The Black Friday Market being organized by activist group Hood Liberation will open to the public this Friday, November 26.
Nadia Elhawary, one of the co-founders of Hood Liberation, told Pasadena Now about 50 Pasadena and Altadena-based vendors will bring their products and sell them during the Black Friday Market, from 12 to 5 p.m. at 801 S. Raymond, Pasadena.
The Black Friday Market has been the second Rose City Market organized by the group. The group hosted the first market on Pasadena Day last June 26. Around 70 vendors participated in the event.
Elhawary said the Hood Liberation has been organizing public markets to help Black and brown businesses thrive amid the pandemic.
“The purpose of our markets is to help our smaller businesses with exposure and bring a storefront to businesses who don’t yet have access to one.”
“What is special about our markets is we have only Pasadena and Altadena based vendors and we attempt to keep everything within our community.”
According to Elhawary, over 20 brands of clothing and shoes will be on sale during the Black Friday Market.
Various healing items and tools such as crystals and crystal jewelry, reiki healing, homemade essential oils, soaps, and candles will also be available, as well as local gems, plants, and art resources.
A variety of food trucks and stalls which offer desserts, vegan food, soul food and Mexican food, among others, will also be available.
Hood Liberation is the brainchild of nine Black and brown community organizers and activists who came together during the 2020 protests against police violence. The organization seeks to combat oppression by creating its own spaces for healing, empowerment, and celebration.
“These markets serve a greater purpose in that they help us welcome different folks in [Pasadena] to join the movement and fall in love with themselves and the city we call home together.”
“We want our community to get excited about volunteerism, our city, and our roots.”
Elhawary expressed hopes that people who will go to the market will “walk into a space with love and community feeling.”
