A Saturday at the Flea

Los Angeles, CA (News4usonline) – In the City of Angels, there’s an array of activities you can explore on a Saturday afternoon. The Black Market Flea is one of the few safe havens I attend quite often. So much so to where it has become a personal tradition.

The event, held Aug. 23, was a festive afternoon that’s well captured in my phone gallery. People from all walks of life gathered at the Rolling Greens venue in the subsect of East LA for the summer event, enjoying an evening of high vibrations and black joy to share all around.

Arriving around 5 p.m., despite the fact that I was late, thankfully, I was able to speak to a few select vendors for the event.

“I love the Flea because you really get to see the community,” stated Cara, owner of the Compton-founded jewelry and accessory brand Gilded Grotto. “You get to see not only the community, but different people who are creatives just trying to get their passions out there. Just to express themselves or whatever their medium is. It’s beautiful to see how talented we are.”

“And beautiful. Because looking at everybody around, we are beautiful.”

This statement alone couldn’t be any more fitting. Whenever someone in LA mentions the Black Market Flea, or gazes at pictures of the event on Instagram, they can’t help but notice that everyone who attends it loves to make a fashion statement. And they live for it.

“So, my business, I don’t really like to call it a business. I feel like I am just existing, creating, seeing what flows out of me, and creating as I go”, stated Cara. “As far as my branding, it’s kinda tricky because I do all kinds of jewelry, homegoods and stuff.” “I’m just a little hobbit in the cave.”

The idea for the Black Market Flea was first conceptualized in the year of 2021. After the worldwide COVID-19 pandemic, the space was created to introduce a new wave of Black unification, further emphasizing the need for creativity, expression, and a sanctuary where Black folks can simply show up and be exactly who they are.

With many well-known Black-owned vendors, guest celebrity performances headlining the events, the Black Market Flea has grown its popularity over the past years. Ever since I first attended in 2022, I couldn’t help but feel a special gravitation towards the space. A feeling of belonging that could not be denied.

“When I see Black people coming to my booth and they see so many pieces that represent them, they’re like ‘Oh, my God,’ I didn’t know they made these in the 80s or 90s,” stated Ashton Matthews, owner of the Black owned vintage apparel collection, Break Even Vintage. “They be like how did you even find this stuff?”

Instantly, when I approached Matthews for an interview, he was ecstatic that I approached him. “I’m a curator. I curate vintage that’s nostalgic to me and the people that shop with me, from the pro-black items, blaxploitation, or whatever you want to call it. Movies, old TV shows, cartoons, everything like that, that’s relatable to you.”

The essence of Black nostalgia transcending to the present is what has always helped pay homage to Black culture within itself. Even during the event, younger generations of Black folks joined in unison to dance to Cameo‘s “Candy.” The Flea always makes sure to blast one of many old-school classics that you may have heard at a typical family cookout.

The Black Market Flea is also the perfect hub for folks across the Black diaspora. With cultures blending, even the music you may hear in the background invites you in. As with the vendors themselves, each has their own unique perspectives to offer insight as to what the Flea means for them individually.

When I spoke to Ruth, owner of Flora Charm LA, our conversation further nourished a sense of warmth, inspired by authenticity and positivity. After noticing her booth while entering the indoor vendor area of the event, I couldn’t help but ask her about her floral-inspired accessories. “My business is real flower jewelry, and also silk flower hair clips as well. My whole brand is around flowers and everlasting beauty.”

The Nigerian-born South African entrepreneur further shed a light on her brand’s roots.

“I moved from South Africa, and when I came here I was very shy and reserved. Even though I loved to talk, I always felt to myself, and I felt like a lot of people were like that too. But when I started wearing the flower jewelry, I felt myself not only opening up more, but other people opening up as well to me.”

“People come and compliment me. People actually wear my necklaces, and also it kinda gave me confidence to talk to people,” Ruth continued. “So I was just like you know what, I want not only to feel beautiful in my accessories, but also feel open to talk to people.”

Within the same vein, I related heavily to Ruth’s experiences. Not only is the Black Market Flea the ideal place for networking and, of course, having a great time, but it has also introduced me to an array of people whom I may not have ever encountered on a regular weekday. To put it poetically, the Flea feels like a world inside the world we live in.

“It means so much to me,” stated Matthews. “It’s hard for me to explain it really, because I genuinely just enjoy being here and doing what I do. But seeing people’s reactions and talking with people, and starting conversations with great people, it really does something to my soul because it shows me that I’m doing something right.”

The demand to correctly platform Black-owned businesses will never cease to exist, especially with the growing urge to further create spaces for newer generations of Black folks in LA and abroad to convene, gather, and celebrate. To simply just exist.

“It’s such a beautiful thing for them to prioritize Black businesses, especially now in this time when certain people are skeptical of those things and prices, so I love that there’s a different kind of community around.” Ruth further divulged, looking around in pure joy at the scenery of the ongoing crowds.

“There’s a different type of energy being around your own people because they get you. They understand you. I just love that they were able to build something like this where we can feel comfortable. Where we can just come and support each other. So yeah, I love it.”