Black-Owned Brooklyn

20/08/2024

There’s a special kind of magic in a Brooklyn summer. As the season winds down, we’re kicking off a photo series of summertime memories that capture the essence of our community.
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“Summer nights with the family. Bed-Stuy, around 1989-1990. Captured by my father, Robert Cave Sr., in front of my grandmother’s house on Quincy Street between Bedford and Franklin. This photo features my grandmother, my mother, aunts, uncles and cousins, though it’s only half of us. We gathered like this often, so it’s hard to tell the occasion, but judging by the plates and cups, I’d guess it was a barbecue. I’m standing on the steps in a white shirt and denim shorts.

The neighborhood back then was rough — broken sidewalks, broken glass, crack vials, graffiti everywhere — but I loved it. The atmosphere was loving. On our street there were so many families with kids the same age that it really felt like one huge family. The facades of brownstones still delight me.” —Eurila ()

We’d love to see your own memories! We’re looking for snapshots and stories that celebrate the unique spirit of Black Brooklyn. Share your archival photos at [email protected].

16/06/2024

Yesterday’s Juneteenth Food Festival was a dream.

We’re incredibly proud of our third year of partnering with to bring you an excellent lineup of Brooklyn’s most delicious food businesses, dynamic cultural performances and a super special artisan market.

But best of all was the intergenerational community we built as we ate, danced and celebrated together. A huge thank you to everyone who joined us. There are many more thank you’s (and photos!) coming your way, but for now, we hope you enjoy this glimpse of the beautiful day we shared.

Photos by and

12/06/2024

When we and our partners at envisioned this Saturday’s Juneteenth Food Festival, one goal was to showcase an incredible lineup of Black food and culture — and we’ve achieved just that!

We also sought to create an intergenerational space where our entire community — the cool kids, cherished elders, young families and all the in-betweens — can come together to commemorate Juneteenth. There is no place more fitting than historic Weeksville, a sanctuary that once stood as one of the largest free African American communities before the Civil War.

In addition to food from some of the best Black restaurants, pop-ups and food trucks, Saturday will feature a vibrant marketplace with local artisans and makers; performances by world champion double-dutch team ; a food demo and craft activities led by co-authors of “The Juneteenth Cookbook,” and ; dance workshops from q***r BIPOC art collective ; restorative yoga with ; life-sized games by .co and more; all with the legendary DJ collective on the 1s and 2s.

This Saturday, step into a world lovingly crafted for joy, reflection, celebration and leisure. For more details, tap the link in our bio. We can’t wait to see you there!

Photos by &

09/06/2024

Our Juneteenth Food Festival celebrates Black Brooklyn with more than 30 food vendors, and the event is grounded in rich African American culinary traditions. Get ready for fried fish and chicken, red beans and rice, cornbread, red velvet cake, homemade ice cream and, of course, barbecue. Holly Drew, chef and owner of , will bring a taste of Texas tradition with her slow-smoked brisket and other Southern-inspired delights.

RSVP for the Juneteenth Food Festival at the link in our bio!

07/06/2024

We’re excited to welcome back to this year’s Juneteenth Food Festival! As experts in “seafood with soul,” co-owners Gwendolyn Niles and Fifi Bell-Clanton have everything: steamed Alaskan snow crab legs, crab tacos, crab mac and cheese, crab cake sliders, crab tater tots and more. For the festival, they’ll focus on their famous crab, lobster and “clobster” rolls. Plus, in July they’re celebrating 10 years in business! 🎈Join us in congratulating Gwen and Fifi — and RSVP to the festival through the link in our bio!

06/06/2024

At our Juneteenth Food Festival on June 15 at Weeksville Heritage Center, prepare for abundant plant-based options from multiple vegan-friendly vendors. Quiaufa (key-AH-fa) Royes, chef and owner of , will be plating up full-flavored vegan dishes inspired by the soulful traditions of her South Carolina heritage.
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“I’m from Brooklyn — Brownsville originally — but my family’s from Sumter, South Carolina. I grew up cooking soul food with my aunts and grandmother, and now I translate these cultural dishes into my business.

When I first started the company, I was doing international cuisine in an attempt to make everyone happy. I called my business Chef Sherri’s Catering because it sounded more corporate — even though I’ve always gone by my middle name, Quiaufa. Nobody calls me Sherri. Eventually I decided to be more authentically me and serve what I like. I changed my business name to Quiaufa’s Kitchen, and now I do plant-based soul food. We can enjoy the food we grew up eating and put a twist on it. We don’t have to throw away our identity and history.

