As National Black Business Month draws to a close this Sunday, a significant event in Atlanta aims to bolster Black business ownership and consumer spending.
Impact Church held its 4th annual Black Business Expo, showcasing over 75 local businesses that span diverse industries including agriculture, tutoring, fashion, and real estate.
Mary Joshua, the director of operations at Impact Church and a business owner herself, emphasized the importance of the expo in bridging the ownership gap, noting that Black entrepreneurs make up less than 12% of business owners in Atlanta.
“Black businesses don’t have the leg up like some white counterparts when it comes to generational wealth,” Joshua stated, highlighting the ongoing need for support within the community.
Launched in 2020 during a tumultuous period, the expo was designed to provide a platform for Black-owned businesses and educate consumers on ways to support them.
This year’s expo was particularly significant, as many Black consumers have expressed dissatisfaction with major corporations retracting their diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives in recent months.
Joshua reinforced the necessity of community solidarity, saying, “When we look at places like Black Wall Street, our famous Black communities were all built on us having our dollars and circulating those dollars.”
Taylor Sloan, a young entrepreneur and recent graduate from Morehouse College, showcased his faith-based clothing brand, Unorthodox, at the event.
Sloan shared how the expo provided a vital platform for businesses to communicate their narratives. “I could still pursue my love of fashion, but it would look a little different—it would be unorthodox,” he explained, encouraging others to embrace their unique identities.
Similarly, Harper Cooper, a recent Xavier University graduate and founder of Merakichets LLC, found the expo invaluable for connecting with customers.
Cooper plans to attend Brown University for graduate school next fall and expressed how important it is to uplift the Black community through entrepreneurship.
“This is important not only for Black business owners to show up for each other, but to come to a place where we are wanted,” she remarked, pointing out that often, Black dollars are welcomed but not necessarily Black values or morals.
Community member Mickey Green, a regular attendee of the expo, believes in the event’s mission to help keep Black dollars within the community.
“It’s important to keep our dollars in our community,” she said, echoing sentiments shared throughout the day.
The expo also served educational purposes, with vendors like Dr. Catrice Barrett of Brilliant Bilingual discussing the economic advantages of bilingualism.
Barrett highlighted that individuals who speak multiple languages typically earn about 10% more than those who speak only one.
Bernard Cook, owner of A Plus Window Repairs, took the opportunity to introduce himself to potential clients. “I’m passing out cards today so when a person needs me, they’ll call me,” he explained.
Metro Atlanta Urban Farm made a unique contribution by giving away goods for free.
Owner Bobby Wilson, an urban organic agriculture farmer for over 20 years, distributed collard green and turnip seeds while teaching attendees how to grow their own produce at home.
“I truly do believe that one day everyone will have to grow some of their food,” Wilson shared, emphasizing the expo’s deeper impact beyond business profit.
“We are trying to make a difference in marginalized and underserved communities across the state,” he added.
image source from：theatlantavoice
