Empowering Black entrepreneurs
It is a consensus that community is an essential pillar of self-care, playing a crucial role in our well-being by providing support, connection, and a sense of belonging.
Data from Minnesota Compass show Black people make up less than 10% of Minnesota’s population, so finding events centered around the Black community can be challenging. DeSeandra “Seanie” Sheppheard, a Black woman from Maple Grove, saw this as an issue and embraced changing it.
She envisioned a realm wherein Black culture and entrepreneurship thrived—where stores and products celebrated and resonated with her identity. A realm where people of color could come, experience, and learn about the multitude of services and products available from their community. Since its launch in 2021, this dynamic market has garnered much admiration and respect.
Born from her dream of a thriving Black community in Minnesota came The Black Market, a unique marketplace determined to fulfill its mission to assist in closing the wealth gap in Minnesota by offering new pathways of Black economics. Through the market, our community can eat, shop, and gather to support more than 50 Black vendors offering various items.
On August 10, the last Black Market of the summer took place at the Case Building in Minneapolis. The event, which moves from location to location, featured many vendors and drew hundreds of community members.
The sound of laughter and the smell of delicious food were carried through the market in the light breeze. It was the sunniest day of the week, and the vibes were business, joyous and cultural.
I arrived ready to eat and was happy to see they had everything from oxtail over rice to banana pudding. However, despite the impressive selection of tasty treats, the lack of seating meant I had to eat in my car. While the inconvenience was minor, it underscores a small area of improvement for future events.
The stars of the show that day were the Black business owners. They varied widely in age, nationality and longevity, but what they all had in common was an unwavering commitment to servicing and strengthening their community.
Regina Brown, owner of Regina’s Purposed Teas, offered organic herbal tea blends that she created to nurture the body, mind and spirit. She greeted me warmly like we were old friends and took her time detailing the health benefits of her available teas, such as stimulating the release of serotonin, aiding digestion, and enhancing cognitive function.
Each blend is paired with unique, thoughtful meditation or reflection designed to deepen one’s connection with oneself and the world around them. When I asked Regina what her ideal impact was, she said, “ I desire each cup of tea to offer a sanctuary from the chaos of everyday life.”
When you feel good, you want to look good; when you look good, you want to feel good. Either way, I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to tap in with Jamil Jackson, the up-and-coming owner of Ordinary Design Studio. Jamil is among only a few Black tattoo artists in Minnesota, but he is expanding his services.
He now offers printing services to young Black fashion designers, curates his fashion brand, and helps with the program C.E.O (Change Equals Opportunity) Summer Academy, which gives young men (ages 10-18) a safe space to learn, engage and grow. The market provides a wonderful opportunity to hear about new programs created to empower youth and foster creativity.
As the night ended, I was hungry for knowledge that only a good book could satisfy. As I sought out a good book to read, I happened upon Otieno Nyangweso, a Kenyan man who moved from Nairobi to Minneapolis when he was only 19.
Otieno stood proudly in front of three tables covered in Black-authored novels. He owns Uhuru Bookstore and has sold Afro- and African-centric books since the early 90s. “Uhuru” in Swahili means freedom, which he told me he was offering through his selection of stories.
He was soft-spoken, but the passion in his voice rang raucously through each word when he said, “True knowledge of one’s self and the resulting pride works the most effectively against white supremacy and awakens one’s sleeping giant.”
The Black Market team will rest next month as it prepares for its fall season opener on Oct. 12, 2024.