For the Juneteenth Food Festival, I’m definitely bringing our soul rolls. It’s vegan mac and cheese, black and white greens, and candied yams in an egg roll wrapper, then fried and served with maple hot sauce. It’s like Thanksgiving all wrapped together. I’m also thinking of doing either our crab cake sandwich made with hearts of palm and artichoke hearts; or the barbecue rib sandwich made from Impossible ground and rice, topped with our house-made sauce; as well as a grilled corn. And definitely our watermelon drink, so we’ll have a red drink for Juneteenth.”

RSVP for the Juneteenth Food Festival at the link in our bio!

28/05/2024

PART 2 of 2: At ’s DanceAfrica Bazaar this past weekend, cultural tradition met personal style for an abundance of looks celebrating individuality and our shared African heritage. Swipe through for Part 2 of a series. All photos by Laylah Amatullah Barrayn ()

28/05/2024

PART 1 of 2: DanceAfrica 2024 kicked off at this Memorial Day weekend, with performances highlighting the rich heritage of Cameroon, as well as its beloved bazaar featuring more than 150 vendors selling crafts, food and fashion. And the street style? Vibes on VIBES.

Among the sea of 30,000 beautiful people who came out, these are the looks we can’t get over. All photos by the incomparable Laylah Amatullah Barrayn ().

22/05/2024

📣 Calling All Volunteers! 📣

Help us make the 3rd Annual Juneteenth Food Festival the best one yet! We’re looking for enthusiastic volunteers to join our team on June 15.

This is your chance to gain hands-on experience in running a large-scale event while contributing to a memorable community experience. Sign up for a shift at the link in our bio!

17/05/2024

Mark your calendars: and Jummy’s Picks by are joining forces again for our third annual Juneteenth Food Festival on Saturday, June 15th, from 11 am - 8 pm!

RSVP Here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/juneteenth-food-festival-tickets-906937102287?aff=oddtdtcreator

This vibrant event is steeped in tradition. Food has been a central part of Juneteenth since its first observance in 1866, commemorating June 19, 1865 — when enslaved Texans received news of their freedom. The Juneteenth Food Festival brings together 30+ food businesses for a delicious celebration of Black cuisine, as well as a marketplace of apparel, accessories, books, self-care products and more, all from local Black brands.

Attendees will also enjoy music from the legendary Soul Summit DJ collective, double dutch with the Jazzy Jumpers, dance performances and workshops by Haus of Glitter, restorative yoga led by Sensate Wellness, art-making activities, food demos, book signings and more. We hope you’ll join us for an unforgettable day of Black food, culture, history and joy.

16/04/2024

Celebrate Black Maternal Health Week with a revisit to our 2020 story on . Founded in 2008 by Chanel-Porchia-Albert, the Bed-Stuy organization provides vital doula care and support for people of color and low-income families — ensuring better maternal health outcomes for all.
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“I was walking barefoot in Saratoga Park — and hugging trees. I don’t know if that’s a good idea, but that’s what I was doing,” says Chanel Porchia-Albert as she describes laboring with her first child in 2008, just before giving birth at her home in Bed-Stuy. “It was an eye-opening experience filled with positivity and self-awareness of my body.”

Chanel was so moved, three months later she started training to become a doula. She went on to create Ancient Song, offering full-spectrum doula services and birth education classes specifically for people of color and low-income families. In addition to supporting pregnant people with emotional support, information and advocacy, the organization also trains a workforce of doulas to address maternal health inequities.

Ancient Song was initially designed as a private business, until Chanel observed the shoddy treatment of her clients. “Medicaid patients were completely dismissed — waiting four to five hours for prenatal care, only to be seen for like 10 minutes,” she says. “I saw Child Protective Services used as a tool to get people to comply with medical interventions they didn’t want.”

Chanel offers doula services on a sliding scale depending on income. Services are free for those who otherwise can’t afford care. No family is turned away. Ancient Song doulas focus on birth as a human right, with a reproductive justice lens that affirms communities of color.

