By Logan Langlois
NASHVILLE, TN — The Nashville Black Market (NBM) has been hosting a jam-packed month filled with community activities and is showing no signs of slowing. Market co-founder Carlos Partee said he and his team are excited to present the host of activities taking place throughout June, as they have enjoyed bringing a different cultural light to Nashville’s forefront. He said throughout June and February Black events and culture have been long-recognized in Nashville. He hopes to cultivate an environment where the impact of the Black community is celebrated year-round.
“As these events are growing, these businesses are growing, the Nashville Black Market is growing as well,” Partee said. “We’re finding ways to help combat some of the things that normal businesses go through. There are a huge number of businesses that are no longer here because they couldn’t handle the structure.”
The month kicked off with NBM successfully hosting their monthly Nashville Black Market on June 7 at the Nashville Farmer’s Market. June’s festivities will continue this weekend with the upcoming Blavity House Party in the Municipal Auditorium on Friday and Saturday, as well as Black on Buchanan in partnership with The Equity Alliance (TEA) being hosted Saturday on Buchanan Street between noon and 6 p.m. Partee said NBM will be bringing the party to Broadway at the Bridge to Broadway Block Party noon until 8 p.m. with the help of Bridgestone and the Nashville Predators.
Later that week on June 19, NBM will be hosting the annual Juneteenth 615 Festival at Fort Negley Park 5 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. Finally, NBM will be traveling outside Nashville June 29 for its first National Black Market in Chattanooga noon- 6 p.m. at the First Horizon Pavilion, co-sponsored by the city of Chattanooga, Pathway, and The Urban League of Greater Chattanooga.
“June is crazy,” Partee said. “It’s a really busy month for us, but we’re super excited to do the work that we’re doing and be a servant to it.”
Partee said NBM has been growing at a rapid rate, and is always looking for more team members to help with the ever-increasing workload as well as more income to support their staff. He said after putting on events for several years now they have learned how to handle the different facets that go into putting these events together. Partee said though the number of moving parts can become overwhelming, he and his team have also been greatly encouraged by the support they’ve received while promoting the events online.
“At the end of the day it’s not just us,” Partee said. “It’s the community, it’s the partners, it’s the allies, it’s the organizations. Because we’re being brought into something that’s bigger than just the Nashville Black Market.” Partee said since NBM’s founding, its mission has been to add value to the local Black-owned businesses of Nashville and to help offer their services at an elevated level. He said he is proud that NBM has had the opportunity to help Nashville’s economy grow by helping put more than $1 million into the city through the earnings of Black-owned businesses they’ve helped. Partee said citizens interested in more information regarding these events, or future events sponsored by NBM, their website thenashvilleblackmarket.com.
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