Tori, founder of The Sensual Society, selling her massage oil candles at The Melanin Market 
Shamika Baker created Bijou Handmade Jewelry as a way to turn her passion into a business. 
Bijou Handmade Jewelry 
Taj,owner of Kilfalme Nguo Royal Garments, selling his novelty clothing line at The Melanin Market. 
Valinciea (left) with the help of her daughter, Azaria (right), started Mazani Amaud Tutu’s by Valinciea. 
Azaria created Charm City at the age of eight. She is selling her bracelets at The Melanin Market. 
Elizabeth and Diana, creators of Gingah, wanted to start a business selling clothing and accessories that pertain to Nigerian culture. 
African jewelry by Gingah 
Jayla (middle), owner of Warrior Keychains, Cheryle (left), and Aunt Betty (right) selling safety keychains at The Melanin Market. 
Warrior Keychains 
Kisha, owner of Kisha’s Perfume Samples, wanted to create an affordable way for people to try out different perfumes. 
Alexis, owner of Blessed Not Stressed, selling her unisex apparel collection. 
Lance Muhammad, owner of The Supreme Sweets Dessert Shop in Willingboro, NJ. 
Ashili, owner of The Vanity Co. 
Imani creator of Not the Minority Brand, selling her apparel at The Melanin Market. 
Not the Minority Brand apparel. 
Danielle, owner of Boutik Angelik Body, selling her handmade, organic body butters and scrubs. 
African Waist Beads by Boutik Angelik Body 
Bilal Shabazz, owner of Halal Boyz, wanted to create a clothing line with inspirational sayings. 
Halal Boyz apparel. 
Dawn created her business, A Gurl Wit No Name, selling self defense products as a way to provide safety for those that need protection. 
Kanika Mobley wanted to provide children with books that had diverse representation so she created Stories of a Colorful World. 
Stories of a Colorful World 
Jewell Ware, creator of YaYa’s Pantry and her daughter Jaedan. 
Jaedan, creator of Diffused by D’Arby, sells her products at The Melanin Market 
Koen Johnson helps with his families business, Declare It & Wear It. Koen shares the design he created. 
Nancey and Sam Johnson (not pictured), owners of Declare It & Wear It. 
Terraine Moore, owner of The Poison Apple Co., with granddaughters Aniyah & Demi Rose. 
Aniyah & Demi Rose pass around samples from The Poison Apple Co. 
Gourmet candy apples from The Poison Apple Co. 
Marvin Carter (right), Director of MCCC’s Division, Equity, and Inclusion, talks to the vendors about their experiences. Pictured with Terraine Moore of Poison Apple Co. 
Ebony Harris (left), creator of Zen Lux Botanical Bar, with her friend at The Melanin Market. 
Dr. Derrick Campbell, owner of Quarantine Racism Educational Services and author of Promoting Positive Racial Teacher Student Classroom Relationships. 
Dr. Derrick Campbell, owner of Quarantine Racism Educational Services and author of Promoting Positive Racial Teacher Student Classroom Relationships. 
The Melanin Market founder, Lamar Robinson, and Tori, owner of The Sensual Society. 
Stacy Denton, MCCC’s Upward Bound Director, visiting the vendor tables 
Anyae, creator of Glozz Girlz, with her sisters. 
Glozz Girlz apparel 
Nideyah, owner of Not Ya Mama’s Lemonade, selling homemade lemonade at The Melanin Market. 
Enyonam Lartey, creator of Dashafrique, selling her authentic African wear & accessories. 
Authentic African wear and accessories by Dashafrique. 
Helaine, owner of Spiritually Lit, selling her soy wax candles and room sprays. 
Dena Young, creator of Bae-6 Hair N Body products. 
Joie Floyd, owner of The JoFlo, multifaceted African clothing, jewelry & art. 
Selina Gray, owner of Dots Dogs & Catering LLC. 
Brijette, creator of Paint the Town Bleu, selling her handmade jewelry. 
Brijette from Paint the Town Bleu shows customers her jewelry. 
Officer Tammy Roberson and Officer Hope Jarvis, Mercer’s Security Officers, enjoying The Melanin Market. 
DJ Lills (right), owner of DJ Lills Entertainment, and friend, Alexis Jenkins (left) provided music and entertainment at The Melanin Market. 
DJ Lills enjoying the music. 
