THIS IS BEAUTY
THE BLACKEST BLOG EVER
Carmel
I was born into a large family of ten: five girls and yes, you guess it right, and five boys. I am child number seven, an awesome number I think. Unfortunately, I lost two sisters in the 1980’s, both three months apart. Needless to say, It took a toll on our close-knitted family. However, we pulled through the difficult circumstances.
At a tender age, I realized that I had an aptitude for the Arts and Crafts. My skills shone in sewing, baking, and cooking my favorite of the lot. Interestingly, if I may, at the time I could be described as self-taught. At eight years old I baked my first cake, without a prescribed recipe all in a condensed milk can. Yes, I did share amongst some of my siblings and curious neighbors. Yum!
By the time I was nine years old I was already cooking complete meals for my entire family. I thought that I was a genius with my hands.
10 Things Black People Say that Promote White Supremacy
Contrary to what colonialism has taught us, white and pretty & black and ugly are not synonymous. If you find someone ugly it should have nothing to do with abundance of melanin in their skin. If you categorize or measure someone’s attractiveness or lack thereof basked on their lack of melanin…
Kim
I'm most proud of my decision to walk away from what was not working to make space for better things. In November 2018, I gave two months advance notice at a job in a toxic environment with a culture that clashed with my personal values. I didn't know what was next, but I had to leave for my mental and physical well-being.
Two weeks before my last day, my world turned upside down. My father had an accident and was placed on life support; he died a few days later. It rocked my foundation, and while I yearned for stability in the midst of the uncertainty resulting from my loss, I stuck to my plan to leave my job. The one thing I did know was that nothing good would come from trying to grieve while working in a dysfunctional environment. All I could do was "Let go and let God."
Christopher
The ocean has been a constant source of peace for me. It's a place to find grounding and to realize how minuscule I and my problems are compared the the vastness of this world. You cannot help but feel small, yet somehow connected to the largeness of it.
Happy Father’s Day
For many years I was kept in the dark about the severity of my father’s condition was becoming. He began to have memory issues and I attributed them to age. He always tackled things on his own, never wanting to rely on others. What I thought was a change in heart was truly a change in his mind. A mind that he no longer had full control of as his dementia set in. Eventually the disease took his life though there were times, once he was put into a home, where we were able to find our way back as father and son.
Being A Father Is Magical
Maybe it was when my Dad threw the ball with me as soon as he got home from work. It could’ve been when he stormed down to our neighbors house after they didn’t fairly pay me for the excessive yard work I completed. Or maybe it’s when I would make eye contact with him as he cheered in the crowd during a sporting event, the feel of his pat on the back when they called my name during an academic award ceremony or the smile and pride he displayed when I would lead a prayer during youth Sunday at church.
Fatherhood
I grew up across the street from my paternal grandparents and had the fortune of being raised by two sets of parents and two fathers - William Hill, Sr and William Douglas Hill. My memories of Summer mornings include early coffees at the table with these two - coffee and light cream or milk in their cups, milk with a drop of coffee in mine.
The Parallels of Coaching and Parenting
Though no two parents have the same approach, even within the same household, the majority of households desire similar results when it comes to the overall performance of their children.
Octavia Raheem
“Rest is my Guru and today she came with the message that we are not here to be weary, rush about, and give everyone else our best. You don’t need to ask for permission to meet Rest. She's been waiting for you." Octavia Raheem
Ernest - Fly Brother
Anyone who meets Ernest is struck by his warmth, intelligence, and killer smile. He is able to connect with folks from all walks of life. He is a proud FAMU grad and his samba moves will put most anyone to shame. We took a samba class in DC many years ago and I saw even more improved dance moves several years later in South America. Fast forward through the years and we’ve met up several places around the world, with a few days in Recife, Brazil being a favorite memory.
Arisa
“Right now what's bringing me joy is watering my plants in my home office. Watching something grow during these pandemic times counters the feelings of stagnation and monotony. I feel like I'm being of direct service. Plus, chilling on the couch with a good book or a good idea for a poem are joy-bringers too.” Arisa White
RUMBI
Something that brought me a lot of joy was designing my own t-shirts, and all of the hustle that came with it. Actually it wasn't the shirts that were on my bucket list, nor did I have dreams of being an entrepreneur. No, I just wanted to do something for the joy of it. I am a goal-oriented person raised by risk-averse African immigrant parents. I couldn't fathom doing things without a "purpose."
Lolita Fashion: The Black Edition
First thing’s first. Lolita fashion has NOTHING to do with the Western Lolita concept based on the Russian novel. Instead it emphasizes modesty, elegance, and cuteness. Picture someone doing the absolute most while dressing up in a cross between a cute baby doll and a Victorian-era aristocrat. So it’s no wonder that all around the world, there are folks who continue to be amazed and empowered by this notable form of dress. Now add a little black girl magic to it, and now we’re really cooking with grease.
-Maya Angelou-
“There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you.”