Host/Organizer Mona Cobb and guest Brandye Mackey.
By Lynn Jones | When Mona Cobb (shown left) handed Brandye Mackey (right) her shopping bag it was more that a typical sale. It was a cultural exchange of sisterhood and soul as Mackey had specifically made her way to the Aloft Hotel on Jacksonville’s Southside for the special Black History Bazaar. Hosted by Accentuate Elevate Your Style Boutique, the event featured live jazz, musical tributes, door prizes, giveaways, refreshments, a fashion show, food trucks, and even an art exhibit. Hundreds of patrons attended the afternoon soirée, which celebrated culture, the arts, and community engagement designed to promote Black business – and often overlooked supplier. Each quarter the boutique has vowed to change the narrative by hosting the events.
The themed showcases are designed to recognize and honor community advocates while spotlighting Jacksonville’s talented artists and creatives. Boutique owner Mona Cobb and Vice President of Marketing Michael Cobb collaborate closely on the event’s vision, intentionally creating experiences that unite the community and provide a platform for small businesses to showcase their products and services.
The themed showcases are designed to recognize and honor community advocates while spotlighting Jacksonville’s talented artists and creatives. Boutique owner Mona Cobb and Vice President of Marketing Michael Cobb collaborate closely on the event’s vision, intentionally creating experiences that unite the community and provide a platform for small businesses to showcase their products and services.
Black-owned businesses have increased substantially over the past decade: The number of Black-majority owned firms grew from about 124,000 in 2017 to roughly 195,000 by 2022, a 57% increase. Gross revenues from these firms rose from about $127.9 billion to $211.8 billion over the same period. Employment by Black-owned firms has also grown, with roughly 1.6 million workers employed in 2022. Despite this growth, Black-owned firms still make up a relatively small share of the U.S. economy: They represent about 3–3.5 % of all U.S. businesses and account for only about 1 % of gross business revenue nationally.
Despite Black entrepreneurship growing faster than many other segments, they still face disproportionate challenges in scaling, accessing capital, generating revenue, and achieving parity with broader business ownership rates — reflecting broader economic inequalities.
