The Oklahoma Eagle Newswire
- There are more than 13,000 Black owned businesses in the state of Oklahoma
- This event is taking the first steps to empower the statewide Black Wall Street; Now accepting sponsors, vendors, exhibitors, speakers and more!
Oklahoma City, OK — On Saturday, April 14, 2018, the Oklahoma Black Business Expo will take place at the Cox Convention Center in downtown Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. This anticipated event is intended to bring attention to African American entrepreneurs and business owners, and the resources that assist them in being successful. The expo’s purpose is to highlight the 13,905 Black-owned businesses (U.S Census Bureau 2012 Survey) in Oklahoma, as well as to inspire the next generation.
The Tulsa Race Riots of 1921 is what comes to mind when the rest of the United States thinks about what it means to be Black in the state of Oklahoma. This moment in our nation’s history is when the Black community that made up the Greenwood district of Tulsa, Oklahoma saw close to 300 humans murdered and countless thriving businesses destroyed forever. The reason for the massacre was based on the accusation of 19-year old Dick Roland assaulting a white woman in an elevator. “We pay homage to our wounds and take responsibility for our healing,” says expo creator Asa Leveaux of Leveaux Group, Inc.
The Oklahoma Black Business Expo is an effective platform in ultimate exposure for African-American and multi-ethnic businesses, academic institutions, and various community resources that have made a positive impact in the lives of their community members. With the Black population of Oklahoma being well over 260,000 the need for a statewide event is needed and necessary. Due to the need, there will be a time set aside for children to compete for business funding as well as Empowerment Sessions throughout the event.
The expo is currently sponsored by Leveaux Group, Inc., The Journal Record, BlackPR.com, Oklahoma Army National Guard, Oklahoma State University’s Office of Diversity & Inclusion, Langston University and will present such excellence as the Emmy award winning Jabee Williams.
Those interested in sponsorship and vendor opportunities should visit The Black Business Expo at: www.okblackbusinessexpo.com
Follow the expo on social media: Facebook – www.Facebook.com/Oklahom a-Black-Business-Expo162956944291004/ Instagram – www.Instagram.com/OklahomaBlackBusinessExpo/Twitter – www.Twitter.com/OkBlackBizExpo.
