ASHEVILLE, N.C. (828newsNOW) —
Juneteenth celebrations Wednesday helped highlight efforts to revitalize a historic neighborhood of Black-owned businesses in the heart of downtown Asheville.
Known as The Block, the area near the intersection of South Market and Eagle streets near Pack Square Park is one of Asheville’s oldest neighborhoods and a longtime cultural center.
Visitors to the area might encounter the YMI Cultural Center, an organization dedicated to uplifting Black voices and heritage, Noir Collective, an art gallery and boutique, or JD Ellison & Company, a communication and business consulting firm.
Together, those and other businesses form The Block Collaborative, which gave businesses in The Block the opportunity to host pop-in events for Juneteenth.
alexandria monque co-owns Noir Collective with her youngest child and serves as the Managing and Equity Director for YMICC.
“We want The Block to be recognized as a place where people can shop, where people live and people play and have their being,” said monque. “What’s a better time? There’s not many holidays that focus on Black folks, so we’re like, ‘We’re not gonna not take advantage of it.’”
She stood outside YMI Cultural Center, where a traveling art exhibit was on display.
“This show here is called Aiming for Freedom, and this is YMI and Noir Collective’s participation in Juneteenth,” monque said. “But we’re looking at the entire season of Juneteenth to July 4th. It’s called Civic Season, and these events are going on all around the country. And the idea is to use these events to encourage people to be involved in their civic duties as Americans.”
Not everyone setting up shop for The Block celebration had a storefront to work out of.
Bes is a DJ who works with Just Folks of Asheville, the organization that painted the mural in Triangle Park at The Block. He set up his mixing station to play music for the Juneteenth event from the park.
Bes sees Triangle Park as a vital part of The Block.
“It was originally where we hung out at, and Just Folks is trying to keep that alive,” Bes said. “That’s really all we’re here for, is just to do events and have people in the park and have a good time. Have a party in the park, just like it used to be.”
Bes sees Juneteenth as an opportunity to share a message.
“It brings attention to what’s going on,” Bes said. “Today is one of those days where I’m kinda playing to the crowd but I’m also playing stuff that has messages, and I want you to hear some struggles, some stories and stuff like that.”
At the end of the day, however, Bes wants The Block to be seen as a community space.
“Ultimately, overall, what I would really like to see at some point in time is the majority of the Black community of Asheville just congregating, especially in Triangle Park,” Bes confessed. “Relaxing, just having a good time, sharing stories, enjoying each other. Congregating like we used to up here.”
More information about The Block Collaborative can be found on their Facebook page, The Block – Asheville, NC.