We also want people to make a conscientious decision to buy black,” said Daniels, the creative force behind events such as Memphis Black Restaurant Week, the Soulful Food Truck Festival, and Black Christmas Expo.

Mark Yates, president/CEO of the Black Business Association of Memphis, puts the purchasing power of African Americans in Memphis at a rounded-up $3 billion, using U.S. Census data, GDP and adjusting for population and the wealth-gap disparity.

News of the event has been viral for weeks, gaining the attention of business owners in 20 other cities and two countries (Vancouver and St. Croix).

“We’re looking forward to seeing our old customers and making friends with our new ones during the Juneteenth shopping,” said Andrea Johnson, local owner of Bubble Bistro, which sells body butters, signature bubble baths, soaps and hair and skin beauty products.

Emily Moering of Scent Row in Memphis offers scented candles, incense, bath and body products and fragrant oils.