As National Black Business Month comes to a close this Sunday, a local Atlanta church is working to expand the hemisphere of Black business ownership and spending.
In Atlanta, Black businesses make up less than 12% of owners, a figure higher than many major cities but still leaving a gap. “Black businesses don’t have the leg up like some white counterparts when it comes to generational wealth,” said Mary Joshua, director of operations at Impact Church. She helped lead Impact’s 4th annual Black Business Expo.
The expo featured more than 75 metro Atlanta businesses, ranging from agriculture and tutoring to fashion and real estate. Joshua, a business owner herself, started the event in 2020 to give Black-owned businesses a platform and show consumers how to support them. “We wanted a place where we could uplift one another,” she said.
This year’s event felt especially pivotal, as many Black consumers nationwide have expressed frustration with major corporations over the past few months for pulling back on diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives. “It’s important that we keep our identity and know who we are, so we can intentionally pour into one another,” she said. “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.”
For young entrepreneurs, the expo offered a chance to showcase their businesses and take steps toward building generational wealth.
Kyle Sloan, a recent Morehouse College graduate who owns the faith-based clothing brand Unorthodox, said the event gave him and other businesses a platform to tell their story. Sloan started the brand two years ago after going through his own spiritual awakening. “I could still pursue my love of fashion, but it would look a little different—it would be unorthodox,” Sloan said. “Everyone is unorthodox in their own way, especially in today’s society. Just be true to who you are.”
For Harper Cooper, a recent Xavier University graduate and founder of Merakichets LLC, a custom crochet business, the expo was a chance to connect with customers and raise funds as she prepares to attend Brown University for graduate school next fall. She said it was also about being part of uplifting social change within the Black community.
“I think 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,” Cooper said. “A lot of times Black corporations only want Black dollars, but they don’t want your Black values or Black morals.”
Community member Mickey Green, who has attended the expo since it started four years ago, said it gives businesses a chance to give back. “It’s important to keep our dollars in our community,” she said.
Some vendors focused on simply raising awareness. Dr. Catrice Barrett, owner of Brilliant Bilingual, highlighted the economic value of bilingualism. “People who are bilingual make on average 10% more than individuals who only speak one language,” she said.
Bernard Cook, owner of A Plus Window Repairs, used the event to introduce himself to potential clients. “I’m passing out cards today so when a person needs me, they’ll call me,” he said.
Some businesses, like Metro Atlanta Urban Farm, gave away goods for free. Owner Bobby Wilson, an urban organic agriculture farmer for more than 20 years, handed out collard green and turnip seeds while educating people on growing produce at home.
“I truly do believe that one day everyone will have to grow some of their food,” Wilson said. He said the intended impact at the expo was a bit deeper than creating business profit. “We are trying to make a difference in marginalized and underserved communities across the state.”
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