Black Business is Beautiful

Bop into The Lab to help fight the racial wealth gap

By: Marie Ronnander

The Black Business is Beautiful event was held in a giant urban warehouse dubbed "The Lab" and was one of the chillest shopping experiences I've ever had. As you enter through the doors, you're met with groovy music, the smell of candles, and a gentle commotion of content shoppers and vendors. As you approach the center of the pop-up marketplace, there is a turf set up with giant versions of yard games like Connect 4 and Jenga. How could it get better than giant Jenga?

The answer lies with the top-quality vendors. From streetwear and fancy little hats to fruit-loop candles and homemade cake, these entrepreneurs sell anything and everything imaginable. Our group made a pit-stop at a table of impressive hand-crocheted plushies. There was an arrangement of miniature Disney villains, curly-tentacled octopus, and smiling dinos. Right across from this table of cuteness was an elegant display of silver and gold rings. And, because being surrounded by cool trinkets leaves one parched, I made a transaction to get a five-star cup of hot chocolate. Let's just say we all had some problems with monetary self-control. 

The Black Business is Beautiful marketplace was established as a means to alter biases against Black-owned businesses in the wake of George Floyd's murder. Their goal was to encourage the inclusion of Black-owned businesses in the Twin Cities, and it's been a huge success for the Black community, with the first of the monthly events attracting upwards of 700 people. Of course, there's still a long way to go in solving the racial wealth gap, but efforts like these are what inspire the next generation of entrepreneurs. And if you missed this event, have no fear. The next market will be held on March 12, and there's one every month after that, so you should definitely mark your calendars for a visit.