For the country at large, it may seem as though it wasn’t until last summer that prioritizing support for Black-owned businesses became a popular trend. However, that is hardly the case for this Houston-based marketplace. BLCK Market was founded back in 2017 with a mission to provide a safe space for small Black-owned businesses and entrepreneurs to showcase their quality brands and curate a vision of financial literacy, support, and creativity for the local community. The marketplace, considered Houston’s largest gathering of Black-owned businesses, started out holding in-person events in some of Houston’s Black museums like the Houston Museum of African-American Culture and then moved onto the Buffalo Soldiers National Museum. According to founder Jeremy Malone (who also goes by J.O.), he created this powerful concept to find a positive outlet for his creativity and also give back to his city in a way that makes a statement for all Black businesses. “Being a creative in Houston is...