by Susan Fried
On a rare almost-sunny day in May, the Africatown Community Land Trust honored the 101st anniversary of the Black Wall Street massacre in Tulsa, Oklahoma, by celebrating Black business and entrepreneurship in Seattle.
On May 30, the second annual Honoring Our Black Wall Streets Business Expo & Marketplace was held on 23rd and Jackson. Around 180 Black-owned businesses lined Jackson Street from 23rd almost to Martin Luther King Jr. Way. The hundreds of attendees could enjoy a variety of food, from po'boys to barbecue to ice cream and artisan popsicles, while shopping for clothes, original art, jewelry, and hundreds of other products.
Live musical performances were on offer, along with art tables for kids, and the "206 Finest" Double Dutch Divas invited people of all ages to give jumping rope a try. Midway through the event, the business owners were invited to gather for a group shot to commemorate the event.
Susan Fried is a 40-year veteran photographer. Her early career included weddings, portraits, and commercial work — plus, she's been The Skanner News' Seattle photographer for 25 years. Her images have appeared in the University of Washington's The Daily, The Seattle Globalist, Crosscut, and many more.She's been an Emerald contributor since 2015. Follow her on Instagram @fried.susan.
Featured Image: Hundreds of business owners and community members gathered in front of the stage on 23rd and Jackson to take a group photo. (Photo: Susan Fried)
Before you move on to the next story …
The South Seattle Emerald™ is brought to you by Rainmakers. Rainmakers give recurring gifts at any amount. With around 1,000 Rainmakers, the Emerald™ is truly community-driven local media. Help us keep BIPOC-led media free and accessible.
If just half of our readers signed up to give $6 a month, we wouldn't have to fundraise for the rest of the year. Small amounts make a difference.
We cannot do this work without you. Become a Rainmaker today!