LSU’s Black Student Union and Let’s Link held a “Black Wall Street” pop-up shop Thursday in front of the Student Union.
There were 30 Black business owners networking as they displayed their art, products and services. Jalyn Underwood, a psychology senior and president of Let’s Link, said these events are important because it boosts support for Black businesses.
Underwood said this is one of the main purposes of Let’s Link. The organization works to connect Black brands and entrepreneurs.
“Going to a PWI as a Black student, sometimes we don’t have the same opportunities that other students may have,” she said. “If other people aren’t gonna give them to us, we could give it to ourselves.”
Geralcoe Toney and Tiyana Corbin, co-owners of Costar Club, said they heard about the pop-up shop via Instagram. The duo began their business in 2020 as a way to express their creativity through streetwear fashion.
Toney said he felt like the pop-up shop would be a great opportunity for the Black community in Baton Rouge to expand wealth and grow together. Several business owners said that being a Black entrepreneur comes with a specific set of challenges.
Jordyn Robinson, an engineering junior and Black Student Union president, said this has been a problem for too long.
“To know about Black Wall Street and the amount of wealth that was lost in the Tulsa Massacre, it’s important for us to keep fighting for reparations,” Robinson said.
The Tulsa Massacre, also known as the Black Wall Street Massacre, was a two-day long riot that took place in 1921. White supremacists destroyed Black businesses and homes in the Greenwood District of Tulsa, Oklahoma.
Many Black people lived together in the Greenwood District. The area was a place where Black businesses thrived. It brought lots of financial prosperity and cultivated an efficient society.
Robinson said her goal as Black Student Union president is to put a smile on any Black face at LSU. She said she hopes events like this can uplift and connect community members.
As groups of people danced to “Bunny Hop” by Da Entourage, Alyncia Riney and KyTiere Lazard geared up to head into the Student Union from the pop-up shop.
Riney, a senior psychology major, said she heard about the pop-up shop through Instagram and thought it was important to participate. Lazard, a sophomore and psychology major, said it was also important because it highlighted small businesses in particular.
Lazard said she doesn’t often see Black businesses highlighted around Baton Rouge in the way this pop-up did.
“Oftentimes, it’s not really centered for us. So seeing stuff like this, I feel more centered,” she said.
Nycya Gordon, owner of WIGS4BARBZ, said she got into the business of selling hair because she was tired of being scammed by other companies. She said she sells quality products and being at the Black Wall Street pop-up shop was an opportunity to showcase her brand.
Jaylnn Stroman, a freshman at LSU and owner of Jeweled-by-Jalynn, said making jewelry was always a big hobby of hers.
“This has been an opportunity to amplify our creativeness, our passions, our hobbies and I just think it’s beautiful,” Stroman said.
Underwood said Let’s Link hopes to collaborate on more events and projects with the Black Student Union. There aren’t any other collaborations planned for the semester, but Let’s Link does plan to have its annual pop-up shop around the same time next year. Robinson said the Black Student Union will also be presenting more pop-up shops as well.
“Next year we’re going to try to make it even bigger. We’re going to promote it well and make sure we get even more than 30 businesses out here,” Robinson said.
This was the last event the Black Student Union had scheduled for its Black History Week celebration. However, both of these organizations will continue to bridge gaps in the Black community and have more events to come.
