By Megan SaylesAFRO Enterprise Writermsayles@afro.com
Proprietor and Creatress of Blk Ass Flea Mkt Brianne Mobley is taking again Black Friday as soon as once more with Blk Ass Friday on Nov. 29. The market shall be held in West Baltimore at Coppin State College’s School of Enterprise, showcasing a wide range of wares from 50 Black-owned companies.
The occasion was first placed on in 2022, attracting a powerful turnout. Mobley determined to convey it again in 2024 to proceed amplifying the significance of circulating the Black greenback within the Black neighborhood.
“We’ve this catchphrase referred to as, ‘conserving the coin locally.’ That’s one of many pillars of labor that we do,” mentioned Mobley. “That’s why Blk Ass Friday is coming again. It’s a magical day as a result of we’re reclaiming it and conserving our greenback in our neighborhood.”
Based on the McKinsey Institute for Black Financial Mobility, the spending energy of Black customers in 2019 was $910 billion. That quantity is anticipated to develop to $1.7 trillion by 2030. Despite this large collective financial energy, the Black greenback has a comparatively quick life span in Black communities.
Mobely picked up on this data and wished to do her half in altering it. Earlier than beginning Blk Ass Flea Mkt, she was a full-spectrum doula, serving Black moms within the birthing and postpartum area. As a part of the work, she organized neighborhood occasions for girls and mothers— lots of whom have been additionally entrepreneurs and creatives.
After watching the COVID-19 pandemic devastate Black companies throughout the town, she shifted her focus to discovering a solution to encourage pleasure in her neighborhood.
“Blk Ass Flea Mkt was born from the significance Black pleasure and seeing Black pleasure as our resistance,” Mobley. “It ended up being a motion that the town wanted I suppose as a result of it was alleged to be a one-day pop-up, however individuals mentioned they wanted me to come back again.”
Mobley held the primary Blk Ass Flea Mkt in Could 2021 with about 15 companies taking part. Since then, it’s grown to function as many as 80 companies. Patrons and distributors come from out of city to attend.
After every gathering, Mobley conducts a survey to higher perceive the challenges entrepreneurs face. She then makes use of their responses to tell the curriculum for Blk Ass College, a continuum of assets for Black enterprise house owners. Previous workshops embrace vendor sales space setup, social media fundamentals and crafting press releases.
The market continues to be nomadic with earlier areas, together with Baltimore Peninsula, the Baltimore Museum of Business and the Reginald F. Lewis Museum of Maryland African American Historical past and Tradition, however Mobley is striving to safe a everlasting house within the metropolis. In the future, she hopes to make Blk Ass Flea Mkt a touring occasion throughout the nation, visiting cities throughout America and energizing their native Black companies.
“Baltimore is in a modern-day Black renaissance,” mentioned Mobley. “The individuals which can be coming right here want to us because the magicians in relation to Black magic. We’re what makes the town cool and proceed to thrive.”
Shannon Johnson, proprietor of B. Marie Equipment, first attended Blk Ass Flea Mkt as a client in 2022. The West Baltimore native mentioned she grew up frequenting neighborhood markets and festivals together with her household. Looking via handmade objects and supporting enterprise house owners from her neighborhood turned one thing she regarded ahead to.
That very same yr, she was accepted to be a vendor at Blk Ass Flea Mkt. She mentioned the expertise helped to raise her enterprise.
“I’ve made connections at Blk Ass Flea Mkt which have become collaborations and friendships, and I’ve had lovely moments assembly outdated associates too,” mentioned Johnson. “It’s really grown to be greater than a market showcasing Black-owned companies to buy from and curating occasions celebrating Black tradition, however an energized neighborhood of multi-talented, multi-dimensional individuals excited to fulfill you the place you’re.”
Johnson’s model was born in 2020 out of her love for self-expression via accessorizing. She named it after her mom, “B,” who impressed her sense of favor. B. Marie Equipment provides curated collections of high quality, reasonably priced style jewellery and branded eyewear.
Johnson will once more function a vendor at Blk Ass Friday.
“Markets like Blk Ass Flea Mkt are vital for Black companies as a result of there may be hidden and never so hidden limitations to the success of our companies. We’re not at all times welcome in different areas, or we don’t at all times obtain the assets wanted to excel. After we discover our individuals and pour into one another, we will go additional collectively.”
Queneisha J. Harvey, proprietor of Le Bleu Bodycare, may even be taking part in Blk Ass Friday. The Miami native is new to the world, having simply relocated to Baltimore in June 2023. Listening to in regards to the close-knit artistic neighborhood in Appeal Metropolis led her to make the transfer.
She devised the idea for Le Bleu Bodycare throughout her being pregnant. On the time, she wished to develop into extra intentional in regards to the merchandise she was utilizing as she ready for motherhood. After researching and testing out do-it-yourself merchandise in her house, she launched the pure perfume home and wellness studio. Her model nixes the widespread use of dangerous chemical substances, like phthalates, carcinogens and parabens.
Harvey participated in her first Blk Ass Flea Mkt final spring. The expertise confirmed what she’d been listening to in regards to the solidarity of the Black artistic neighborhood in Baltimore.
“All people was simply very supportive, whether or not they have been a vendor or they have been purchasing. All of them had an curiosity, and so they all wished to assist you financially and so they all wished to be taught extra about your product,” mentioned Harvey. “The Blk Ass Flea Mkt workforce really makes you’re feeling like you’re household.”
This story is a part of the Digital Fairness Native Voices Fellowship lab. The lab initiative is made potential with assist from Comcast NBC Common.
