The second annual Melanin in May Festival concludes the month with a day of Black excellence, from art and music to community food and health.
Organized and hosted by Dominic Dorsey of Naptown and DONT SLEEP, the highly anticipated event returns to Community Alliance of the Far Eastside (CAFE) on May 27th. This large-scale spring festival aims to “celebrate the excellence of flaunting people in all its shades.” I made melanin without apologizing,” Dorsey said.
“They’re friends, they’re neighbors, they’re family, they’re the people who perform here,” he said. “It’s a big family reunion-like environment that you really have to be a part of. There are no words that can accurately describe it. You have to go there to experience it for yourself.”
Melanin in May is one of four annual community-wide festivals that include the summer Black-Owned Business Block Party, the fall Blacktoberfest, and the winter Black Business Bazaar. The festival itself is free to attend, as Dorsey says he wants the proceeds to go directly back into the communities the festival uplifts.
“It’s about centering Black joy as a form of resistance. It’s about promoting Black-owned businesses. It’s about celebrating the arts,” he said. “These are things that I don’t necessarily think people should have to pay to access, especially if they don’t have the space or the means to access them on a regular basis.”
One of the crowd favorites at Melanin in May Fest is the Food Truck Battle Royale, which Dorsey said is a juried event to crown Indy’s best Black-owned food truck. It is said to be a competition. This year’s competition featured nine local food trucks of various specialties, including two vegan trucks, one taco truck, home cooking and soul food, and last year’s champion, ChefTLC, who won his belt. We will compete for it.
The competition features nationally acclaimed indie artists including Chef Natasha Lackey Anderson, Candace Boyd Simmons, Chef Oya Woodruff, Dr. Ariel Smith, and Big Den’s Den Dennis Jr. Judged by our own culinary artists.
“These guys are giants in the food industry, not just in Indianapolis and probably beyond,” Dorsey said. “They use their taste buds to judge performance, taste and presentation and earn belts based on the judges’ recommendations.”
The judges will announce the winners on the day of the event, but festival guests will have the opportunity to vote for the People’s Choice.
In addition to the food contest, the designated food court area will feature Guy’s Cooking Creations, J&JA Taste of Home Catering & Food Trucks, Juice with Joss, Pieces of Earth, and Plaid and Pearls. There will be dozens of food trucks, including Coffee and Shy. Girl Sweets – Festival-goers can sample all the great flavors the indie black eatery has to offer.
Spoken word artist Tony Styx and radio/TV personality Erica “Ms. EKlass” Pierce will co-host the fully featured Black Onyx Management SoundStage. line up Music from DJ Mary Jane, The Brothers Footman, Alison Victoria, Native Son and more. Additionally, several visual and mixed media artists will create live art on-site.
“We want to bring attention to these performers and give them the opportunity to headline a festival in front of an audience,” he said. “We feel like we have more opportunities to bring more attention to our products and expose more people to the talent that exists in the visual arts community.”
In between live performances and art demonstrations, festival-goers will also have the opportunity to shop from more than 125 Black-owned business vendors at the PMPHASE Vendor Marketplace.
Dorsey said new this year, Melanin will offer an IU Health and Wellness Village in May where guests can stop by for a booster COVID-19 vaccine or blood pressure check. . Doulas will discuss breastfeeding, safe sleep, SIDS awareness, car seat installation and more, as well as demonstrations of adult self-defense techniques and health exercises.
Dorsey said because May is Mental Health Awareness Month, they partnered with the Minority Recovery Collective, a local organization that supports Black and brown people recovering from and recovering from mental health issues.
“We can come together and have fun, but we also have an opportunity to be educated. We have an opportunity to take our health seriously,” Dorsey said. “So there’s something for everyone. But while they’re there for one thing, they’re going to get a taste of everything else.”
The 2023 Melanin in May Festival will be held at Community Alliance of the Far Eastside, 8902 E. 38th St, on May 27th from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Includes a complete list of vendors, artists, and performers, as well as detailed information on parking information. Volunteer opportunities and sponsorships can be found at: melanininmay.com.
Staff Writer Chloe McGowan (317-762-7848) or chloegm@indyrecorder.com. Follow her on Twitter @chloe_mcgowanxx. Click here for more news brought to you by the Indianapolis Recorder. You can also check out Indiana Minority Business Magazine by clicking . here.
