AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – Juneteenth can increase the foot traffic for Black-owned businesses as many celebrate the holiday by supporting them.
At the beginning of June, Visit Augusta began the Bold Black Owned Business Pass.
The pass aims to connect residents to businesses so they can share culture through food, drinks and other experiences.
The pass acts as a free digital transport to connect people to these businesses and experiences.
There are many Black-owned businesses in downtown Augusta, and they appreciate the support, but Shirley Darby wants to focus on the true meaning behind the holiday.
“Juneteenth is a reminder of the fact that we have survived. We survived slavery, our ancestors survived slavery, and it’s a reminder that we should not forget,” said Darby, retired educator. “I remember my mother and the struggles that she went through, and my father and the life we lived back in the days, and it was a difficult time for us.”
With the hardships many past Black generations have endured, they created opportunities for the new ones.
“Freedom represents watching my dad be an entrepreneur and a business owner, it’s definitely been inspiring for me,” said Taryn Hooks, Cafe on Eighth, owner’s daughter.
For Rhonda Coleman, she wants to keep the momentum of supporting Black communities going.
“When we support Black businesses, we are supporting the community and we are supporting families, and we should do that,” said Coleman, owner, Coleman’s Lunchbox.
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