Masked Melanin Marketplace

Masked Melanin is more than a marketplace, it’s a living expression of Black brilliance, rooted in community care, cultural pride, and economic empowerment.

It began with a vision: to create a space where Black-owned businesses could thrive, not just as vendors, but as vital storytellers and culture-shapers. At every pop-up, every table, and every conversation, Masked Melanin brings together makers, dreamers, and community leaders who are redefining what it means to build generational wealth through connection and culture.

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At the heart of it all is Tawanda Green, a woman whose life work has transformed her city and touched the nation. Raised in Camden, NJ by grandparents who opened their home to anyone in need, Tawanda learned early on the power of showing up for others. That legacy lives on in everything she does, from founding the Camden Sophisticated Sisters Drill Team to mentoring hundreds of youth, and now, creating a marketplace that reflects the full beauty of the African American diaspora.

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Tawanda is a CNN Hero, a recipient of Oprah’s Standing Ovation Award, and a nationally recognized advocate for youth empowerment, cultural celebration, and social change. But long before the national press, it was the streets of Camden, the drumbeats of a drill team, and the quiet moments of mentorship that defined her mission.

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Masked Melanin is the next chapter in that story, a platform where every product tells a deeper truth, every event is a cultural celebration, and every participant is part of a larger movement. This is where we build each other up. This is where melanin meets movement.