From left to right – Nideyah, Alexis Jenkins, Enyonam Lartey, Joie Floyd, and Lamar Robinson on the dance floor at The Melanin Market.
Above: Highlights from The Melanin Market at Mercer’s James Kerney Campus, February 4. Photos by Julia Meriney
Mercer’s James Kerney Campus (JKC) hosted The Melanin Market on Saturday, February 4. The event provided an opportunity for BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and people of color) entrepreneurs to showcase their products and services as a way to support BIPOC culture.
Marvin Carter, director of Diversity, Equality, and Inclusion (DEI) at Mercer, wanted JKC to host the market as a part of their Black History Month events. Carter said the event was a way for Mercer students to experience BIPOC culture while also providing Trenton residents with an opportunity to shop locally and learn about entrepreneurship.
In addition to the vendors, Carter also arranged for Mercer’s Human Resources, Academic Affairs, and Division of Lifelong Learning and Continuing Education departments to be available to answer questions about Mercer’s programs.
“We also want you to think about your future,” Carter said. “Those two things together help to create economic levity in our black and brown population.”
Selina Gray, owner of Dots Dogs & Catering, was just one of over 40 vendors who attended The Melanin Market. She greeted her customers with a smile as she served them sausage, peppers, and onions, hot dogs, nachos and popcorn. Gray’s boardwalk style food has earned her the nickname “Fun Food Lady.”
Gray started her own catering business last year naming it after her mom, Dorothy, who passed away almost ten years ago. Dorothy’s picture is displayed on the banner that Gray puts up before every event.
“I just take her with me on this whole journey and every time I do these things I feel her more,” Gray said. Creating Dots Dogs was a way for Gray to keep her mother’s memory alive while taking charge of her own future.
Gray hopes that others will be inspired by her journey. “I’m so much happier now doing what I love. I hope others see that they can make a living doing what they love, too.”
Lamar Robinson, founder of The Melanin Market said he wanted to provide an opportunity for community members and students to network and showcase their ideas while inspiring others to do the same.
Robinson said he didn’t have that opportunity when he was younger. “We heard of ‘brands’ but didn’t have the true access to create one in our community and start our businesses exactly where we were,” Robinson said.
Imani, one of the vendors at the market and creator of Not The Minority Brand, said she hopes her brand inspires others to think about the term “minority.” Imani started her apparel business in 2020. She said, “I wanted my children to know that they are more than just a percentage that society puts them in.”
“I remember hearing on the radio, ‘Minorities, you need to be voting. You need to fill out your census.’ And I kept saying to myself, why is this so important for minorities to do something,” Imani said.
She continued, “Then it clicked. All of those minorities are the majority. We are the bigger picture. They need us.” Imani concluded, “We need to connect and communicate and stay together.”
The Melanin Market provided just that, a place for BIPOC entrepreneurs to network and share how they brought their visions to life inspiring others to do the same.
The vendor tables filled Kerney Hall and continued down to the first floor Center City Cafe. There were handmade soaps and lotions, African jewelry and clothing, men’s and women’s apparel and accessories, children’s books featuring BIPOC characters and written by BIPOC authors, along with many other unique items.
Jayla, a Criminal Justice student at Rutgers University and owner of Warrior Keychains, had a table at the market selling self defense keychains that include pepper spray, a whistle, a window breaker and a flashlight.. “I got the idea to create safety keychains as a way to help protect women while keeping the keychain design stylish and affordable,” Jayla said
Joie Floyd, an art teacher in Delran and owner of The JoFlo, designs multifaceted African clothing, jewelry and art made from repurposed material. She had many of her handmade apparel and accessories available to purchase at the market.
One student who attended the event, Elijah Parkman-Williams, former Editor in Chief of The VOICE, said “I believe the Melanin Market was one of the better examples of how we can celebrate Black History at Mercer County Community College.” Parkman-Williams added, “I’m glad I had a chance, not only to participate, but to celebrate with a buddy of mine over black culture.”
Carter hopes that the Mercer community engages in more than just the big weekend events for Black History Month. The school will be featuring several movies throughout February that recognize Black American contributions and struggles in society. There will be an opportunity for open discussion after each film.
“The filming chats are important, too,” Carter said. “They help to understand perspectives, and to really gain exposure to the culture. And I think just ask the questions. Now’s a great time to ask questions.”
Click on the link below to see the full list of Mercer’s Black History Month events.
