Juneteenth x Black Business Highlight
What is Juneteenth?
While most people are familiar with the history around Independence Day, where the United States declared its freedom in 1776, African Americans were still enslaved for another 87 years. And still, it took another two years for President Lincoln to sign the Emancipation Proclamation, freeing the last of the enslaved in Galveston, TX. June 19th, 1895 is the oldest and only national holiday that commemorates the end of slavery in the United States.
While some are just now recognizing the significance of the holiday, our community has commemorated the deeply important holiday for years in so many different ways.
So why is Juneteenth important?
For generations, people have celebrated the 4th of July with red white and blue themed barbecues and fireworks. However, the history of “America’s Birthday” can develop complex emotions for my community, especially since I know for a fact that my ancestors were still enslaved. To me, Juneteenth truly signifies freedom for myself, my family and the people who fought for my freedom in the past. Although I did not consistently grow up celebrating Juneteenth every single year, I am committed to making memories with my children and exposing them to their history, especially since Congress recently passed a bill making it a federal holiday!
How can YOU celebrate Juneteenth
Do your part in educating yourself about the holiday from credible sources:
https://nmaahc.si.edu/blog-post/historical-legacy-juneteenth
https://www.pbs.org/wnet/african-americans-many-rivers-to-cross/history/what-is-juneteenth/
Support local black business:
Highlight of the Month:
Mirror Me Incorporated
A Grand Rapids, MI non-profit organization, geared towards “assuring identity and aspiring destiny in young girls globally.”
https://mirrormeinc.org/?fbclid=IwAR3yrpZzfeP8B2ZCU0RePrk7_vMvgOwA9QbgaNNDEO-IXFPOyyWjTZ0nYEc
Attend Juneteenth events in your area:
--1st Annual Juneteenth Celebration at Joe Taylor Park (Grand Rapids)
--Juneteenth Celebration with Miz Rosie (Holland Museum)
https://hollandmuseum.org/event/juneteenth-celebrattion-with-miz-rosie/
--Justice 4 All Juneteenth Jam (Ah-Nab-Awen Park, Grand Rapids)
Lobby for changes and reform in inequitable policies, laws, and programs:
Putting Prosperity Within Reach: Advocating for Equitable Public Policies
https://prosperitynow.org/files/PDFs/Putting_Prosperity_Within_Reach.pdf
The ESSNTLS brand continues to advocate for social justice. As part of our recent initiatives, we will be highlighting our favorite local black businesses here in Grand Rapids. We believe in empowering and providing support for business in our community. We are happy to promote a few of our local faves:
Our first highlight is Grand Rapids’ own, Mirror Me Images, Incorporated. Mirror Me Inc., is a non-profit organization which embodies and produces characteristics of virtue, integrity, and leadership in girls ages 11-18. Mirror Me’s mission is to assure identity and inspire destiny in young girls ages 11-18 through empowerment, education, and mentoring. The Mirror Me Images team does this by assisting in the development of character of young girls through community service projects and leadership seminars.
I sat down with founder, Sharalle K. Richardson on how she lives in purpose as a black woman entrepreneur. We also touched on the Juneteenth holiday, and what that means to her and the black community:
Thank you so much for doing this interview with me, I appreciate your willingness to share your story as a black business woman and change-maker within the community.
Thank you, for thinking of us!! I’m happy to be able to share with you.
Okay, to get started, can you share with me, what made you want to start your business?
I think for me, it was important to teach girls about their identity and purpose. As an adolescent I suffered from mental health issues and low esteem in middle and high school. I think it is so hard for women, because we tend to compare each other and often suffer from low self esteem because of it. It is important to teach girls early about that. Entrepreneurship has always been about pulling others up.
I love that. And you’re right, that is important to teach at a young age, and I love your perspective on entrepreneurship.
What is the most difficult thing about running a business?
For me, it’s not being able to use a team adequately. I want to do everything myself and the purpose of a team is to take the load off of me, and delegate tasks to others that have the ability to execute those tasks. I am still learning to have trust in my team to execute the task. I feel that as black women, it’s sometimes ingrained in us to carry the load, and we don’t want to ask for help or we don’t want to inconvenience someone.
Tell me about it, I am still unlearning that myself. It’s hard work!!
Tell me about Mirror Me Inc., and it’s programming.
Well, all of your programs align with our mission statement, which is: “To assure identity and inspire destiny in young girls ages 11-18 through empowerment, education, and mentoring. We help aide in the development of character through community service projects and leadership seminars.” We have our annual You Are Enough Mother-Daughter Empowerment Brunch, and the Crown Curriculum. The Crowned Curriculum is an 8 week program from 11-18 year old young girls, held during the spring and summer. This program was developed to empower young ladies to authentically be themselves. There are 3 phases: the first phase is breaking down stigmas (what sticks with you); then identifying who are you exactly; and thirdly, now that you know yourself, how do you expound that purpose to the community and globally The idea is that once you gain a sense of who you are, you can better set and accomplish life goals.
Crowned has also evolved into a blog run by teens for teens.
Tell me the impact Mirror Me Inc., has on racial equality.
Essentially, the curriculum was developed for underserved and urban communities based on what is lacking in the community. Last year, I personally took some of the girls to a peaceful protest downtown, because they were highly interested in racial equality and social justice. I felt that it was really important to stand beside those young women. Making sure that your life and voice matters.
I love that support. This is a great segway into Juneteenth. As I explained in my blog post about the holiday, I actually did not grow up celebrating Juneteenth consistently, and I am developing my own traditions with my family currently. What does Juneteenth mean to you and how do you celebrate the holiday?
You know what, celebrating the holiday is very new to me as well. I think the way I celebrate is wearing paraphernalia that represent the holiday, and I practice buying black. I never thought of highlighting the holiday with my organization, but I will definitely be supporting black business because it’s super important to celebrate.
Yes!! I love that, I agree celebrating and supporting black business is one of the best things to do to celebrate the holiday. Okay last question: What is your biggest accomplishment as a black woman entrepreneur?
Oh my, that’s a loaded question. My biggest accomplishment. Well, I was taught as a kid, that I was born with two strikes against you: being black, and being a woman. In life, you have to work harder. Life is a chess game, so I have to be two steps ahead with those two strikes against me. The strategy for me was to graduate, impact the community, education system, and start a business giving back to the community. My biggest accomplishment is having a plan from the beginning, and doing exactly what I said I was going to do. It didn’t go exactly the way I thought it was going to happen, but I am doing all of that through Mirror Me.
Amazing answer. Thank you Sharalle, for your insight and beautiful answers. Is there anything you’d like to leave us with?
Yes! Registration is now open for the “You Are Enough” event. You can register on our website (https://mirrormeinc.org/), or find us on social media at @mirrormeorg.
You Are Enough Empowerment Brunch registration link:
https://sgin2obv3p8.typeform.com/to/O7huEdK4