By Stephen Oduntan
Contributing Writer
LOS ANGELES — Late afternoon sunlight washed over the plaza outside Los Angeles Center Studios Feb. 21, as Black History Month celebrations continued across Los Angeles, and shoppers streamed beneath a towering inflatable arch reading “Black on the Block.”
Music pulsed from speakers deeper inside the market, blending with laughter, greetings and the steady rhythm of footsteps along rows of vendor tents.
Families, couples and groups of friends moved through the space in a slow, colorful current — some carrying shopping bags and food containers, others pausing with curious eyes to scan tables of clothing, candles, beauty products and handmade goods. Smoke drifted from nearby food trucks while vendors called out welcomes, creating an atmosphere that felt less like a marketplace and more like a neighborhood carnival unfolding in the heart of downtown Los Angeles.
The traveling marketplace, founded in Los Angeles in 2021, has grown into one of the country’s largest recurring events dedicated to supporting Black-owned businesses. Held regularly in multiple cities, the pop-up festival brings together dozens — often more than 100 — vendors alongside food, music and community programming, offering entrepreneurs visibility while giving shoppers a space centered on Black culture and commerce.
Among the vendors was Kaymar Haye, founder of LA Raw, who said the gathering carried special meaning during Black History Month.
“My brand is about the upliftment of humanity,” Haye said. “Right now, uplifting humanity feels very necessary.”
Looking out at the crowd moving steadily between tents, he described the event as something deeper than commerce.
“Seeing all these Black people here feels great,” he said. “It’s like we’ve created our own oasis in the chaos. We don’t need anyone’s permission to celebrate our joy.”
A vendor specializing in women’s haircare products said the marketplace also fills a practical need for many shoppers, offering a space where Black women can easily find products designed for their hair — something she said is not always available in mainstream stores.
“It gives Black women a safe space to find what they need,” she said.
Another longtime vendor said the event also challenges stereotypes about large Black gatherings. He noted that in all the years he has attended, he has never witnessed violence at the market, describing it instead as a place where the community comes together peacefully to shop, connect and celebrate.
Haye, who said he has attended since the early years of the marketplace, added that the event’s growth reflects how strongly it resonates with the community.
“It’s grown into something people really look forward to,” he said. “Today is about celebrating joy and happiness in the Black community.”
As the afternoon light softened and the crowd continued to flow between tents, the scene felt less like a temporary market and more like a shared space reclaimed — a place where commerce, culture and connection met under one archway, if only for a day.
Stephen Oduntan is a freelance writer for Wave Newspapers.
