August is National Black Business month and for the first time ever, the Bay area is celebrating with the inaugural Tampa Bay Black Authors and Business Showcase.
"For Tampa Bay, for so long, a lot of people have said 'we can't do certain things' and I just want to show them we can do it together," said organizer Rinita Anderson of Urban Exposure, Inc.
Anderson's goal was to showcase black-owned businesses, highlight black authors and to improve literacy in the Bay area.
"St. Petersburg, Pinellas County and also Hillsborough County have a very high illiteracy rate among African-Americans," said Anderson.
More than 30 authors showcased their work at the St. Petersburg Museum of History, and even more people stopped by to see what the business owners had to offer.
"It feels great," said author Davon Miller. "I'm proud of myself for accomplishing this and I'm proud of my creation too.”
Davon Miller, 12, used his book “Mr. Tickety-Tock Clock,” to encourage readers young and the young-at-heart to get involved with reading and business.
"Books can take them places and I hope they have fun reading," said Miller.
National Black Business Month is also about economic empowerment.
"I think it's vital in inspiring businesses and others like myself who were in corporate America, thinking I'm doing this job but what would I rather be doing," said Carla Bristol, owner of Galerie 909.
"It's a great feeling," said Anderson. "I knew it could be done. We just had to get out there and do it."