August 15, 2001

Henry Teutsch

    Last Friday and Saturday, August 10th and 11th, Detroit celebrated Black Business and saw the Caribbean festival at Hart Plaza. Each year as part of the Ethnic Festivals held at Hart Plaza during the summer months, Detroit hosts the Caribbean festival. This festival features authentic food, and various forms of entertainment of the Caribbean islands. This allows people to learn and experience a tiny slice of Caribbean culture.

    In addition the festival organizers, the Caribbean Cultural Carnival Organization, holds a beauty pageant and other forms of competition. On Saturday, the second day of the festival, there is the Parade. This showcases the many talented designers of floats with a Caribbean flavor. There is dancing, live music and colorful costumes which transform Woodward from its usual concrete façade. Among the parade groups there is a competition for who has the best float and the liveliest theme. Judges view each island group in the parade and award the prize as part of the festival in Hart Plaza. The primary goal of the CCCO is too expand the Caribbean business beyond the Caribbean community.

    The black business celebration was spread over two days this year. Hood Research a local non-profit community organization and Think-Tank whose motto is "People would do better if they knew better." Organized the event along with co-sponsors The Wellness Plan, The Michigan Chronicle and WQBH 1400 AM. On Friday August 10, at the Booker T. Washington Business Association, a reception was held to honor black business that have been in existence for over 50 years.

Black Businesses Honored (year established) Second Baptist Church, 1836, home to the Underground Railroad Waterman Printing, 1916 James Cole Funeral Home, 1919 City Cab, 1928 Lewis College of Business, 1928 Booker T. Washington Business Association, 1930 Michigan Chronicle, 1936 Brazelton's Florist, 1941 Nu-Method Pest control, 1947 Home Federal Savings Bank, 1947

Some of the men and woman who helped to build the black community since the 1940's were there to support one another. Candidates for office Sharon Mcphail, Gil Hill, Charles Beckham and others were in attendance. But instead of speaking and asking for donations or trying to get votes, they shared the support for black business as did everyone in attendance that evening. Frankie Darcell was a guest of honor and was this years Ms Black Business. An honor bestowed upon a black woman business owner who not only owns a business but truly supports the community. Ms Darcell stated that although not originally from Detroit she and her family have made it their home. They use the schools and other local businesses supporting their own. Many people in attendance stated that they came away with a powerful feeling of just how mighty the black community is and what black folks are capable of accomplishing. Too many times only the negative is portrayed when discussing black business and for once black folks were able to share the positive in their own words on their own turf in their own way.

    On Saturday the 5th Annual Black Business on Parade kicked off at 12 Noon. This year the two parades, Caribbean and Black Business were joined to show an increased show of support and unity. The Caribbean parade began at 11am at Mack and Woodward while the Black Business parade started from the Dr. Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History, on Warren near Woodward. They both went all the way to Hart Plaza where the celebration did not end.

    The Black Business Parade allows people in the community to see just what black business is and has done in the community. Just as the other business parade flows down Woodward every Thanksgiving morning so too did Hood Research and the other original parade organizers want to show off black businesses when they began the parade 5 years ago. This one however does not require hot chocolate and lots of blankets to stay warm. The sun was shining and the temperature made for a perfect summer day. Many lined up to see the parade and then followed the assembly down to Hart plaza dancing and singing all the way. Some of the businesses in the parade included City Cab, the oldest Black Cab Company in the nation and the Black slate a political action organization. While some non-business persons yet important would be public servants like Joe Harris, Bill Brooks and many others were proud to support the black business community. Gil hill was so proud that his procession encompassed an entire city block of trucks and large RV's. Then he had about two dozen young black children greeting the crowd and handing out his campaign items. Joe Harris, candidate for mayor and current city Auditor General, was giving away his campaign brooms noting his intention to sweep away with the same old habits in city government elected mayor on
September 11.

    It was a great day and everyone had a great time. The talented people in this community shined brightly and allot of positive energy was shared that day. It was a true example of what is occurring in the black community and how much everyone loves their home.