At this point, many of us are now aware of the viral mishap regarding Walmart while-labeling a black-owned ice-cream as their store brand “great value”, in an attempt to capitalize on this year’s first federally recognized celebration of Juneteenth. Even worse, on September 2, 2021 the United States Patent and Trademark Office approved the Balchem Corporation’s ownership of the word “Juneteenth” for retail use.
Now more than ever we need to support Black Owned brands. To protect economic freedom and ownership. Read on, for 30 Black owned brands you can support this freedom holiday.
- Chef Liz Rogers is the Creamalicious, one of the only Black-owned national ice cream brands. Walmart's announcement has made this brand popular instead. It has great taste, different flavors and you should support the brand.
- Jungalow started as a design blog by Justina Blakeney's tiny in 2009. Now she sells beautiful home items ranging from carpets to plants.
- Reyna Noriega is an Afro-Caribbean Latina Artist. She started designing from a young age, and now you can get her designs as home decor, phone case or as a throw pillow.
- BLK MKT Vintage is a Brooklyn, NY-based antique/vintage concept shop by Jannah Handy and Kiyanna Stewart, which started in 2014. You can buy anything vintage, from Tees to tote bags.
- Brittiny started Effortless Composition out of her love for eclectic decoration. She has a collection of items for bedroom, kitchen and dining decor.
- Effie’s Paper: A lifestyle brand owned by Kalyn Chandler. It is a stationary brand run by and for women.
- YayDay Paper Co. was founded by the celebrity crafter Amber Kemp-Gerstel. You will not only find stationary, but also curated gift packages for your loved ones.
- Eeni is a craft brand owned by a black woman called Eeni. She is a fictional eclectic fashionista who transfers it to the scarves, notes and bags she produces.
- Copper and Brass Paper Goods started in 2017 Ariel Young and her mother. They are located in Middle Georgia with products like greeting cards, notebooks, accessories, and other small paper goods.
- Family Springs Company started in 2017. They produce Natural Artesian Alkaline Bottled Water which you can pick up if you stay in Georgia.
- Supreme Spring water focuses on producing fluoride free water. You can call to order from their website.
- Positivity Alkaline Water LLC is a subsidiary of StarWalker Industries, Inc., founded by David M. Walker, Esq. in 2014.
- Eleven86 is a bottle water company located in the small town of Autaugaville, Alabama.
- The Good Water Company is a Black-owned water company which started in February 2022. Marcel Nash started the business of providing accessible water in California.
- Harlem Chocolate Factory was founded in 2015 by Jessica Spaulding and her Spelman sister, Asha Dixon. It is located in New York.
- Veronique McCoy, is the founder and CEO of Sun People Beauty. Best sellers include the Turmeric & Neem Face wash and the Rosewater face spray.
- Chocolate Therapy is located in Framingham, Massachusetts. It was founded in 2011 by Pam and David Griffin where they create handmade chocolates with memorable flavors.
- Danielle Hodgeis the founder of Alma Ocean. The brand started during covid-19 after she couldn't find floats that were her taste.
- Iya Foods is the name of the snacks brand owned by Toyin Kolawole. Her home is in Illinois where she produces a variety of Black culture food as snacks.
- Partake was created in 2016 by Founder and CEO Denise Woodard, when her daughter was diagnosed with multiple food allergies. She creates healthy snacks like cookies for people with restrictions.
- Hawa Hassan started the Basbaas sauce brand in 2016. Since then she makes traditional black sauces to enjoy alone and paired.
- Courtney Adeleye is a queen who decided to make her own coffee. Her brand, the Cool Coffee Clique is one you should support.
- Sanaia is an applesauce brand created by CEO & Founder, Keisha Smith-Jeremie in 2016.
- Jenny Dawn Cellars was created by Jennifer McDonald in 2016. It is located in Kansas and ships the best wine worldwide.
- Leavy B. Jones owned the hot sauce brand since 1970 in Kansas. And now, Jones Bar-B-Q is run by siblings Shorty and Deborah Jones.
- Eat Unrestriced is owned by Dianna King & Eric Thompson, providing tasty mac and cheese, and dairy products.
- Tonya's cookies was launched by Tonya Council in 2009. She makes irresistible cookies in various flavors.
- Photographer Sofi Seck founded Expedition Subsahara in 2017. She makes colorful baskets and other art pieces for the black community.
- AphroChic has been owned by husband and wife Jeanine Hays and Bryan Mason since 2007. They are based in Brooklyn, selling a variety of home decor items.
- Sheila Bridges is a titan in the interior design industry who has been in the business since 1994. She has everything decoration from wall decals, wallpapers, to fabrics
ABOUT JUNETEENTH
Founded on June 19, 1866, Juneteenth marks the first anniversary of the day that African Americans there first learned of the Emancipation Proclamation, more than two years after it was initially issued. Texas was among the last states to enforce the emancipation of slavery. The holiday rose to prominence in the early 1900’s. In prior years, Juneteenth was more commonly celebrated in the southern states. Advocates for Black empowerment issued letters to legislative offices and petitions on moveon.org & change.org (with 1MM+ signatures) in a movement to obtain official recognition. In 2020, in a response to ease the tensions of ongoing protests following the deaths of George Floyd and Briana Taylor, select politicians recognized Juneteenth at the state level. Juneteenth became federal recognized in 2021 and is also known as Freedom Day, Jubilee Day, Black Independence Day, and Juneteenth Independence Day.