Concerning VIolence
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The Black-Owned Market
CRWN On The Move: The Black Owned Marketplace
Want to Support Black Businesses? The BOM Pop Up Market Has a Solution - Saint Heron
WANT TO SUPPORT BLACK BUSINESSES? THE BOM POP UP MARKET HAS A SOLUTION
BY MALAIKA JABALI | PUBLISHED: DECEMBER 20, 2016
Many of us know the statistics. Black American buying power has topped a trillion dollars every year for the past 5 years, yet some researchers say we circulate this money in our communities for only 6 hours. Compare this to Asian communities (28 days) and Jewish communities (19 days), and it’s clear to see that, for a host of reasons, we aren’t supporting enough black-owned businesses.
Instead of merely rehashing complaints about our tendency to spend outside of our communities, Michelle Dalzon worked on a solution. The result was The Black Owned Market, which she playfully penned “The BOM.” The goal? Make shopping black cool, convenient, and fun.
The BOM’s inaugural event in DUMBO was just that. The BOM–a pop-up market featuring dozens of vendors, an open bar, hor d’oeurves, and DJ Martian spinning throwback jams–was a feast for the senses. And of course, the vendors were lit. Literally. Candle company LIT BKLYN set up shop with holiday themed soy-wax candles. CRWN Magazine and its founders, Lindsey Day and Nkrumah Farrar, were also in the building to sell their newly released inaugural issue, which beautifully celebrates black women and our natural hair. Debra Cartwright and other artists provided live illustrations and original art for sale. And many more black retailers offered a wide array of goods, just in time for holiday shopping.
Michelle broke away for a few moments to sit down with Saint Heron and discuss her inspiration and her vision. “[Black businesses] are not easily found and there’s not a lot of us, so when you see black businesses in the neighborhood, you can’t find them online and shop easily from there,” she shares. “Another thing is that people are not trusting of black businesses. There are stereotypes that we are unprofessional, too expensive, or mediocre.”
Dalzon wants to change the stigma. Beyond that, she’s fostering a community. “We can co-exist with the Chinatowns, the Little Italies, the Jewish communities of the world and really prosper. We’re one of the only communities that doesn’t have that hub. And we want to do it in the right way.”
Historical context is not lost on the entrepreneur. “When we did this successfully, people tore it down, but they saw the power,” Michele says, in a reference to communities like Black Wall Street in Tulsa Oklahoma, black neighborhoods in Atlanta prior to its 1906 race riots, and other successful black American economic hubs that we formed before integration or racist terror disintegrated them.
Fortunately, a growing number of young, black entrepreneurs who unapologetically serve black buyers has been forming. Dalzon recognizes this, and has her sights set on expanding to Los Angeles and other major markets.
With our support of The BOM and other black ventures, we can ensure black businesses– which tend to hire black people more than other firms—aren’t just sources of consumption, but that they become lasting institutions that help decrease disparate wealth gaps and are pillars of pride for our people for generations to come.
The inaugural event recently launched like 2 weeks ago so there's not much to glean from. Everyone should keep their eye on this, though. For NYers and Brooklynites, you can go to these events in person yourself.
CRWN On The Move: The Black Owned Marketplace
Want to Support Black Businesses? The BOM Pop Up Market Has a Solution - Saint Heron
WANT TO SUPPORT BLACK BUSINESSES? THE BOM POP UP MARKET HAS A SOLUTION
BY MALAIKA JABALI | PUBLISHED: DECEMBER 20, 2016
Many of us know the statistics. Black American buying power has topped a trillion dollars every year for the past 5 years, yet some researchers say we circulate this money in our communities for only 6 hours. Compare this to Asian communities (28 days) and Jewish communities (19 days), and it’s clear to see that, for a host of reasons, we aren’t supporting enough black-owned businesses.
Instead of merely rehashing complaints about our tendency to spend outside of our communities, Michelle Dalzon worked on a solution. The result was The Black Owned Market, which she playfully penned “The BOM.” The goal? Make shopping black cool, convenient, and fun.
The BOM’s inaugural event in DUMBO was just that. The BOM–a pop-up market featuring dozens of vendors, an open bar, hor d’oeurves, and DJ Martian spinning throwback jams–was a feast for the senses. And of course, the vendors were lit. Literally. Candle company LIT BKLYN set up shop with holiday themed soy-wax candles. CRWN Magazine and its founders, Lindsey Day and Nkrumah Farrar, were also in the building to sell their newly released inaugural issue, which beautifully celebrates black women and our natural hair. Debra Cartwright and other artists provided live illustrations and original art for sale. And many more black retailers offered a wide array of goods, just in time for holiday shopping.
Michelle broke away for a few moments to sit down with Saint Heron and discuss her inspiration and her vision. “[Black businesses] are not easily found and there’s not a lot of us, so when you see black businesses in the neighborhood, you can’t find them online and shop easily from there,” she shares. “Another thing is that people are not trusting of black businesses. There are stereotypes that we are unprofessional, too expensive, or mediocre.”
Dalzon wants to change the stigma. Beyond that, she’s fostering a community. “We can co-exist with the Chinatowns, the Little Italies, the Jewish communities of the world and really prosper. We’re one of the only communities that doesn’t have that hub. And we want to do it in the right way.”
Historical context is not lost on the entrepreneur. “When we did this successfully, people tore it down, but they saw the power,” Michele says, in a reference to communities like Black Wall Street in Tulsa Oklahoma, black neighborhoods in Atlanta prior to its 1906 race riots, and other successful black American economic hubs that we formed before integration or racist terror disintegrated them.
Fortunately, a growing number of young, black entrepreneurs who unapologetically serve black buyers has been forming. Dalzon recognizes this, and has her sights set on expanding to Los Angeles and other major markets.
With our support of The BOM and other black ventures, we can ensure black businesses– which tend to hire black people more than other firms—aren’t just sources of consumption, but that they become lasting institutions that help decrease disparate wealth gaps and are pillars of pride for our people for generations to come.
The inaugural event recently launched like 2 weeks ago so there's not much to glean from. Everyone should keep their eye on this, though. For NYers and Brooklynites, you can go to these events in person yourself.
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