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Oakland
Oakland, located on the West Coast in Alameda County of the Bay Area is also know as “the Town” for its small town vibe. Located across the Bay from SanFrancisco, it is known as the sunny side of the Bay. Oakland has a rich history of African Americans migrating from the south to work on the railway, the ports and in the shipyards that line the area. With the influx of African Americans to the area, came a rich culture of jazz, blues and soul music.
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."
The Whitewashing of EDM
Kaytranada - I am not even going to front like I am a long-time fan of the Haitian-Canadian DJ. But I am very happy about his win for a couple of reasons. Besides being super talented, he’s black and he’s gay. In other words, he embodies the roots of the genre. Yes, in case you didn’t know, some of the most influential pioneers of this music were gay, black, or both. Whitewashing black contributions to American musical genres is nothing new. Please see rock ‘n roll, pop, jazz, and country music in particular for more background on that subject. But the erasure of EDM’s black American origins has been especially egregious. And just importantly, the central role of gay men in developing EDM music has also been largely overlooked.
The Importance Of Doulas
Shout out to the black Doulas who are helping to improve maternal health outcomes for black women and babies.
Amy Sherald
Amy Sherald
First Black woman to paint a First Lady portrait. (Michelle Obama)First
Record Breaker: She set an auction record in December of 2020 when her painting “Two Bathers” (2015) sold for a whopping $4,265,000, approximately 30 times more than the pre-auction estimate of $150,000-$200,000.
Dual Citizen
As a black American who has traveled to many countries in the African diaspora, and who genuinely loves black people all over the world, the mission of the brand resonates very strongly with me.
A conversation with Erica
I have been practicing yoga off and on for many years at home. Summer 2019, I decided to visitLove Yoga Studio, a local black-owned studio run by a mother/daughter duo. I was having significant pain in my body at the time (from muscle flares), but after attending these yoga classes, I would feel amazing afterward. It was what I needed. Initially, doing the poses(Asanas) was challenging but my body could handle it. As a result, something clicked in my mind one day after class. I had a real gratitude moment where I put my face up to the sun and was thankful for having the pain.
Peace & Happiness, A Muscle (Copy)
do something that makes you happy, smile and feel free. The key to success with this GO DO is that it must be scheduled. Leaving it up to, “whenever I have time,” is a footprint to failure. The result of this exercise is that it alleviates the edge of seriousness towards life. Chill out, relax and stop being so hard on yourself. It’s ok to have fun!Many of our stressors are self-inflicted, but all of our happiness can be a choice.
Self-Love: A Lifelong Journey
If you've been hearing this term as much as I have you may be wondering, what exactly does that mean?Or, how exactly do I cultivate self-love? Or even, why the f*ck does everyone keep talking about self-love?
Love Poems
Many times I tried to force the hands of love and ended up alone. Finally I let love run its course and though some love evolves and paths go in opposite directions, the love remains strong in the friendship. No matter what stay friends and let love run.
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.
Kehinde Wiley
Kehinde Wiley is important for black children and adults who visit museums so that they can feel like they belong because they do! He is important for future generations of black people who love and study art but have never seen themselves represented on the canvas or behind the scenes.
-Maya Angelou-
“There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you.”