As Mother’s Day approaches, people across the nation are gearing up to honor their maternal figures, and this weekend mothers in Washington, D.C. will have an opportunity to celebrate moms through art, food and music.
The inaugural BZB International Mother’s Day Weekend en Blanc (May 10-11) is more than an opportunity to dress up in all white; it celebrates the strength, beauty, resilience and power of Black maternal figures to the community at large.
“As Black families do, we get together, we celebrate and oftentimes we build a theme for community and camaraderie, and Mother’s Day is approaching,” said Juanita “Busy Bee” Britton, founder and president of BZB International Inc. “I wanted to push something a little bit creative– something that will bring a lot of people joy and a different kind of energy.”
The two-day celebration features a marketplace with a plethora of Black artisans and their work throughout the entire weekend. During Sunday’s main event, attendees–who are expected to wear all white–will enjoy a live concert by Ayana Gregory, a best dressed contest, an upscale dining experience, including cocktails and champagne, and more fun things for guests to enjoy.
The BZB founder hopes people will adhere to the dress code and think outside of the box, bringing creative flair and elegance to the celebration. To motivate attendees, $200 in cash, a $2,000 art piece and a free African Ancestry DNA test kit will be awarded to the person who is best dressed.
Britton’s inspiration to enforce a dress code for this event came after she attended Le Dîner en Blanc, a global event across six continents where a crowd of diners elegantly dress in all white, convene at a secret location, and bring food, tools and wine to dine with others.
“I was so moved [by] how good it felt for lots and lots of people that did not know each other to get together,” Britton told The Informer. “I wanted to recreate that for Mother’s Day and for folks who don’t have a chance to experience something different.”
Black Artisans to Exhibit Culture, Craft in Weekend Showcase
Marvin Sin, the artist behind The Art of Leather, will exhibit his artwork at the weekend-long marketplace, including some pieces from his summer collection, which he just spent a month producing in Ghana.
Sin used to participate in a pre-Mother’s Day exhibition at Zawadi, an African art gallery and gift shop located on U Street Northwest from 1992, until January 2024, when owner Irene Whalen decided to retire and close the brick and mortar store.
At a divisive time in the nation and trying economic time for entrepreneurs and small business owners, the artist believes the BZB Mother’s Day en Blanc is necessary to unify the community, its businesses and its consumers.
“It’s very important an event like this emerges because it’s going against the grain and starting something new, different and dynamic,” Sin said. “It is combining a number of elements– celebrating motherhood and…venerating Black women and the role they play in our community.”
Aaron Johnson, CEO and co-owner of Unitees.com, a family-owned screen printing and embroidery company that has created staple fashion pieces in the city for more than 30 years, echoed a similar sentiment.
With plans to showcase his work at the marketplace, Johnson believes the environment Britton aims to establish is vital to fully honor mothers, caretakers and all maternal figures in attendance.
“The mother is the foundation of the entire community,” he said. “If we’re going to celebrate her, what better way to [do so] than make an event where we can all come together and fellowship, shop with each other and spread the good news.”
The Unitees co-owner will be debuting some of the company’s newest items, guaranteeing “something special” for customers.
Once a student activist at Howard University (HU), Johnson started his company to create HU-branded apparel that celebrates the students rather than just focusing on school pride.
Today, the 1987 Howard University graduate sells to a largely Black audience, and has been featured in Britton’s marketplaces since her early showcases.
He further notes his appreciation for the environment she curates for Black artisans and entrepreneurs.
“Because of marketplaces like Juanita’s, we’ve been able to thrive since Reagan was the president, so that speaks volumes to what she’s put together and how the community supports it in various forms,” Johnson told The Informer.
Britton aims to use this event to honor mothers like in African tradition, where they are considered to be appointed to motherhood by God, deeming them sacred in the community.
With prayers, affirmations, line dancing and photo booths, the Mother’s Day Brunch en Blanc will commemorate the significance and beauty of motherhood across the African diaspora.
Johnson’s hope is regardless of where they are, people around the country will use Mother’s Day to show gratitude to the maternal figures in their lives.
“I just hope that everybody can find time in their schedule to celebrate their mother,” he told The Informer. “Whether they come to this event or not, we want to make sure everyone celebrates the foundation of the community.”
