LAWTON, Okla. (KSWO) – People gathered in Lawton Saturday for the Black Business Expo, an event bringing Black excellence and entrepreneurship under one roof.
The expo ran from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Local vendors set up inside, showing off products and services from Black-owned businesses.
Organizers say the event is about supporting Black business owners, building connections and creating generational wealth.
The event was led by the Lawton Underground group and several other local partners.
Creating space for Black entrepreneurs
Sharmain Cooper-Richardson, an organizer, said Black business owners face unique challenges.
“I feel like don’t have enough spaces to be seen, felt and heard. It’s not a equal playing ground when it comes to finances,” Cooper-Richardson said. “It’s expensive to run a business. We have to do all of the footwork, you have to advertise your self, market. It’s a lot of work.”
Cooper-Richardson said she runs several businesses herself and understands the challenges firsthand.
She said she does not want this to be a one-time event. Her goal is to make the Black Business Expo a yearly tradition in Lawton.
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