Sacramento’s Black Wall Street Hosts Black Friday Fest

By Verbal Adam, The Observer

The scene Nov. 25 was reminiscent of Christmas Eve at the North Pole: gifts being wrapped, the smell of fresh pastries in the air, holiday music and jolly old Black Santa, engaging kids and their families.

Children’s laughter filled the happy halls of Sacramento’s Black Wall Street during this year’s Black Friday Extravaganza. Retail Row at Florin Square, home to more than 200 businesses, nonprofits and retailers, launched the Christmas season with festivities, goodwill and a sense of community.

A DJ was provided by KDEE 97.5, the Sac Town Majorettes performed, the Melanin Academy provided free face-painting for the youth, and Sacramento poet Chris Coon portrayed Mansa Musa, the legendary ruler of Mali from 1312-1337 C.E., at the Sojourner Truth African American Heritage Museum.

Dozens of microbusinesses were provided space at the event, allowing those who otherwise could not compete against big box retailers a platform to not only market and sell their wares, but to build brand awareness and engage the community.

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Keeping finances within the community by spending with smaller local businesses instead of big box retailers is at the core Black Wall Street. 

“Black businesses are invested in the community more so than large retailers because the owners live, work, play and raise their children in the communities we serve,” said Angela Benjamin, who owns a home improvement business and leads a pan-African homeschool collective. “When you support a Black-owned business, you’re bridging the wealth gap and supporting families and communities.”

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