“Another component is helping people understand that we’re standing in the hope and resiliency of those who came before us,” Chanel says. “We’re here to affirm someone wanting to bring children into the world, and we focus on the joy around that, you know?” || 521 Halsey St. —By Jazmin Ali ()

23/03/2024

‎Show A long way from the block, Ep Ep. 94-The Sun Rises in The East—my conversation with Tayo and Cynthia Giwa - Mar 18, 2024

21/03/2024

Calling all Black chefs, food makers, crafters and creatives: and Jummy’s Picks by are bringing back the *Juneteenth Food Festival* for its third year on Sat, June 15th! We’re now accepting applications from culinary and craft vendors to join us in this vibrant celebration of Black food and culture. Spread the word, tag your favorite vendors, and APPLY to be a vendor to help us grow this year’s festival. Applications are due by April 5th: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScaS1-Cb0h1lGX4NM-FUhlBTpExAHNvZ02g2vS6GqHnuWU2Lw/viewform

31/01/2024

Join us on Thu, Feb. 8, for an evening at the Center for Brooklyn History that looks to our community’s past, while connecting its lessons to the present and future.

“The Legacy of The East, Brooklyn’s Center for Black Self-Determination” will dive deep into the movement of The East, a pan-African cultural collective that blossomed into a hub for education, creativity and activism in 1970s Brooklyn. Featuring clips from “The Sun Rises in The East” film, a panel of educators, community organizers and artists will discuss the parallels between past struggles and present-day activism — and chart a course for the future.

Moderated by Danielle Belton, editor-in-chief of HuffPost, the panel includes:
⭐️ Lumumba Akinwole-Bandele, director of community organizing & advocacy at the Alliance of Families for Justice (and former member of The East)
⭐️ Fela Barclift, founder & director of Little Sun People (and former member of The East)
⭐️ Zakiyah Ansari, interim executive director of the Alliance for Quality Education
⭐️ Paperboy Love Prince, artist, activist and presidential candidate
⭐️ Tayo Giwa, director of “The Sun Rises in The East” and co-creator of Black-Owned Brooklyn

Don't miss this unforgettable evening of reflection, inspiration and solidarity! RSVP: https://www.bklynlibrary.org/calendar/cbh-talk-legacy-east-center-for-brooklyn-20240208

10/01/2024

Thanks to everyone who came out for our film “The Sun Rises in The East,” presented last week as part of NYC Winter Jazzfest! If you missed it, you can stream the documentary, which chronicles the history and legacy of The East, on YouTube and Amazon Prime Video.

Winter JazzFest continues on Sunday 1/14, with an all-star concert, “A Night at The East,” reimagining the legendary jazz shows that took place at The East in the 1970s. Curated by music journalist Marcus J. Moore, the event will be at Crown Hill Theatre, less than a mile from the organization’s original location on Claver Place.

Just for y’all, we have a special discount code! For 20% off, use code SUNRISES at checkout (while supplies last). Purchase here: https://www.winterjazzfest.com/1/14/24-the-night-at-the-east

AND the day before, Saturday 1/13, the festival is holding a panel discussion — free and open to the public — at Moxy Williamsburg on The East’s cultural legacy featuring Basir Mchawi, Fela Barclift and Ahmed Abdullah. Details here: https://www.winterjazzfest.com/jazz-talks-2024

Hope to see you out on this weekend paying tribute to important Brooklyn history.Hope

08/01/2024

We spoke with about our work a few months ago, and the story is finally out! Many thanks to writer .felton and photographer for the thoughtful piece and captures. Shoutout to for welcoming us into your beautiful shop.

After some time off, we’ll be back here soon with more storytelling about Black Brooklyn — an act of preservation and a commitment to ensuring that our voices are understood and celebrated. Hope you’ll continue to rock with us!

24/11/2023

To select the 81 items in the 2023 Black-Owned Brooklyn Holiday Gift Guide, we spent all year seeking, scrolling and sampling to bring you the best from local Black businesses and artists. The outcome: a gorgeous collection of thoughtful gifts, across nine distinct categories, that make it easy to shop small, local and Black. Consider your holiday shopping done!

05/09/2023

**PART 1 OF 2** Yesterday’s West Indian Day Parade was Big Energy!! Celebrating its 76th anniversary since the Labor Day parade’s origins in 1940s Harlem — before the West Indian American Day Carnival Association () brought it to Crown Heights in 1969 — the celebration of Caribbean culture was a vibrant burst of costumes, floats, food, music, dance and enduring pride. Check out our pics from the festivities, and don’t miss Part 2 in the accompanying post!

05/09/2023

**PART 2 OF 2** Yesterday’s West Indian Day Parade packed Crown Heights with revelers, colorful costumes and flags, homestyle island food and Caribbean rhythms. Enjoy some of our best shots from the day (and check out the next post for Part 1 of this series)!

