From handcrafted soaps to precision fades, the Black Student Support and Engagement’s (BSSE) Melanin Market was a showcase of Black talent that highlighted local entrepreneurs, culture and celebration of Black History month.
Thirteen Black-owned businesses were present at the market on Feb. 5. Many were there for the first time, and some were returning vendors. Barbers from Trendsetters Lounge offered free haircuts, sponsored by IGNITE.
The event was opened by the master of ceremonies, Humber Media Communications student and BSSE program assistant, Jamie Caine. After the land acknowledgement, he introduced professional percussionist Marcus Brito, who thrilled the crowd with his skillful drumming on a West African Djembe.
Caine, who is also a senior mentor with Student Life, said he was happy to be hosting the event during Black History Month.
“It feels great to see the students coming out, the different vendors, young vendors, young black businesses, many of which are e-commerce businesses,” he said. “Just the variety and the diversity of vendors, it really means a lot.”
Caine said he was pleased with the turnout.
“Just seeing it grow has been a really beautiful thing in terms of the exposure, in terms of just seeing, you know, the Humber community coming together to support the black community,” he said.
Michelle Joseph said she was also at the Melanin Market for the first time. She is an author, a podcaster and a former Humber Polytechnic employee. She was promoting her book, Words With Michelle: Inspirational Conversations With Today's Black Canadian Changemakers.
Joseph said it felt like a full-circle moment to be sharing her book at Humber - a place where she worked for many years.
“It was during those years I decided I wanted to balance my work life with my creative life,” she said. “That's when I started my blog, which was an inspiration for my book.”
Joseph said Black History Month means acknowledging and taking time to thank those who fearlessly blazed a trail before us.
“But it also reminds us that there are current Black change makers who are living Black history now,” she said. “(They) are presently working towards making advancements in politics, arts, society and beyond. I like that we can consciously take a moment to recognize our achievements.”
Writers and retired educators, Sam and Rita Burke, said they were excited to be selling their books at the Melanin Market for the first time.
They have written and published six books, which were all on display.
Rita said many of their books are children’s books.
“Our first one is called I Like Being Me,” she said. “We like to describe it as an extended affirmation, whereby whoever's reading it is reminding themselves of the importance of liking themselves. It's a picture book, but adults could also benefit from reading I Like Being Me,” Rita said.
Sam said the children’s book, I Like Being on the K Team, came from a desire to share the tradition of Kwanzaa that he and his family have celebrated for many years.
It tells the story of a 12-year-old girl who learned all about Kwanzaa and then shared the tradition with her friends and family, eventually spearheading an in-school presentation and great interest in the wider community.
Sam said they used to own Burke’s Books on St. Clair Avenue in Toronto, between Oakwood and Winona Avenues. They now maintain an online presence at Ilikebeingmebooks.com, rather than a physical one.
Sam said that over the years, Black History Month has always been near to their hearts.
“It's been special in that we have helped many people to celebrate it,” he said.
“When we had the bookstore, people from the community would come in for resources, whether it be books or art or whatever it was. But not only did they come in, but we would go out. We would take it to the community,” Sam said.
The Burkes say they were educators in their “past lives.” Sam taught with the Scarborough School Board, and Rita was a nursing professor. Indeed, Rita co-authored the curriculum for the Trent-Fleming School of Nursing program more than 30 years ago. It is still in use to this day.
“It’s in our DNA, we keep sharing, we keep educating, and we keep bringing others,” Sam said. “This is much more than just a book to us. This is part of who we are.”
