Many called the first Austin Black Expo a proud and successful step in the right direction. The expo drew wall-to-wall crowds that filled the Monarch Event Center Saturday.
"Obviously we're proud all together to come together to do something like this," event volunteer Catina Davis said.
The expo was the first to focus exclusively on the city's black community.
"A lot of things in Austin seem to cater to one culture. And I'm thinking we need a variety," attendee Linda Smith said.
So there was plenty of music, dancing and soul food.
"We all love food. We all love entertainment. We all love to dance. So if you put them all into one, it's very easy to see we're more alike than different," said Chiquita Watts-Eugene, president of the Capital City African American Chamber of Commerce.
But the expo was about much more than just having fun.
"It's building up one another, it's promoting more businesses, more opportunities amongst African Americans," Davis said.
And one African American at the center of attention was president Barack Obama.
"There's a new chemical catalyst in the air. And I think people are catching hold of it. Because we've seen that he can, so we can," vendor Bob Jones said.
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Culturally rich Black Expo
It was a first for the African American community in Austin at the first Austin Black Expo.
 
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"This is the year of change, of big change. I see more togetherness," Smith said.
Organizers said strengthening that sense of community was the ultimate goal. They said they're already looking into bigger venues for next year's expo.