27/08/2023

Brooklyn came out heavy yesterday for the return of ’s annual summer party after a four-year hiatus — this edition dedicated to both Michael Jackson and Prince. Lifted by on the decks (and nutcrackers), crowds filled Fort Greene Park to sing, dance and celebrate the music of two icons, with cameos from Brooklyn’s own , and . See y’all next year when the party returns to Do the Right Thing Way!

23/08/2023

***UPDATE: Free passes are all gone 😩 If you’re going this weekend, have a great time!***

It’s about that time: AFROPUNK returns this weekend! And at this year’s AFROPUNK Brooklyn: Circus of Soul, held at Greenpoint Terminal Market, you can shop bespoke finds (jewelry, apparel, housewares, art, natural beauty products and more) from some of NYC’s best Black makers.

Oh, and guess what? We’ve got 50 FREE General Admission weekend passes for you, Black-Owned Brooklyn Massive! Use CODE “BLKOWNEDAPBK23” to claim your free ticket before they run out!

16/08/2023

If you haven’t seen “The Sun Rises in The East” yet, it’s never been easier to watch it. The entire film is now streaming free on YouTube!

Thank you to everyone who has supported this filmmaking journey. Before finally signing a distribution deal this past spring, we faced doubts from industry gatekeepers about the significance of this unapologetically Black history — told it was too local, too provincial. But we never questioned the importance and power of the story of The East.

Before “The Sun Rises in The East” first debuted on Amazon Prime Video (where it’s available for rent or purchase), the only way to see it was attending a screening in person. And starting from our sold-out premiere at BAM in Feb. 2022; to screenings in Brooklyn parks, plazas and school auditoriums; as well as at film festivals across the nation and world…thousands of y’all have come through!

Even before the documentary garnered any media attention, more than 60 local Black businesses helped get the word out by displaying our poster in their windows. We’ve never had studio backing or wealthy benefactors, but we’ve always had the unflagging support of our community.

One of our goals for this project has been making it available to the widest possible audiences. With the film now streaming for free on YouTube, there are even fewer barriers to seeing it. If you care about ensuring that Black stories are told and preserved, we ask that you watch “The Sun Rises in The East” on YouTube, like it and leave a comment to let the world know how meaningful our history really is. We are forever grateful to you for holding us up!

10/08/2023

Did you know you can watch “The Sun Rises in The East” for FREE on YouTube and Tubi (in addition to renting it on Amazon Prime Video and Google Play)? For a great overview, check out this writeup in Bloomberg CityLab. As writer Brentin Mock puts it:

“The East tells the story of an organization that could be described as a progenitor of Black Lives Matter, Afrofuturism, critical race theory, and woke-onomic principles adopted by many African Americans today. Under its founder, Jitu Weusi, The East was a place where families were raised on Pan-African philosophies and cooperative economics structures in a sort-of Black Utopian setting.”

The Sun Rises in the East documentary, now streaming on Amazon, unearths the story of a 1970s Brooklyn community that spurred the borough’s Black solidarity culture.

09/08/2023

It was great talking with Brooklyn Magazine about our documentary, The Sun Rises in The East — now streaming FREE on YouTube and Tubi, in addition to Amazon Prime Video and Google Play!

In a new documentary, filmmakers Tayo and Cynthia Gordy Giwa finally tell the whole story of The East.

26/07/2023

For those who knew her, Mary Wormworth was a beautiful light. As the owner of Mary’s Hands Jewelry (), she adorned so many of us with her striking handcrafted designs. Most of all, Mary, who sadly passed away this spring, touched our community with her lively, generous spirit.

As a testament to her memory, we wanted to recount some of Mary’s extraordinary life.

A Bed-Stuy native and mainstay of Tompkins Avenue, her journey as a jewelry artist began on a whim 20 years ago. After displaying her first designs at a friend’s restaurant — nine pairs of earrings — they sold out in one night. “I can pick up a material, and it just kind of dictates what happens next,” Mary said in our 2018 feature story on her work, which is inspired by architecture, African and Native American cultures, and Mary’s chosen media of precious metals and semi-precious gemstones.

Possessing limitless creativity, Mary was also a singer who spent 10 years leading an all-female big band, in addition to belting backup vocals for artists including Freddie Jackson, Amel Larrieux and Les Nubians.

The Wormworth family invites those who knew and loved Mary to join them in celebrating her life in a memorial service on August 5th, 6 pm, at St. Peter’s Church.

