and I think that’s a great thing; a great rite of passage that a barbershop provides to the community,” Anderson said. 

Growing up in Chicago, Anderson learned to cut hair as early as 12 years old and never stopped. Upon coming to Carbondale in the mid-’90s for graduate school, Anderson fell in love with the city and has yet to look back.

After graduating, Anderson sought to open a barbershop and found the Carbondale community was lacking one. Today, there are approximately 15 businesses that cut hair in some capacity in Carbondale.

Gallery • 5 Photos

Chris Bishop | @quippedmediallc

Quivon Bledsoe works on Ryan Reed’s cut Thursday, Feb. 11, 2021, in Carbondale Ill. Bledsoe and Reed have been coworkers for the past four years.

“The barbershop is a pinnacle in the neighborhood. Always has been. It’s always been a place for young men, older men, and children to come in and get well groomed and also to get counseling advice and just trade information. A place where men can be men, guys can be guys, and that’s one thing that I really appreciate about the barbershop and it’s so needed in the community,” Anderson said. 

Staff Photographer James Allen can be reached at [email protected] or on Instagram at @skyclopsphotojamboree. 

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