This Juneteenth, we want to celebrate some Black startups that have set out to uplift and support the Black community.
What is Juneteenth?
Juneteenth commemorates June 19, 1865, the day more than 250,000 enslaved Black people in Galveston, Texas, finally learned that slavery had been abolished – two and a half years after the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation. The first Juneteenth was observed in 1866 and has been celebrated by Black Americans ever since.
It is often referred to as the country’s second independence day and became an official federal holiday in 2021 after nationwide protests against police brutality following the murder of George Floyd.
Supporting Black-Owned Businesses
Before the Emancipation Proclamation, Black people were not permitted to own any business or land, meaning Black wealth and power were little to none.
Therefore, Juneteenth can be viewed as a day to celebrate the beginning of creating Black wealth, representing the first opportunity for Black-owned entrepreneurship to develop.
We want to acknowledge these startups to continue celebrating and supporting Black-owned businesses!
Health in Her HUE
Image credit: Health in Her HUE
Health in Her HUE connects Black women and women of color to culturally sensitive healthcare providers, evidence-based health content, and community support.
CEO Ashlee Wisdom and co-founder Eddwina Bright have committed to achieving a healthcare system where all people can access the quality care they need and deserve.
It is seen as a safe space for Black women considering the racial disparities they face in health with higher mortality rates.
EnrichHER
Image credit: Dr.Roshawnna Novellus (LinkedIn)
CEO Dr. Roshawnna Novellus founded EnrichHER as a lending platform assisting women, people of color, and small business owners.
After acknowledging at the time that only 4% of business loan dollars went to women business owners, a startup is a place for necessities, including loans, seed funding, and credit.
xHood
Image credit: Mia Cooley (LinkedIn)
xHood is the first community group and organization created by Mia Cooley to serve Black queer family building and nurturing journeys.
The startup features forums for parents and soon-to-be parents to content, host virtual baby showers, and host information sessions with fertility clinics, donor banks, attorneys, and any other experts you may need answers from.
They currently have a community of over 3,000 people and are continuing to grow.
In Color Stock
Image credit: Claritza Jiménez
For some Black and brown people, finding stock images can be difficult. However, founder Claritza Jiménez, created In Color Stock, is making it easier to find high-quality photography while ensuring the highest quality of staging and photography.
There are options to become a paid contributor, find, or request stock content. As they state on their website, “We thrive in the authenticity and accuracy of our stock content.”