Rest easy, Mary. 🖤

30/06/2023

Watching “The Sun Rises in The East” just got easier. In addition to Amazon Prime Video, it’s also now available on YouTube Movies, Google Play and Tubi. If you haven’t seen the film yet, pick your platform and get into it this long weekend!

To tell the story of The East — an ambitious pan-African cultural collective, founded by teens and young adults in 1970s Bed-Stuy, which created its own school, food co-op, newsmagazine, jazz club, record label and more than a dozen other businesses and institutions — we were fortunate to collaborate with a talented production and post-production team. Given the story’s focus on Black self-determination, we’re especially proud to have worked with a mostly Black, entirely POC technical crew. Swipe for a roll call of the people who helped bring our vision to life.

Among many lessons we took from The East is the power in being the owners of our stories. “The Sun Rises in The East” — a super indie project made by Black filmmakers, told from the perspective of the community that birthed a revolutionary movement — is a manifestation of this ethos. We’re proud to now reach even wider audiences and hope you’ll join us in lifting up this Black Brooklyn history.

29/06/2023

Truly the end of an era — tomorrow, closes its doors for good. Founded by twin sisters and Brooklyn natives Marva (pictured) and Myriam Babel, the Prospect Heights cocktail bar and lounge has been a beloved community space for eight years, hosting DJ nights, day parties, pop-up kitchens, readings and great memories.

“We get a lot of people who are very free,” Marva told us in our 2018 Ode to Babel feature. “We get a lot of the LGBTQ POC community, who are wonderfully supportive, and all types of artists across the board. This is the Brooklyn I know and grew up in — it’s always been a cultural hub. For me, owning this business is about holding on to our space.”

An interior designer, Marva based Ode to Babel’s dreamy look and feel on different elements from her personal aesthetic: mid-century modern, clean but warm, natural, with influences from Japanese architecture and African motifs.

“We were really purposeful about keeping people calm because bars can get crazy,” she said. “My design approach sought to temper that, so that people respect the space or come to it often enough to feel like they’re home. We try to be more than a bar. We’re a community space as well.”

As we say goodbye to nearly a decade of Ode to Babel, say hello to the sisters’ forthcoming new venture: , a member-based social club and tasting room featuring spirits from their own micro-distillery.

Thanks for the memories, Myriam and Marva. We can’t wait for the new era! 🖤

23/06/2023

If there’s one thing we did at last weekend’s Juneteenth Food Festival, besides having a good time, it was document, document, document!

Many thanks to photographers , and for these joyful captures. Check out our Stories throughout the next couple days for more shots from the weekend — you just might see your gorgeous self! 📸

20/06/2023

Thank you, Massive, for coming through for our Juneteenth Food Festival with Weeksville Heritage Center! It was a magical two days of lifting up Black food and culture in a sacred space that keeps us rooted to our history. Most importantly, the festival was another chance for us to gather as a community to celebrate Juneteenth together.

We’re pleased that The New York Times came to document the community that was created this weekend. As DJ Monday Blue says in the write-up: “We’re still here.” We’re still here, and this intergenerational, peaceful Black event, with *thousands* in attendance, happened in the heart of Central Brooklyn. Thank you, and , for capturing it so beautifully.

Happy Juneteenth! ❤️🖤💚

“Hey, we’re still here”: At a time when Black families have been leaving New York, the weekend celebration cultivated a sense of community.

16/06/2023

When we started planning this weekend’s Juneteenth Food Festival with the team at , we wanted to curate a great selection of Black food and culture — and we couldn’t be more proud of this lineup!

We also just wanted to create an opportunity for our community to come together.

It’s not lost on us that this weekend is Father’s Day, that we’re in Pride Month, and that Black liberation in the U.S. is cause for celebration among Black people from everywhere. We aspire to create an intergenerational space where the cool kids, elders, young families and all the in-betweens can feel interconnected and commemorate Juneteenth together. And there’s no better place than historic Weeksville, once one of the largest free Black communities in pre-Civil War America.

In addition to food from some of the best local Black restaurants, pop-ups and food trucks, this two-day event will feature self-guided audio tours of historic Weeksville; a book signing by , who literally wrote the book on Juneteenth and food (“Watermelon & Red Birds”); performances by world champion double-dutch team ; house music and club classics from the DJ collective; sets by , and ; a skywriting performance from tracing historic Weeksville’s original borders; short plays by ; art activities for kids and adults; and so much more.

Join us this weekend in a space lovingly made for Black joy, freedom and celebration. For more details, visit https://www.eventbrite.com/e/juneteenth-food-festival-tickets-638730158097. Hope to see you there!