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Juneteenth is Highlighting Black Owned Businesses Juneteenth is Highlighting Black Owned Businesses

By Sydni Eure

SYDNI EURE: AFTER YEARS OF JUST DREAMING — THIS SYRACUSE DESIGNER IS HAPPY TO CALL HER DREAM JOB HER NEW REALITY.

OMOLARA ADELEYE: I’m the owner of the store. CEO and owner of the store.”

EURE: A TITLE AND ACCOMPLISHMENT THAT MANY ENTREPRENEURS IN THE BLACK COMMUNITY ARE CELEBRATING THIS WEEKEND.

ADELEYE: It has not been easy. It has not been easy let me say that but I am someone that always acknowledged God with everything I do because he brought me this far.”

EURE: OH-MA-LA-RA ADD-LAY IS ONE OF MANY VENDORS THAT WILL BE SHOWCASED AT THE FREEDOM FEST THIS WEEKEND. AND WHETHER IT BE FASHION OR FOOD MANY VENDORS JUST LIKE HER ARE READY TO SHOW THE COMMUNITY WHAT THEY’VE GOT.

TYKEMIA CARMAN: I love spicing up the baking community.

EURE: AND FOR A GOOD REASON

CARMAN: Just because most of the people don’t look like me that are bakers so it is great to have that representation and have like brownskin cookies and just all different things that represent our culture and like you said have children come in and get excited to see cookies that look like them it’s great so.

EURE: IT’S GREAT FOR THE BUYERS BUT THE VENDORS TOO WHO DON’T ALASY GET THE CHANCE TO SHINE.

BRIDGET MCCARTHY: we want to get those local business people the recognition that they deserve that they may not be able to get to get into the larger festivals that are held in the city of Syracuse.

EURE: AND NO MATTER HOW BIG OR SMALL THE EVENT OR THE ITEM — ADD-LAY SAYS THERE’S BEAUTY IN IT ALL.

ADELEYE: whatsoever you are be it white, be it American, be it black American just see the beauty in it. See the beauty in the clothing, see the beauty in the craft and appreciate the human nature in everything.

SYRACUSE, N.Y.  (NCC News) — Juneteenth weekend is set to take off at noon on Friday. This will be the first time in two years Syracuse will celebrate in person due to the pandemic. Although the overarching theme is celebrating equality, freedom and opportunity, this year is also focusing on Black-owned businesses.

Syracuse Juneteenth Board of Directors Member Bridget McCarthy says the stage this year is for small businesses that don’t always get the chance to shine.

“It’s really important this year since we’ve been off for two years due to the pandemic to be able to come back together celebrate entrepreneurship because it seems like almost everyone got a business and just to rejoin that sense of family we had in the city of Syracuse,” said McCarthy.

Omolara Adeleye, owner of Ara African Couture, says that this platform means everything.

“It has not been easy,” said Adeleye. “It has not been easy, let me say that, but I am someone that always acknowledged God with everything I do because he brought me this far.”

Adeleye is not the only black business owner proud to have this platform. Tykemia Carman, owner of Crave Dessert Studio, says it’s perfect for highlighting Black representation.

“I love spicing up the baking community,” said Carman. “Just because most of the people don’t look like me that are bakers so it is great to have that representation and have like brown skin cookies and just all different things that represent our culture and like you said have children come in and get excited to see cookies that look like them it’s great so.”

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