RALEIGH – Black-owned businesses will take center stage as Juneteenth festivals commence across the Triangle this weekend
On Saturday, June 18, Black Dollar Corp. will kick off its “3-Month Shoppers’ Block Outdoor Series” with a massive block party in the historic Prince Hall district on the corner of Blount and Cabarrus Streets from 10am to 8pm.
Roughly 65 vendors will line the streets selling their wares, including K-Butta (soaps), Square One Innovations (sunglasses/accessories), Scottie Fashions (jewelry/accessories), and Just A Few Things Customs and The Life Brand (both clothing brands). Live music, food, drinks, video game trucks and kids’ activities will also be on offer.
The event is among several scheduled across the Triangle commemorating the emancipation of enslaved people in the United States. June 19 is the date that Union forces arrived to announce and enforce the end of slavery in Galveston, Texas, and the farthest reaches of the former Confederate territories.
Black Dollar founder and CEO Johnny Hackett, who also runs The Factory, a co-working hub for Black entrepreneurs, and Black Friday Market, said he expects a big turnout after last year’s inaugural event drew a crowd of more than 1,500 attendees.
NC Courage players Brianna Pinto and Jorian Baucom with The Black Friday Market’s Jasmine Bullock and Janeyce Flagler.
Indeed, black entrepreneurship is on the rise. The number of Black business owners grew 40 percent from pre-pandemic figures, reaching 1.5 million by August 2021.
“Our main goal is to make sure our small business vendors do well,” he told WRAL TechWire.
On Sunday, June 19, Black Dollar, in partnership with the North Carolina Football Club, will hold a second Juneteenth festival at WakeMed Soccer Park in Cary from 2.30pm to 4.30pm. It’s all part of pregame festivities before NC Courage goes head to head with Houston Dash starting at 5pm.
Jae Flagler, chief operations officer for Black Friday Market, will sing the national anthem.
“We’d like to invite everyone to come out to these events to continue to support our local business owners and our own women’s soccer team,” Hackett said.
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