Spartanburg community gears up for Juneteenth

SPARTANBURG, S.C. (FOX Carolina) -The vibrant community of Spartanburg is buzzing with excitement as residents prepare for Juneteenth with a spirited shopping spree, focusing on supporting local Black-owned businesses.

Among the enthusiastic shoppers is Renee Simone, a newcomer from the DC Maryland area, who shared her excitement about the local Juneteenth celebrations.

“It’s exciting because I came from the DC Maryland area, and we did not really do Juneteenth like this. It’s exciting to see how it is out here,” said Simone, who attended the Black-Market Tuesday event.

Simone expressed her delight in discovering numerous Black-owned businesses in Spartanburg and the Upstate region.

“I didn’t know about all of these Black-owned businesses, so it’s definitely nice to see there is this type of place and come out and advertise for themselves,” she noted.

The initiative is not just about celebrating Juneteenth but also about driving dollars back into the Black community. Simone emphasized the importance of supporting these businesses.

“That’s the only way Black businesses survive, is if we actually put the money back into our own community. The things that I see out here are things that I would actually buy. Things I would definitely have my friends and family purchase.”

Local business owner Mia Cohen reflected on the significance of the event.

“Oh, it’s amazing. Up north, they do this a lot, but I think even here, Juneteenth, just the celebration, it means something different to us,” Cohen said. She highlighted that the celebration is about more than just purchasing items from Black-owned businesses. “We as a people have come a very long way. Seeing what Juneteenth means to us and our ancestors… to see us here today, I think they’re looking down on us smiling.”

Cohen believes that Juneteenth is an essential time to acknowledge Black history and its ongoing impact

. “We stand on the shoulders of a lot of people who fought just to be free, and now we have the opportunity to have the Black dollars circulate. We see the entrepreneurs here that have really risen from the ashes, and now look what we’re producing. Juneteenth means something more to us on another level.”