Helping Black businesses during Juneteenth

Across the country people are celebrating the federal and state holiday Juneteenth, which commemorates the end of slavery in America. In Minnesota, there are events planned across the state with many highlighting Black artists and business owners.

This year has been particularly rough on business owners everywhere. Gas prices are high, tariffs are affecting imports and the federal surge of troops last winter took a toll statewide.

Minneapolis alone estimated $700 million in damages.

According to the Brookings Institute, a data-driven public policy organization and think tank, Black people “represented just 3.4 percent of employer business owners while comprising 14.4 percent of the population.”

Yolanda Pierson, president and CEO of Minnesota Black Chamber of Commerce told MPR News that Juneteenth events can close that gap. These events introduce people to new foods, services or art, and build clientele for small, Black-owned businesses, in turn helping local economies surge, she said.

“It’s a significant job creator when black entrepreneurs have equitable access to capital and growth opportunities. They hire employees, they expand operations, they strengthen our local economies,” Pierson said.

Listen to the conversation by clicking the player above.