Going to one of the businesses listed on the back of the One Large info sheet seemed a little too easy - I wanted to put a bit more effort in. I stayed behind after a concert by 1Hood to ask one of the performers if she had any ideas about where I could spend the $10. She wrote down Ujamaa Collective for me - a nonprofit boutique with a mission to create spaces, opportunities, networks, education and support for Africana women to grow as entrepreneurs and artisans.
The trip there involved two buses and a bit of walking. Stepping off the bus, I was immediately aware that this neighbourhood had a different feel to it to the other parts of Pittsburgh that I had visited. As a white person, I was now a minority. Families were sitting on the porches of rundown houses while children played on the streets. It was a classic 'rust belt' area, a pocket of the city that seemed to have been forgotten about.
The Ujamaa store was bright, colourful and contemporary. I was immediately greeted with a smile and asked if I needed any help. The products were mostly handmade, and were all beautiful. It was really hard to choose. They had body products, jewellery, clothing, housewares and more. I finally decided on a hand-sewn apron that had caught my eye when I walked in. I put the $10 towards that and a natural lip balm (which I can never have enough of!). The two women, LaKeisha and Frankie, were really lovely and agreed to have a photo with me. I walked out wishing I had more time to spend there - it was my last day in Pittsburgh. If I'm ever back there, it's a place I would visit again.
The trip there involved two buses and a bit of walking. Stepping off the bus, I was immediately aware that this neighbourhood had a different feel to it to the other parts of Pittsburgh that I had visited. As a white person, I was now a minority. Families were sitting on the porches of rundown houses while children played on the streets. It was a classic 'rust belt' area, a pocket of the city that seemed to have been forgotten about.
The Ujamaa store was bright, colourful and contemporary. I was immediately greeted with a smile and asked if I needed any help. The products were mostly handmade, and were all beautiful. It was really hard to choose. They had body products, jewellery, clothing, housewares and more. I finally decided on a hand-sewn apron that had caught my eye when I walked in. I put the $10 towards that and a natural lip balm (which I can never have enough of!). The two women, LaKeisha and Frankie, were really lovely and agreed to have a photo with me. I walked out wishing I had more time to spend there - it was my last day in Pittsburgh. If I'm ever back there, it's a place I would visit again.
One Large participant: RJ
Name of black-owned business: Ujamaa Collective
Location: Pittsburgh, PA
Race/ethnicity of participant: NZ Pakeha/European
