(COLORADO SPRINGS) – The Juneteenth flag flew at the Colorado Capitol on June 19, commemorating the day Union soldiers marched on Galveston, Texas, in 1866 to inform thousands of enslaved people they were free. This is the third year that Juneteenth has been celebrated as a state holiday in Colorado.
Colorado Springs has been marking Juneteenth all week, starting with the Juneteenth Festival on Friday, June 14. On June 19, many Black-owned businesses celebrated and honored their heritage.
“My favorite part of Juneteenth is serving as a Black person, as my shirt says, ‘Juneteenth, I’m Black every day, but today I’m Black,’” said Latoya Taylor, bar manager at Club Tilt & Grill.
In recognition of Juneteenth, Americans celebrate and recognize the invaluable contributions that generations of Black Americans have made in communities, to the economy, and to the world.
Rafael Thompson, owner of L Seven Premium Fragrances, said he is proud of how the city turned out this week.
“I think it’s a beautiful thing to recognize all people. You know, I don’t think of color as a color, but I feel like it’s important to acknowledge everything that we’ve been through, the struggles, and just the way we overcame it all. he added.
One of the many ways people celebrate Juneteenth is by highlighting local Black-owned businesses. Taylor said it’s important to hire diverse people in the community.
“I would say it’s important to employ other people in the community, give them an opportunity. Those who have not been given a chance elsewhere and are trying to work. So we are quite open to giving everyone a chance,” she said.
From 2002 to 2017, the number of Black-owned businesses increased by 31% nationally. Despite this encouraging growth, Black entrepreneurs continue to face hardships.
“I have experienced many challenges. I operated in the malls and unfortunately we don’t have that much freedom to just go there and do what we need to do. So it’s been tough,” Thompson added.
In 2019, revenue from Black-owned businesses totaled $217.3 billion with an annual payroll of $40.5 billion.
“It’s been a blessing for us to just be able to have loyal customers. But yeah, it’s definitely been tough there as a whole,” Thompson said.
In a 2021 poll, Colorado Springs ranked in the top 25 cities for Black economic strength. In 2021, 6.5% of the city’s population identified as African American.
“When you hire people in the community, it is our own responsibility. They are people who understand where we come from and what we do. They already have the experience, so they start from scratch and bring in someone who doesn’t even know or understand where we come from,” said Jennifer Smith, co-founder of OneBodyEnt Colorado Springs.
Colorado Springs supports Black-owned businesses through the Colorado Springs Black Business Network and the Colorado Springs Black Chamber of Commerce, which advocates for minority-owned businesses.
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